Portrait-Shadows wanted

[VIDEOAV]

I need someone who can create shadows on the floor in photoshop. I made this family portrait and I need help creating shadows on the floor so that it doesnt look like everyone is just floating.

If you can help me with that let me know please.

In addition, if you can help me get good colors for the floor and redo the wall that would also be greatly appreciated. I don't like the floor color and I've been told the wall doesnt go good with the tones and that the pixels show. Any Help would be greatly appreciated. Here is the link.

www.videoav.runtwo.com/Portrait.jpg

[Flora]

Hi VIDEOAV,

....if I haven't done it yet, welcome to RP!!

Nice composition for your portrait!

I agree about the floor being a tad 'distracting' but I don't see anything wrong with the background itself ....

Alas, what comes to the eyes are some hard transition edges and at least one manipulation 'dead giveaway' (Attachment 1) in your selection ....

Posting the original/originals would be a great help ....

[Ken Fournelle]

videoav,

The lighting is fairly flat. In reality, the key light would not create a very distinctive shadow. You are trying to reduce the effect of the appearance that they are "floating". With this kind of light there would be a darkening or shadow beneath and behind the bodies, legs and feet. You could try this:
1. Create an Empty layer at the top of your Layers Palette stack. Shift+Cmd/Ctrl+ N
2. Set the blending mode to Multiply
3. Select a soft, black brush at 10-20% opacity
4. The Key, if anything, is 45 degrees up and camera right. take the
brush and begin painting beneath the people, around the shoes where
meet the floor. Pay attention to the object the couple is sitting on, there
should be a "shadow" or darkening in the area behind their legs. You
could give some shape to that object as well. I would shadow the floor
background where the light would fall off. The shadow of those
standing would be short, but could tail off a bit to camera left.

As Flora pointed out. Your extraction edges are a dead give away. You could use a Blur brush on the layer mask edges or take a Blur brush at about 40% and paint over the edges of the extraction.

k

[Daviskw]

Hi there

I am terrible with shadows... but that does not stop me from making a mess...

I do believe the background is just fine, but the floor is a big distraction and also makes it hard to show shadow.

Now I may be way off base here but the seat looks out of proportion compared to the girl behind.

This type of composition is not easy to do as each subject may have slightly different lighting. Like Ken, and unlike me, I would think light and direction and maybe alter the various inserts, then produce the shadow as he stated. But I would surly replace the floor.

Butch