First time model on a first time TFP C&C please

[IronMaskDuval]

Do you feel you NEED to fix these for your reputation with that model or something? If so, I can give you lots of tips on photoshopping too and try some of them out. But if not, I don't think worrying about them too much is worthwhile if you don't have to versus focusing on addressing the issues for your next shoot.

Gavjenks, there is no reputation here to save. The model is perfectly happy with her photos, and I am as well-- for my first shoot. The purpose of me digging for advice and making tweaks is because I am trying to learn on and off the camera. I want to know what I need to know so that next time, I am shooting better and less PP will be required. At the same time, I know I'm still going to blow some great potential shots, so I want to learn the ins and outs of PP. I am nothing more than a simple hobbyist who first started shooting with a d3000 with a 18-55 kit lens that I bought for $150 back on Feb. 16 of this year. This is no career of mine, but I'd like to master a craft that I have recently found to love. I last picked up a camera about 15 years ago. It was a film camera. I thought I had perfect shots of everything I took that last day I went out only for them to develop into blurry ink splotches. Fair enough? I'm not looking to save face-- just to build one.

I would appreciate any videos that you have. I spend a lot of time watching youtube, but the content can be all over the place sometimes.

*And let's celebrate as my number of posts is now at my favorite caliber.

 

[Gavjenks]

Okay I will try editing some of them too then, and listing out the steps taken, in a little bit.

 

[runnah]

A good technique is to draw some color from the exsisting skin tones and painting over the bad spots then use the blending modes and masking.

 

[IronMaskDuval]

A good technique is to draw some color from the exsisting skin tones and painting over the bad spots then use the blending modes and masking.

I have been experimenting with that. I'm not very good with the clone stamp when it comes to the face. I tend to end up with the smeared looked.

 

[Gavjenks]

Not fantastic, but:
1) Went in with select tool soft edged and then used curves the brighten the raccoon areas of her face to even it out more (select with feathering, then curves up)
2) With the same selection still selected each time, tone down saturation a smidgeon since it tends to get exaggerate by burning in for some reason
3) Clone stamped out some weird green/purple lines on her face probably from the trees too. Soft clone stamp, small, 50-75% opacity (low opacity makes it not look like clone stamp, but also tends to make it soupy since you're mixing textures. High maintains texture but makes repeating patterns more of a problem. Use both in different cases)
4) Did a lot of dodging and burning of the background (photoshop dodge and burn tools, set to 20% ish or lower, large and soft edged) and the tree and her arm, etc. to make it look like there might have been an actual fill light or reflector, so the face reads as less weird., and to make it higher contrast overall to match the now higher contrast of face and hair.
5) Used selection tool and curves (only low end brightened) to greatly de-emphasize the shadow under her armpit and to feather it out a bit more, consistent with a big reflector. Also under her chin
6) Burned a line up her face to make it not too flat since I went overboard earlier
7) Lowered contrast on her arm and shoulder to minimize leaf dappling. Then upped the contrast to compensate for graying effect. Both with feathered selection again.
8) Messed with contrast on her face some more since it still looked gray. Required two different passes, one eyes up and one whole face, different amounts.