First image for critique...

[StoryInPictures]

I'm new to the forum and figured I would jump in with both feet .

I'm more of a photographer than a retoucher, but would appreciate your critical feedback. Please feel free to give blunt feedback on anything about the photography, lighting, retouching, composition...in short, anything that I have done.

I am here to learn, so any constructive criticism will be appreciated. You don't need to be kind so long as it's constructive .

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bb_P2vhgGxi/?taken-by=storyinpictures_com

[anderson234]

Re: First image for critique...

Great image. Don't know how to zoom in. I'm not professional, so please just consider:
the chair is not symetric;
right eye is darker;
right cheek seems drops a little, and too contrasty beneath it.

[StoryInPictures]

Re: First image for critique...

Thanks for the feedback. I definitely agree about the chair (changed that before the print but not before posting to Instagram). It was a choice between level with the floor (as you see it) and level with the perception of the chair (which looks better).

I also appreciate your feedback on lighting.

Thank you for taking the time to comment.

[skoobey]

Re: First image for critique...

Camera of left chin area needs brightening, and there are over saturated parts of the face mostly in mid tones. Whites of the right ye coudl use a bit of brightening. Hands could use some more red, as they are too magenta/blue/desaturated.

It's a great image overall. Chair most definitely doesn't need to be symmetrical.

[anderson234]

Re: First image for critique...

Camera of left chin area needs brightening, and there are over saturated parts of the face mostly in mid tones. Whites of the right ye coudl use a bit of brightening. Hands could use some more red, as they are too magenta/blue/desaturated.

It's a great image overall. Chair most definitely doesn't ned to be symmetrical.

In some portrait images, only face are in light, so other skin could be darker and desaturated, I want to learn how to treat.

As for chair, I'm thinking: the woman is leaning, so the picture needs as least one thing straight/symetric as a basis.

[skoobey]

Re: First image for critique...

It's about finding the balance, it's individual, but it's something I noticed. Chair is irrelevant if you ask me(it can be done but it's not really necessary, you can just darken it for example). That bump on camera right shoulder is far more distracting... etc.

[StoryInPictures]

Re: First image for critique...

Thank you for the thoughtful feedback and discussion!

[bijutoha]

Re: First image for critique...

Everything is fine in my way. I love your style of all these consideration. Keep moving.

[shumicpi]

Re: First image for critique...

At first glance I did not find anything wrong. It seems just perfect to me.

[mariah1902]

I am also a photographer but more of a designer. To be honest as a beginner you did really well. If you have not said that you are a beginner then no one would even though that this retouching was done by a beginner. The photo looks really natural and that is what you need to maintain while retouching. You did really well and with a little experience and practice you would really make some outstanding professional retouches.