Advice on Post and C&C Please

revenater · Jul 31, 2012

I am taking my Nieces senior pictures (just for some practice) later this week and so I went out with my daughter and did some test shots at the location and I ended up with one of my daughter that I really like. I would love some advice on post processing and you thoughts on this picture and what I might do differently in the future. Thanks in advance.

revenater · Aug 1, 2012

I guess I took a perfect photo. Lol

Ysarex · Aug 1, 2012

revenater said:
I guess I took a perfect photo. Lol

OK then, my favorite quote: Trifles make perfection, and perfection is no trifle. -- Michelangelo

I'd make a few trifling changes to your photo:

I did three things.

1. I think your white balance is basically correct, but I see the slightest tint red so I adjusted that.
2. The photo is flat and needs more contrast. I used Levels and adjusted the black and midpoints a smidge and then I added a very slight Soft Light blend.
3. I went around the edges with a brush and darkened them down a little.

I'd also suggest a crop off the top.

Joe

Designer · Aug 1, 2012

revenater said:
I would love some advice on post processing and you thoughts on this picture and what I might do differently in the future. Thanks in advance.

I agree with Joe that the light is flat. The trouble with overcast days is that one seldom thinks of the light, but imagine what could be done with a speedlight off camera.

As long as you're cropping, I think you might as well crop some on all four sides. Get rid of the extraneous and somewhat distracting background where possible.