Hi, I'm new to this forum but would love some feedback on an image I just took and edited. I have been trying to improve my portrait skills especially in retouching skin. For some reason, this looks off to me. Can anyone suggest ways to improve it? I am also thinking that the problem maybe my lighting. It seems like the highlights are not as white as I see in other portraits. I use Lightroom to edit my pictures.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Hi, I don't think it is your lighting. More helpfully I would suggest it is too dark, likely underexposed in camera. I imagine you could lighten it in Lightroom or Photoshop or Capture One.
You noticed the problem, that's good. I don't know your workflow so don't understand why you did not fix it. But you did ask and that's good. I wonder if you are not working with a calibrated monitor on your computer. If your monitor is not calibrated, you seriously need to get a calibration system, they are not expensive, but will make your, expensive cameras, lenses, and lights deliver their potential. You will be delighted you did, once you see the difference. Imagine seeing the world through sunglasses, with all sorts of defects and strange colours applied. Then one day you decide to take them off, so you see the world as it is. Calibration removes all the randome deficiencies that your montor is adding to your photography. Until your monitor is calibrated you don't have any way to know what your images look like.
I have been looking at monitor calibration too. I use two monitors and i can see such a difference between them, even if all settings are equal.
It seems like it could be a major issue when processing portraits.
You are almost right. It is a major issue, period. Seriously the key word is major.
Like most folk I trusted my monitor, and that is normal. Then I sent a client a commercial photo I had spent 2 day photoshoping to perfection. Her reply was that she wanted a welder's screen in the background darkening as it was very blue. It had completely removed it, as far as I was concerned, so suggested she get get her screen calibrated. Then I thought I should get mine done too, to be on the safe side. I had calibrated it a couple of months earlier but not since. I was staggered that after I recalibrated my monitor the invisible welder's screen was vivid blue and all sorts of things I had perfected, looked wrong. So now I calibrate before every edit. This may be more than needed but wasting days of my life making images that are not as I want them but not even being able to be sure they are reasonable makes no sense.
Once you calibrate you will know. Until you calibrate you will never realise how critical it is. There is a reason why pros calibrate. Their livlihood depends on delivering great work and calibration gives us the control needed.
The daft thing is it is not expensive, especially compared to everything else in photography, and can be used to great advantage on every assignment, unlike many more expensive items which only get used on some or even very few jobs, so the value for money is massive. Calibration has a huge impact on your overall quality.
What do you use for calibration? ColorMunki Smile is supposed to pretty good.
I suspect they are all pretty good. Essentially they do the same job and their can be no excuse for not doing it well.
I use an X-rite i1 Display Pro, selected almost at randome because I am no expert on the various alternative products in the sector that migh be every bit as good or even better in some mysterios way, for all I know, but it seems to work well.
The interface communications with the user is quite poor. I hope someone from X-rite is reading, as the guidance is writen by an expert, who has not been able to make the product totally understandable and usable by those without their undoubted expertise. That is not to say they have not tried but it is the usual thing of an expert not being willing to seek help from a typical, intelligent and articulate, non colour management expert user with an annal and analytical questioning mind and an unwillingness to let things be left vague and confusing. If they want my help, I'd appreciate the work and the chance to make their product much much better, for myself and the typical customer/user.
At the end of the calibration process this product does show reference images to illustrate the quality of the calibration, and the option to compare the before and after calibration results. This inspires confidence even if I am not sure I have done everything perfectly. I am a 40 years experienced photographer, trained in the days of film and trying to maintain the same very high standards in the digital world, despite no formal digital training in digital and badly deliverd digital product instructions and advice.
X-rite, call me. Or indeed any calibration product manufacturer. I can help make your customers be happy customers and increase your reputation.
This is a really nice photo in my opinion. Yes it's a little dark but I do think it's an easy fix in Lightroom which is what I use as well. Maybe just increase the exposure, highlights and adjust your white and black points. That will probably help a lot.