family portrait after editing - cc

[doziergraphic]

first one is the jpeg as shot, second was run through RAW, the elements 7. Being blown up to 11x14 for client. (these were reduced to 30% of original in paint for web posting). Interested in thoughts!

2.

 

[Derrel]

The first one looks better to me, but still a bit too much red and or magenta in the flesh tones; they look a bit ruddy. The second image has excess yellow in the flesh tones,and they look a bit jaundiced. While neither are perfect, the first would be my preference.

 

[Big Mike]

I agree with Derrell, it looks like an 'After and Before' in terms of color correction.

 

[jjparson]

The white balance looks off to me in both pictures. First one looks "cool" and the second one overly "warm". I think the sweet spot is somewhere in the middle of the two examples you posted. Other than that I think this looks pretty good.

 

[Karri]

The lighting is good and the picture is good but I agree with Derrel. If I had to choose, the first one looks more natural for the skin tones although it could be corrected a bit. Also, the black is more faded in the second picture which I wouldn't want in a family portrait unless his hat and shirt were actually dark gray.

 

[doziergraphic]

any better?

 

[Big Mike]

Still looks a little too yellow to me.

Are you working on a calibrated screen?

 

[doziergraphic]

haven't calibrated my screen, but I see the yellow. Gonna go back and start over. I do see the yellow. Wondering if I'm going to be able to get it right based on the original. But this is the one he wants. I didn't do a very good job on the original given it was the first 'three-person' pose I'd done.

I have the RAW file, what is going to be the best way to get that white-balance correct? If I'm able to at all!?

he's a friend so there's 'room' for not-perfect, but still disappointing to give him something well below par.

 

[Big Mike]

When you open the RAW file, probably in Adobe Camera RAW, you should be able to use an eye-dropper tool to set your white balance. Try clicking on the white background, or something else in the shot that should be white, and see what that gets you.

 

[AprilEye]

Still looks a little too yellow to me.

Are you working on a calibrated screen?

I have to agree with this. Also a little teeth whitening edit on the girl might be helpful too.

 

[doziergraphic]

Another try -- all i've done is open in raw, and adjusted the white balance. believe it went from 5450 to 5650...

 

[Big Mike]

I think that's much better, maybe not perfect but a good step in the right direction.

On another point, I think that the rim light on the guy's ear, is drawing too much attention. I'd get in close and get rid of just the highlight and let it blend into the dark shirt behind him.

 

[misstwinklytoes]

Also a little teeth whitening edit on the girl might be helpful too.

Why only the girl? Just curious? To me the teeth all look about the same, so wouldn't you whiten them all?

 

[doziergraphic]

ok - yet another version - this one done by opening in Camera Raw to adjust the White Balance (from 5450 to 5650), saved as a .tif, then opened in Portrait Pro Studio 9, processing each face. I did not adjust the exposure, or any light levels.

 

[doziergraphic]

... and I will take care of the ear-light (as well as the mark on her forearm) in the final editing.