Taken the other day while experimenting with some speedlites.
This shot has gone through about three different editing revisions, and I still can't quite settle on it. Regardless, I decided to post it anyway. Feedback is encouraged and requested! Especially if you see any blatant errors or unsightliness.
I don't get many opportunities to edit pictures like this because, well, I mostly shoot pictures of cats. It was certainly a lesson in skin softening, and "prettifying" a photo, or, in other words, "making it look fake without looking fake."
You know what I mean. Don't make me use more words.
Of course, Rayana is naturally beautiful. But, still, I'm trying to progress toward a certain caliber of skill in both photography and editing, so I had to take full advantage of the opportunity to mess with this picture as much as possible.
Just maybe the slight shadow to the right of her nose. But without it she would probably look too fake. You are right she is naturally beautiful and a great subject to work with.
I am by NO MEANS an expert, but I will give you my opinion. I really love the photo, for the most part. Rayana is definately beautiful here! I don't mind Max not looking at the camera--a profile of Max would have been great, but I think looking right at the camera would be a little more "staged" to me, and with this, it looks a wee bit more like a candid. the only other thing I don't really like is that her eyes are so shadowed. Maybe if the lighting was adjusted upwards slightly? Or if she was looking up slightly? Since you have her looking "at the audience", I would like to see the eyes. They are, after all, the windows to the soul, right? Those are little things, and I love the photo for the most part!
@carolinedreams Thanks, Caroline. I think I'll withhold the original photo because, I dunno, Ray must get mad ;) Sorry!
@leigh7900 Thanks, Leigh! I really appreciate it. I did remove some minor blemishes and a (eeek!) wrinkle here and there, but that was kind of a natural contour of her face, so I kept it in. I guess I was torn between really going for the full blow airbrushed look, and maintaining some sort of natural semblance. For the next one, I think I'll go all the way for the "natural plastic" magazine cover look, just as an experiment.
@swamppoodle Thanks, Patti! I completely agree with you 100%. This is something I need to figure out. You might not believe it, but in the original, the eyes were even darker. I had to give them a very minor glare and some tweaking just to bring them out a little bit. But, alas, you can only do so much afterward. This is definitely something for me to work on. Thanks again! :)
I love the editing. Her skin looks flawless, but not fake. The only thing I would want to improve upon if the was my photo would be the light on her eyes. They are windows to the soul (remember reading that somewhere). But I actually like it that Max is looking away. It adds a different emotion. Overall wonderful picture!
I love it - and I think Max looking away draws the attention to Rayana making it a very stylish shot rather than a cute kitty one. (not that there's anything wrong with that but you wanted something different....)
My only constructive criticism as a complete amateur is the eyes... smoky and mysterious but possibly a bit too hidden away. I am only brave enough to say this to a genius such as yourself because I can see others thought the same! Otherwise I bow to your greater skill and wonder.
Beautiful portrait. The kitty turned away makes it more dramatic haha! But just as a few people have said, just needs a little light up in those lovely eyes! :)
Composition is good and I'm rubbish at portraits but here is my 2 pence worth.
I would like to have seen a little more of the cats head to get that chin to add more to the composition, the positioning of the hand kind of took away from that.
Lighting - more light in the eyes, Rayana has very beguiling eyes, it would have been lovely to see more detail there - only a touch more mind you to keep the shadows you have created.
I love this, it looks like a fancy perfume ad but with a cat instead of a perfume bottle...love the skin tone & coloring & background lighting, maybe the shadows on her gorgeous face are a bit harsh is all I would tweak here, I like Max looking away like a tiny diva.
I love her skin in this shot. You really did a great job capturing how real skin looks and it's really pretty. When you figure out the "etes issues" please let me know. My family is full of peeps with deep set eyes and also dark circles. She still looks beautiful and sultry in this shot though. I hope that she likes it.
@leigh7900 Thanks, Leigh! I really appreciate it. I did remove some minor blemishes and a (eeek!) wrinkle here and there, but that was kind of a natural contour of her face, so I kept it in. I guess I was torn between really going for the full blow airbrushed look, and maintaining some sort of natural semblance. For the next one, I think I'll go all the way for the "natural plastic" magazine cover look, just as an experiment.
@swamppoodle Thanks, Patti! I completely agree with you 100%. This is something I need to figure out. You might not believe it, but in the original, the eyes were even darker. I had to give them a very minor glare and some tweaking just to bring them out a little bit. But, alas, you can only do so much afterward. This is definitely something for me to work on. Thanks again! :)
@dlo LOL! Dawn! Great minds think alike, right?
My only constructive criticism as a complete amateur is the eyes... smoky and mysterious but possibly a bit too hidden away. I am only brave enough to say this to a genius such as yourself because I can see others thought the same! Otherwise I bow to your greater skill and wonder.
I would like to have seen a little more of the cats head to get that chin to add more to the composition, the positioning of the hand kind of took away from that.
Lighting - more light in the eyes, Rayana has very beguiling eyes, it would have been lovely to see more detail there - only a touch more mind you to keep the shadows you have created.
Apart from that it is a lovely picture :-D
I hope this helps.