Over at I ♥ Faces, they post an image every Friday for everyone to borrow and use their own methods of editing to make that picture look better. This one isn’t a contest, but it challenges us with something new every week to see if we can improve an image by putting our editing skills to the test. So this week we got Mr. Handsome! Here he is, unedited.

BEFORE

AFTER -cool version

AFTER -really cool version

POST-PROCESSING DETAILS:
*I use Photoshop CS4 & also a few of the Totally Rad Actions to edit most of my images and this one in particular.
~Yin/Yang (around eyes, on handsm and parts of the hair)
~Flattened Image
~Clone stamped some of the green underneath his right eye
~Created separate layer from around his right eye
~Highlighted the new layer and changed the color balance from the CS4 Adjustment menu (reduced yellows/greens)
~Flattened Image
~Boutwell Magic Glasses (100%)
~Copied his left eyeball using lasso (5 pixels) and pasted on his right eyeball where there was a lot noise and loss of detail
~Flattened Image
~Did Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Color Balance using CS4 and then did the following (Blue +30, Magenta -10, Cyan -10)
~Yin/Yang around eyes again to brighten and darken a little bit around eyelids
~Pro-Retouch to slightly soften skin and lips
~+Contrast (20%)
~Grandma’s Tap Shoes (20%)
~Using lasso tool at 50 pixels, I created a new layer from electing the outside edges
~Selected the background layer and decreased levels in the Photoshop Menu to create a slight vignette
~Flattened Image
~Using CS4, brightened level of overall image
~Cool as a Cucumber (20%)
~Pool Party (20%)
~Antique Tone (50%)

And there you have it!!

Being soooooooo busy with weddings and other portrait session, it’s been a WHILE since I’ve been able to play around with fashion photography (which really is my favorite style to shoot). Today I was able to work with the fabulous Lola, and we decided to hit up the Carolinas Aviation Museum and do a 1940′s inspired aviation shoot. This girl is just a natural beauty and really knows how to rock it! Courtney did such a beautiful job with her makeup & hair too. Brides, you need to give Courtney a call! She REALLY knows what she’s doin’. The gorgeous hair piece/veil was created by Baroque And Roll, and you MUST go see her other hair creations. I strongly urge all of you brides to step outside the box a little and do something like this instead of the traditional white veil. It is SO chic! And of course a HUGE thank you to Alin, my hubby-wubby, who stood out in the heat today to help me with the lighting. Thank you babe, and I love you so much!

I have SOOOOO much to post in the next week or two. Come back and check everyday for more from my fashion shoots. I will also be posting a TON of images from my mini overnight getaway with Alin in Charleston. I don’t have too much time today to post a long one, but I do want to leave you with a sneak peek from what went on this morning at the Aviation Museum with Lola. Don’t forget to comment!

FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS:
Camera: Canon 5D Mark II
Lens: Canon 24-70mm 2.8
Lighting: 2 Pocket Wizard Plus II’s & a Canon 580 EXII Flash

Post Processing: TRA

TRA Recipe:
*Yin/Yang (where needed)
*Boutwell Magic Glasses (100%)
*Green With Envy (eyes and lips)
*Punch Out! (30%)
*Select-O-Pop (on eyes, hair, veil)
*Pro-Retouch (on lips, and little bit around chin area)
*Get Faded-Autumn (10%)