[Mucker]

Thanks for all the replies!
I was using some of the techniques/principles I picked up from Versace's Welcome to Oz, so it wasn't quite a straight forward bridal retouch. Probably should have mentioned that. Was shooting for a little more of a cinematic/fine art type of retouch, if that clarifies a bit of what look I was trying to reproduce. (As an aside, quick review - I thought the book was a great resource, lots of good info if you're into the fine art type of look for your photos, however the info comes at the cost of having to read one of the most typo and errata filled books in recent memory)

Some quick replies to above: Photo is full frame, so no cropping decisions made. Looking at the photo now (away for a day or so, instead of staring at it for a while during the retouch) does seem a little too smooth. Will definitely try to keep a little more background detail also next time.

Thanks again - keep the comments coming if there's any more - I still have a ton to learn!

[kyo]

A bit inbetween here.. smooth, but not too fake. More vibrant colors for a little more pop, but not over the top.

Adjusted contrast and balance in lightroom (it's just faster..), reduced some of the noise with Neat Image, then went to work adjusting color balance and vibrance.

Past that, smoothed out the skin ever so lightly with over-painting.. then added a 50% gray layer on overlay and used black/white to bring out highlights and shadows a bit without destroying skin tone (which dodge/burn techniques tend to do).

After much fighting with getting it display in my browser properly.. I've given up, hopefully you see what I do when it's in photoshop.. for whatever reason it doesn't display correctly when I upload it somewhere. There should be more color in the cheeks and face, but oh well.. still looks ok.

Kyle

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...ifeport-12.jpg

[fotolook]

Hello Mucker,

Beautiful young lady you have there. I like where you were heading on the shot but I also think you took it a bit too far..

I'm new here on the RetouchPRO site but decided to throw my version into the ring... It is kind of challenging working on low res images and trying to make them look really good, but I am anyhow attaching my version on your lovely wife.

The whole world is a critic. Everyday I see what I think is terrible stuff and turn around and find work that is amazing and wish I could do the same. But like in photography where there are certain techniques and styles, and supposed right ways and wrong ways... ultimately it all comes down to what you like, what you are satisfied with,... and how your subject (or client) feel about the final result. If they are happy and you are happy... you have won the war -- no matter what anyone else has to say.

[Gaviotagal]

I think every person created a much improved photograph of a beautiful bride. If I knew how to do any of these versions I would be very proud. Can any one tell me (I'm new and not good at these things) how to start a new thread? I would like to show you a photo and get ideas how to begin.
Thank you.

[ArtC1]

Originally Posted by crazyfly1

Mucker
First thing I did was change the crop to try to get the eye to follow the way you suggested. Then I adjusted for white balance.
I burned the background.
Did a gausian blur on a color layer (had some hot spots from being jpeg'ed and shrunk).
I sharpened the eyes and added catch-lights, I also took some color out of the whites.
Evened out the skin tones.
Changed the curves.
Used the healing brush on the 3 tiny little blemishes.

I am curious how close I came to the skin tone. Did I go too pink?

Oh, and by the way, yes you went too far. You made your picture look like an oil painting, very nice if thats what you were going for. I have the same problem. I always find I've done too much when I go back and look after a time. I suggest going into each of your layers and lowering the opacity to 50%. Go back and look at it later and see what you think.

I thought it needed to be rotated too!!! :o}

[saby]

Hi John in Las Vegas,

mutch better rotation and nicely done skin, I like it

[MartinBabies]

This is what I would have done. If you want the PSD-file to easily go through what I've done I can send it to you. I have cropped/rotated the picture a little.
There is NO skin softening at all. She doesn't need it! Perfect skin and very nice texture in the skin. You always want a little texture to make it look realistic.
What I concentrated on is the eyes and keeping the right part of her face from being blown out when applying contrast and stuff. I also darkened the background and added highlights here and there. As I said, I'll keep the PSD if you're interested.