I got one question. I face a problem on taking too sharp potrait that the model's wrinkles, black head and big poles are so clear.. How you ppl usually solve this? photoshop? or is there any soft lense to use? or any techniques or settings to share?

Sample pictarz?

For once, out of focus is a good thing. Put the subject slightly out of focus and bam, you have flawless skin.

Good one

Purposely make if OOF huh?

f/1.8 1/250

I don't wanna zoom into so detail, but the fact is, every weakness of the face can be seen.
Just want you people share what usually you ppl do?

Nothing much can be done other than PP-ing.


p/s: Her face is underexposed.

Meaning? everytime you take potrait pictures, where to you focus? the hand? the leg? haha? mostly we focus the face and the eyes right, any other suggestion? any settings to recommend to play around? or any lense which is soft?

---

Added on April 23, 2008, 9:48 pm

Any other suggestion in terms of photo taking techniques wise? Of course PP-ing would be the last option la.. You people usually take the sharpest pictures first then PP?

Yes, that's what I always do. I rather have a freaking sharp image, then only PP to get a not so sharp one.

The sample picture is a bit under exposed in fact. But having said that, if it is properly exposed then the imperfections will show even more!

About focusing for portrait, generally you want to focus on one of the eyes, unless you want to achieve some other effect/look. And one thing to remember about big apertures (below 2) is that the depth of field is very shallow. Depending on your distance and angle, the eyes maybe sharp, but the nose and ears not.

I don't like soft lens and I have one - dunno whether it was by design or the lens is just soft. Anyway, my quick PP solution on PS is to simply apply the 'Glamour Photo' action and adjust curve for better exposure. You should be able to find it on the net.

i dont see any problem of sharpness with your pic, hence, i expected sharper than that. If you think it too sharp ( not in my eye ), u can buy some zoom lenses which are less sharp while achieving creamy bokeh, such as 24-70 f/2.8 or any 70-200 L

Ermmm I don't think a camera can take away imperfections on the face.

So, either get a damn good make-up artist or PP away the imperfections. You think celebrities in magazines look so good everytime? Its all PP-ed.

face is too under expose, maybe next time u should use spot metering.

the only way is to PP it.

good make up first, then dc lenses/soft focus filters, then pp

a good make up + a perfect skin FTW

Photoshop is the best answer. I can understand this as since I was strike by a chicken pox myself n the scar is still there. Too heavy make up is not a good thing esp for male and make up artist acan be expensive.

I dun think the pictures are too sharp la... In fact already OOF...


Actually.... Dunno how to say these....

Basically it is why we choose our subjects well enought that do not have such weakness.... so all problems solved... Can understand ar?

Not to insult anyone la... But just tell you facts that do solve potrait taking...

The most geng potrait masters here are shinchan and AhLeong because they master the most important technique; getting the right gals....

Sometime... these basic technique is much more important than complicated aperture and shutter speed...

This is what I doubted. Those pictures, the model's skins are all flawless, so it's sure those pictures are mostly PP-ed right? Actually just wondering what you ppl usually practice.. nothing much.. I usually PP also, but just too lazy to PP, because PP for these skin flawless cannot be done by batch processing. Sien

thats why... professional photografers, charge per picture very expensive.. (i guess..)

This picture is raw from oven, and I don't want to post something better and clearer than this, this model is my friend.. I upload this picture, I already got all sort of comments.. imagine if I upload zoomed-in clear and sharp face, i cannot imagine what comment I would get hahahaha

I know choosing model is important, but you can't avoid your model's imperfect skins once in a while.. So TheVoIP, usually u also PP? or u rather reject of taking the pictures?? hahaha

Take the example of wedding studio photography. We can see that ALL photos are PPed, and our face/skin blemishes removed. That's how it is I guess... unavoidable.

Choosing the right model helps, but in their case you can't reject customers for having imperfect skin... you just have to use the magic brush.

I never PP so far and dun feel the needs yet... Again, back to basic techniqu, choosing the right subjects...

And you might ask, what if some of your friends ask you to shoot for her... and you know it is hard/almost impossible to get good shots of her... ? Ma reject lo... It is why I use all soft of excusses (even people want to pay me) like "not free", "have to spend time with blah-blah-blah".... Once you reject them for 2 times, people will understand already...

So far I am using this technique to maintain my photo results reputation la.... Or else later photo no good people say I dunno how to take pictures...


I had taken a couple wedding pictures last year because they are not happy with studio version. I was tension also... because they already complait paid services.... Without PP, at the end, they said my pictures much better than thier paid studio (with PP) version.

It is why at this moment, I still dunno how to PP... and not important for me... But I still use PP to re-size my pictures and put my name there la...

Nah, not that you dont know how to take pictures, just that you dont know how to PP.

Its easier to shoot the pretty models and say its good photo compared to shooting a not so pretty model and making her look gorgeous. Maybe its time to up the challenge, VoIP

I know what you mean... kind of agree also...

But.... Remember that...

Shooting pretty models are much more enjoyable process than excessive editing those peoples to upgrade the effects... It is more to which one you enjoy doing?

Haha i rather take photos of animals so.. i cant comment on model photos anyway

But to TS original intention, I think you have to do a certain amount of PP if you want your models to look perfect. Just dont make her look like plastic!

And yes, its more enjoyable shooting pretty models

Sometimes I am wondering.. u know the singaporean singer Sun yanzi? her face is actually very very very rough in real person. But somehow of all the pictures shown everywhere, we don realise that..

For me, I find it more challenging to take pictures of normal girls than professional models.. normal girls can't pose for u, u need to pose them and help them to hide the flaw of their appearance. Professionals all knows how to pose liao.. But of course like TheVoIP said, taking pretty girls picture song ma... SONG SONG ...

---

Added on April 24, 2008, 1:55 pm

Actually if you read my question, I actually want to learn on how to take better pictures if taking models with imperfect skins. I am wondering if you ppl have special techniques.. like how is the exposure, focus length, lense bla bla.. but finally I think we have no choice but PP, that's the message I get.. bo pian..

could be your in camera setting jim. try reducing the contrast and saturation. ur color profile and lighting are also important.

Haha use a lousy lens. The sharper the lens, the more imperfection it picks up

Mind to explain more on this? How to do and what is the impact?

There was a famous brand (I will not say which brand, but anyone tried will know...), 85 f1.4 that I cannot get it focus correctly... And the result can never be sharp at f1.4, including the ex-onwer or no matter how experince you are... or how much you tune or increase the sharpness on camera.... until no choice but to sell... one person after another...

I guess it will do perfectly for him... but too bad it is not Canon version....

Sorry miss out the quote, mind to explain more on this? how to do and the impact?

In human words, go to your 400D menu -> user potrait or faithful mode...

Take Barbera Streisand for example she and her photographer are genius, she always insists on shooting in certain lighting and certain position of her face.

photoshop potrait are so fake..some wedding photos are photoshop beyond recognition..at one glance u will know the PP is too extreme especially on the use of liquidfy function...

And whats genuine? botox? heavy makeup? fake eyelashes? contact lenses? or merely flash techniques? When photographer like the Voip refuse to shoot the less fortunate so whats left to the majority of us. Say if your wife is pretty now and you like to photograph her, what will happen 3-4 years from now and she became saggy 'tong dram'? Will you refuse to photograph her? Tell me those playboy's centrefold dont have cellulite, and Hillary Clinton looks is her looks (I dont have to tell they are photoshop babes). I believe a photographer is just like a painter (Mona Lisa was having rashes when Leornardo painted her, explain why she hid her hand...was told sometimes ago), they paint according to their feel not just their eyes.

Is it wrong to have some fantasy? Theres two type of photographer 1. Journalism photographer - they usually provides true account of the pic - (sometimes faking as well) 2. Beauty/fantasy photographer who provides sort of entertainment in the form of feasting one eyes.
I am not against 'true to pics' photographer as well not against photoshop touching but lets judge on the result rather than techniques. I believe if the subject prefer to be touched up let them no matter how ludricrous you think the outcome maybe, you can only advice and good artist sometimes suggest. And what happen to beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, I guess this is the digital world, its sometimes in the eye of photoshop. Its true too much is not good but I think the right way to comment is 'not the right technique', theres never too much right?

Oops sorry if I m being too emotional here.

what i am trying to say is you guys concentrate too much on outer beauty...potrait is not about taking beautiful object only..u all got it all wrong...

but then again maybe we are out of topic cause TS intention is to ask us how to PP those "defect" out..

let say a old lady ask u to take potrait at the age of 60 you dont want to take? or u PP her and make her look like the age of 20?

Err we know potraits can be a lot of things but TS asked about making pretty girls prettier ma.

So obviously all the answers are focused towards that. If he ask how to make an impactful potrait, then it will be different as that answer will be dependent on the subject.

yeah tat why i say a off topic already...

but just curious..if u do business..got girl come but very ugly beyond PP u reject taking pics of her?

If its business, of course not. But obviously have to manage her expectations.

try to use high iso
so less details captured

ugly or not, its the imperfections you have to worry about. there are many ways to enhance portrait shots in before snapping and in pp. makeup, wardrobe, hair, lighting, pose, angle and whatnot, there's a whole plethora of variables. you can make some1 look way better than they really are despite how they look. and you don't always have to go the extent where you can clearly see its overdone in photoshop.

most simplest way that i find is fix some visible imperfections with the clone or healing brush, apply surface blur, blend it and adjust the opacity and then bring back the some of the details with a light opacity brush. add some noise for that film look and dodge an burn as necessary. you can make a 60 year old look 10 years younger or even 30 years younger, but then it'll just be overkill. moderation is the key.

and the out of focus method is also know as soft focus and they usually tend to raise the exposure compensation up a bit.

Yeah, I am the TS, actually my question is very simple...

I face problems where some girls' face is rough, black heads bla bla.. I want to know is there any technique or any settings to take softer skin, and yet the other parts can be as sharp. Most of you give me PP solutions, some give me don't take those ugly girls' pictures.. I think there must be something else that I can learn..

I know we can do PP. But indeed that's the last choice actually. I am doing PP for those girls.. but I am tired, everytime do those "blur", "smart blur".. it's very time consuming because it cannot be done by batch processing.

So I want to learn if any of you got any ideas.. currently if I face these problems.. like 1=1 -- said, I would turn down the "sharpness" in the profile of the camera.. but the colours or saturation wise, I don't know what to do would be the best.. Anyone can explain?

---

Added on April 25, 2008, 2:39 pm

Raise the exposure compensation? something like make the face abit over-expose so that the flaw is not as clear?

shoot high key

i think u need a makeup artist.

undazztood : u ve got a point

Hi Jim, one easy method by photoshop is using healing brush tool. Another one you make a selection of the skin you want to heal. Using polyganol tool can also - go to filter - blur gausian blur - control the slider till you get the desired result. Good luck and enjoy photography. Perhaps you already know these things.

there's no simple solution. either get good looking models or invest time on makeup and lighting or post processing. there's no way you can get blur and sharpness at the exact locations you want straight from camera. there's just no way to pull that off.

besides its not time consuming to post process. i can do 1 photo touchup in like 15 minutes. filter, mask, brush, repeat as necessary. quality work never come easy.

Jim - http://blog.epicedits.com/2007/12/10/16-in...phy-techniques/

Found that - might be good for you expesially on subject of manipulating overexposure to portrait to achieve smooth result on portrait.

overexposure and high key

There are Photoshop actions which you can use in batch processing, these are useful for those actions which helps you create a soft glow (hint Google "Kubota actions" and "totally rad actions"). Of course these actions cannot remove those really obvious marks (such as moles or large pimples).

Otherwise like what shinchan and undazstood mentioned, the models definitely need a good make-up-artist (MUA). Frankly speaking, there is no other shortcut methods. Why do you think so many people look for good MUA who can work wonders?

Err, less sharp you say? Both the 24-70L and 70-200L are quite as sharp as their equivalent primes

FWIW, the first rule for any std portrait shot, the eyes need to carry the shot, so if they are not in focus and it wasn't intentional, then the portrait is flawed. IMHO it is better to get a sharp shot first, then PP later the parts you want to smoothen out. There's no way around it, cos if you try to run away from PP by using too shallow dof, it shows.