Using gaussian blur for soft skin- did i overdo it here?

This beautiful little girl so difficult to photograph! She was gorgeous but had no interest in looking at the camera or anything. These were just for fun with a friend, so no big deal. I didn't push it. Is the gaussian blur overdone here? How bout comp etc?

 

Personally I like it. I don't think it's overdone.

 

I really like the comp and the color pop. I do think the blur is a little overdone. I know I tend to overdo it myself and have to work hard to keep it in check. lol! I really like soft photos though. I'd scale it back just a bit in this one. How did you do the blur? Did you work in layers?

 

Thanks , ya I work in layers. I do the duplicate layer, then erase the eyes and usually bring the opacity down to about 18%. I have it open right now.. I scaled it down and didn't like it that much. I'll probably do 2 copies and see which one my friend likes better!! (it seems that moms never seem to like the strong gaussian blur, even though I do!)

 

Yeah, that's how I do it too. You really don't find that moms like the blur? How sad. I really love it. I use it with my own kiddos all the time.

 

Ya, thats' been my experience. Usually I show them with and without.. and they always choose without.

I really don't know why cuz I think it makes the skin look really creamy and nice!

 

I concur with you, Kelly. I love the way t makes the skin look.

 

I generally do it the other way -- I blur the copied layer, reduce to, depending, 15-30%, then mask the entire blurred layer then erase the mask where I want the skin to be smooth. This preserves the edge sharpness of the skin features while softening the skin texture. Instead of cutting out the eyes, you leave them in.

When I do want that 'whole picture glows', I'll usually do one pass with one blur setting for the inside of the skin, then another pass with a different blur setting for the whole image.

My only criticism, though, with the photo above, is that the blur makes the white shirt pop a little too much; it glows and I think draws the eye away from the girl's face.

 

Thanks for sharing that technique, I'll definitly give it a try that way. Which specific blur settings do you use for skin vs whole image?

I agree that the white shirt is popping too much, definitly. I like this photo a lot I think, so I'm gonna work on it. Thanks again

 

I think the shot is beautiful of the little girl, however I am a bit distracted by the amount of blur on the shorts, it makes it hard for me to focus on her, but could be my computer screen too. Overall I think it is a very good shot.

 

Nice shot Kelly!

I dont think you over did it, i really like how it looks there.

Only nit pick is that its kinda wierd having a girl in islandy clothes but then have that cold, hard autumn background.

 

Thats an interesting observation! I couldn't put my finger on it exactly, but before I warmed it, I was like this picture is so cold and weird for some reason... Your right, its the automn like background. Thanks for commenting