Engagement Round Two

Between being gone and running over to Wisconsin for an exploratory venture for the wedding shoot, I have been one busy boy. I was able to finish editing the engagement photos and upload them to the lab for a first round of prints including a spiral bound print book. Samantha really loved the images but with anyone has her own taste. I had provided a series of images with different treatments for her to select from. The one of her backlit by the sun she liked but thought her eyes needed to pop a little more. Definition was definitely in order.

The only known way to do this right was a trip to photoshop. Most of what I wanted to do in PS I can do in Lightroom but removing improving the area below her eyes and make an adjustment to her arm would require a trip to Photoshop. You can see in the image below Samantha's eyes show much more contrast between the highlights and shadows. This is the definition that draws the viewers eyes.

When an image has as much light in the background as the one above, you would normally think you eyes would be draws to the brighter light. The secret here is to to create a funnel of contrast that draws the view into the eyes of your subject. Ad to that some nice sharpening to the eyes and you mind is compelled to look into the eyes.

Samantha is a very slender lady, but even with that, the camera does bad things to body parts. She asked if I could work on her arm in the foreground so it does not look as large. Thus my other reason for jumping into Photoshop. A couple of clicks in the liquify filter and her arm looks like it really does rather than how the camera compressed it.

Here again, the big, big key is moderation. A little bit of Liquify goes a long, long way. Tomorrow I will have another image that was an example of not loosing hope in your imagery.

Take care for now... Doug