Suggestions on improving this picture

[mtpfamily]

This is a picture of my wife A couple months pregnant. I like the way it turned out. Everything was doged and burned. I did add mnore leaves in the back ground. Will add a link to the full size pictures. Any sugestions on improving the picture or anything I missed?
Before http://img227.imagevenue.com/img.php...2_122_32lo.JPG
After http://img135.imagevenue.com/img.php..._122_617lo.jpg

[L33t]

I don't know, more leaves distracting the eyes.

[Swampy]

Your wife is lovely. And congrats on the upcoming baby!

This would be very easy to extract your wife from the background. I did this quickly with the CS3 'quick selection' magic wand.

Once you have her extracted, paint in a new soft background and perhaps add just a touch of shadow.

[philbach]

I agreeL33t and swampy. The leaves should be removed.

[0lBaldy]

I thought I would have a play at the Pretty Lady!

Straightened
Did two different crops.
Cleaned and added a little glowy thing behind her because she is a glowing beauty!

Larger res versions here (Full crop) and here (tight crop)

[mtpfamily]

I added the leaves to hide the fence and truck in the back ground. Now I see it looks better blured or removed. I realy need to get me a fixed lense. The arpeture was set at 5.6 at 85mm focal length and 200 ISO. I couldnt go any lower on the arpeture. The best part when posting here is you get feed back on things you never expect or notice about your pictures. I was expecting more imput on the doge and burning and whare it needed it nothing on the back ground. I take alot of pictures / portraits out side just because of lighting. Cant aford the fancy light set up plus I like it out side. My biggist problem with photographing my wife is she has the lightest blue eyes with a yellow ring around the pupil and no matter how hard i try her eyes always photograph gray. Any way will try the back ground removal. The shirt Lucky just sort of adds to the meaning of the picture and her being pregnant. After Chemo we were not to have anymore children so this is a gift for the both of us. Thanks for the kind words on the wife.

[Ron H.]

I would first of all lighten the photo with Curves. Check the black, grey, and white, eyedroppers, and then adjust the centre of the Curves diagonal to lighten the photo just a shade.

The eyes can be brightened --- Using the lasso tool encircle each eye. When doing the second eye hold down the shift key so the first selection is not deleted.
Then --- Filter > Sharpen > Smart Sharpen
Adjust the slider carefully, I used 50.
The blue can be returned to her eyes but it is complex.

The darkness at the corners of the mouth should be removed. This is easy with the Healing Brush tool. You could also *relax* the frown a bit with the Smudge tool. With a little practice you could even give her a smile, if so prefered.

It is common to sharpen a female's hair these days, however, I am opposed. I believe their hair should always be soft. It looks like wire when over sharpened.. I use the Blur tool from the Tool Box set very low, perhaps 15%, and brush the hair slightly.

Your wife has a beautiful complexion and it shows very well.

I would send you the test photos, however, I'm new here and don't know the procedure. Send me an e-mail and I will send them to you.

Best wishes on your baby, and the best of luck with the birth.

Ron Hamilton
r.hamilton@ns.sympatico.ca
from beautiful Cape Breton Island

[mtpfamily]

Ron thanks for the imput. I sent you an email. Might check your old spam folder. Looking forward to seeing your results. When the Baby is born will post pictures.