STUDIO PORTRAIT EDITING WORKFLOW
When shooting a subject close up in a studio, arguably the expected outcome can be different from shooting an image on location outdoors. This is not always the case and can lead to heated debate about retouching. I maintain that retouching has been around for almost as long as photography itself and darkroom manipulation of images was considered to be a definite skill. Photoshop has a bad name in the public domain and is synonymous with over manipulation of an image to create an unreal effect. However, it is part of our skill (not to say our duty!) to make sure that this does not happen. It is highly likely that your subject would like some blemishes removed and I always try to build a relationship with my subjects so that we can discuss this during a shoot.
Here is my workflow for a studio shot. I have assumed the downloading and selection of image process has already been done. If you would like to see my method, please see the blog How I Edit my Images:
BASIC
· Undertake edits in the Basic panel of Lightroom (LR)/Adobe Camera Raw (ACR), eg Exposure/Highlights/Shadows
SKIN SMOOTHING
· Open Masking panel, select Brush, turn on Show Overlay and paint over skin of face, excluding lips and eyes
· Scroll down the Adjustment Panel to Effects
· Decrease Texture and Clarity to blur skin slightly (not too much!)
HIGHLIGHTS
· If highlights of cheek, brow and shoulder are too bright, create a new mask and reduce highlights in the Basic panel
OPEN IMAGE IN PHOTOSHOP
· Save image as __.psd
· REMOVE BLEMISHES
Create a layer copy: Layer>New Layer. Rename as ‘Skin’, enlarge image and use Spot Healing Brush Tool to remove blemishes (I appreciate this can be done in LR but old habits die hard and by doing it on a separate layer, it is non-destructive)
· REMOVE STRAY HAIR
Create a Layer Copy and rename ‘Hair’, enlarge image and use the Clone Stamp Tool to paint over stray hair, sampling from the background as near to the stray bits as possible. Blend any obvious colour changes on the background by reducing opacity of Clone Stamp to 30% and paint over as necessary. It’s probably best to leave a certain amount of hair to make it look natural.
If any hair has strayed onto face/forehead, it is easier to remove using the Spot Healing Brush.
· EYES
Create a Layer Copy and rename ‘Eyes’. Enlarge image and blend the edge of the contact lenses (if worn) to the colour of the white of the eye and remove some of the capillaries. Use a combination of Spot Healing Tool, Clone Stamp Tool and Eyedropper to select eye white and Brush Tool to paint over.
When editing is finished, select eyes (whites and pupils) with the Quick Selection Tool and sharpen: Filter > Sharpen > Smart Sharpen > 250%. Deselect. I would normally sharpen a image in LR/ACR but with a portrait, selective sharpening is all that is needed.
Have a general look around the image at a large magnification (Cmd/Ctrl +) and have a careful look to see if anything else needs adjusting, eg are there still over-shiny highlights not successfully removed in LR/ACR, unwanted creases in neck or under arms? Pay careful attention to fingers and nails! Unsightly blemishes on the fingertips that I removed with the Spot Healing Brush and chipped nail polish can be retouched.
Above all, try not to create an unnatural person by over-editing the image!
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