BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: New Answers

Photography Question 

Dolly L. Davis
 

Harsh Shadows on face


I had my first wedding a week ago. There are harsh shadows on the face, and I have tried many things to fix them, actions, layers, etc... I get lots of noise from fixing them also. Is there a company I can email them to and pay to have them fixed? I haven't been able to make them look good trying to fix them, and I don't know what else to do.


To love this question, log in above
June 29, 2008

 

W.
 
Hi Dolly,

if you can post a couple that are typical we might be able to see if there's anything that could be done to improve them.


To love this comment, log in above
June 29, 2008

 

Dolly L. Davis
 
 
  Edit attempt 1
Edit attempt 1

Dolly L. Davis

 
  Edit Attempt 2
Edit Attempt 2

Dolly L. Davis

 
 
Ok, I am going to try to put them here now.


To love this comment, log in above
June 29, 2008

 

Dolly L. Davis
 
 
 
OOPS! Here are two unedited ones.


To love this comment, log in above
June 29, 2008

 

Dolly L. Davis
 
 
 
Sorry, I am trying to learn to load photos here. :(


To love this comment, log in above
June 29, 2008

 

Dolly L. Davis
  Well, they dont seem to be loading here, I keep getting a message. Here is my gallery, would you please look there. I have two unedited ones, first two on page. The next two are my attemps at editing them. Thanks so much, Dolly!!!

http://www.betterphoto.com/gallery/gallery.php?memberID=228157


To love this comment, log in above
June 29, 2008

 

W.
 
Imo you did as well as can be expected with those 2 photos, julie. I think they would get worse, not better, if you did any further editing.

You may appreciate the application of fill-flash for the next occasion...


To love this comment, log in above
June 29, 2008

 
- Elida Gutierrez

BetterPhoto Member
Contact Elida Gutierrez
Elida Gutierrez's Gallery
  Knowing the conditions in which you did this wedding, let me tell you that your work in the second edition it's great.


To love this comment, log in above
June 29, 2008

 

Pete H
  Dolly,

I agree with W.S

This sun angle should be avoided at all costs. On light skinned people, the ratio from shadow to light is quite high.


I know you were trying to center them within the arch in the background.

A fill flash would work, although it would have to be a high powered one.


Pete


To love this comment, log in above
June 29, 2008

 

Dolly L. Davis
  Thank you all so much for your help. I did order the flash, bracket and sync cord for the wedding, but after I ordered and paid, I got an email saying two of the items were put on back order, so I didn't get to use a speedlight for the wedding. I was hired 9 days before the wedding, and that didn't give me much time to get some of the things I needed.

I tried and tried to talk to the bride about doing the portraits in the shade, but she wouldn't. She wanted them done at the arch. What a learning experience! I have spent hours and hours on trying to make the pics look as good as possible. So many more to do, too! Thank you again everyone.


To love this comment, log in above
June 29, 2008

 

Matt Gerhart
  I know Im alittle late for some input on this but I think the 2nd attempt looks pretty good. And I bet someone with an untrained eye wouldnt even notice any shadows.

good luck on the rest of the photos


To love this comment, log in above
June 29, 2008

 

A C
  try the dodge tool set to shadows, it'll lighten up the shadows without ruining the highlights

pretty good editing so far!


To love this comment, log in above
June 29, 2008

 

Jerry Frazier
  i would never let a client tell me where to take photos. but, i'm sure you've learned that lesson. I don't see anything here that could have been adjusted for though. you either expose for the faces, or you expose for the sky, and you have to pick if you are not going to use flash. in this case, you exposed for the sky. what the bride didn't understand is that had you exposed for the faces, the entire background might have been washed out, or "blown out" as it's called. so, it wouldn't have been pretty, like she wanted it.

i think they are fixable. however, what I would do is give them to the client as they are, kind of like saying , 'see, I told you'. and, then if she asks them to be fixed, tell her your 'fixing fee'. also explain that's why you wanted to do them in a different spot.

Hope this helps,
Jerry


To love this comment, log in above
July 01, 2008

 

Dolly L. Davis
  Matt, Cheylann and Jerry, thank you so much! It has been a chore fixing them. I won't let someone tell me where to take them again. It has been a lot of work trying to fix them. Thank you so much for your help and input. It was 9 days of doing nothing but hours of editing! I never want to go through this again. I learned a lot of lessons! I am done editing! :) Thanks so much!


To love this comment, log in above
July 01, 2008

 

W.
 
 
  0847_B4nAfter
0847_B4nAfter

W.

 
 

I got just a tad more definition in the shadow parts by setting the shadows to 100% lighter (in the shadows/highlights panel) in CS3.


To love this comment, log in above
July 01, 2008

 

Oliver Anderson
  I photoshop up wedding photos, I get $75 an hour for color correction, brightening and simple corrections. $150 an hour for more advanced if you're interested.


To love this comment, log in above
July 01, 2008

 

Dolly L. Davis
  Thanks so much W.S., I haven't found that yet on CS2, so maybe its only in CS3. I may must upgrade!

Oliver, thanks so much for the offer. I am going to meet with them Saturday, and after I meet with them, I will let you know about fixing them!


To love this comment, log in above
July 02, 2008

 

Jerry Frazier
  I charge more than Oliver, but if he doesn't work out, let me know. I can defintely fix this for you.

Sorry Oliver, I love you and all, but money talks. :)


To love this comment, log in above
July 02, 2008

 

Oliver Anderson
  Hahaha...that's OK Jerry. I just moved from the LA/OC market so I'm used to that. If it wasn't worth it people wouldn't pay...Every Bride wants to have a few photos on their walls, nightstand, HUSBANDS OFFICE that are perfect. Remember the value of setting up the shot properly in the first place and you make post production much less an issue.


To love this comment, log in above
July 02, 2008

 

Jerry Frazier
  That's why I don't do post-production anymore. I shoot pretty good these days. Don't really even need to tinker. I have someone do basic color correction, and I'm done.


To love this comment, log in above
July 02, 2008

 
Log in to respond or ask your own question.