Portrait Retouching

[vinmunoz]

I can't find a thread for portrait retouching. If there's already, please point me there and remove this thread.

[GarryP]

There isn't a thread for photo retouching as such but it's better - and more useful to other people - if you post both the original and retouched photos (preferably with a quick overview of the steps made) so that people can see the time and effort that has gone into the work, rather than it just being a nice photo.

As we can currently see it, it's a great photo but - for all we know - you're just a great photographer and got it right first time. However, if people can see the starting point they can also appreciate your retouching skills and it might inspire them to try something similar for themselves.

For example:
* Did you crop the photo?
* What colouring/lighting changes did you make?
* Did you edit the face/skin/hair/clothing in any way?
* Did you change the background?
* Did you add/remove any textures?

In some ways, the method used to come up with the finished image is more interesting to some people than the end result.

You don't have to do this if you don't want to (that's entirely your choice) but - in my experience - people who join forums like this one like to see how things were made.

[vinmunoz]

i'm a long time PS user and I just did the retouching on Affinity the way I do in PS.

 

Cleaning blemishes using healing brush tool

pixel level dodging and burning using 2 curves layer(not contouring)

Toning using selective color adjustment layers. Adjusting the red, yellow and black colors only.

 

was using CaptureOne to develop.

 

here's the SOOC

 

[carl123]

Am I a bad person if I actually prefer the non retouched version?

 

[vinmunoz]

not at all. that's your preference and i respect that. i just like complimentary colors more and cinematic color grading.

[GarryP]

If I wanted a family portrait to put on the wall I would prefer the original but if I wanted a publicity shot I would prefer the edited version.
The original is warmer while the edited version is more "business-like" (not sure what word I'm trying for here).
Both very nice, just maybe for different things.

[Rick G]

14 hours ago, vinmunoz said:

not at all. that's your preference and i respect that. i just like complimentary colors more and cinematic color grading.

 

9 hours ago, GarryP said:

If I wanted a family portrait to put on the wall I would prefer the original but if I wanted a publicity shot I would prefer the edited version.
The original is warmer while the edited version is more "business-like" (not sure what word I'm trying for here).
Both very nice, just maybe for different things.

 

I like the original myself but then again I am the one who likes to over saturate and over contrast 

[EZeemering]

The better the original the less post is needed. And you nailed it with this one, just subtle adjustments. I like it though there is a bit of a green cast, at least on my screen, on the shadow tones. Especially her hair at the left side looks green.

[GarryP]

Well-spotted @EZeemering

Now that I've seen the green tint I can't stop seeing it.

Also, now that I think about it, the pose does lend itself more to a casual/playful photo rather than a publicity shot so the warmer colours of the original work better for me on this particular photo.