"Before and After" - My first portrait photo editing....go easy on me!

Well here it is; my first successful semi-successful (trial and error) edited photo. I'm hoping that I can use this entry into Mr. Linky's iHeartFaces.com (on their Before and After challenge) since it's not a contest but just for fun. Hopefully I can.  I had to ask because I'm using an old photo that I just edited, instead of the instructions stating to take one older picture and a new one from August.  But as all my friends know our A/C has been a nightmare and then the whole bathtub overflow thing....I'm just thankful we are now entering a new month! Maybe it'll be a new beginning for brighter things to come. Well even if I can't enter their challenge you should still check out their site if you have any hint of passion with photography as it's an awesome place to get tips, tricks, tutorials, meet friends, and ask question with getting great answers too. 


When I first heard about I ♥ Faces it was through visiting my blogger friend Mimi at her blog  He & Me + 3 and I am so glad that I did because in doing so I ♥ Faces has taught me so darn much and has kicked my photography love level up about 10 notches on my belt buckle....I don't even wear belts!!! But reading through their blog, being a member of some of the photo groups, and going through old archives has gained me a world of knowledge in the photography world.  Yeah, and I you thought I knew it all....PUH!!

Okay so here goes: I'll tell you the things I do and don't like in this paragraph. But first the story behind the photo; the top image is of when Jewel had recently awoke a nap after a lovely time at Libby Lu (a place for little girls to get all 'dolled' up) and she had a big red line/dent across her left cheek from a book she fell asleep on which I edited out but not completely because I couldn't figure it out all the way. And as you can see in the top image from just waking up she also had a lot of 'fly away' hairs. Oh and by the way, the make-up she's wearing isn't anything I added with editing, this was from the Libby Lu Boutique she was at for a few hours during the day (by the way this photo is approx. 2-3 years old). I tried my best (wanting to cry though) by smoothing out her skin so it brought back her natural complexion and color but now it just looks like she's wearing  foundation! (Which I don't like) I also widened her eyes a bit and whitened the whites in them (I like). I also whitened her teeth just a tad (very little), nothing major because her teeth already are a good shade of white for still being young. I smoothed and tidied up her hair (which I liked a LOT and removed a lot of the bangy hair  fly aways) which is probably one of the most obvious features from the top and bottom photo. LOL. I did mess up on her nose (right side) because I tried to hard to erase her boogars but erased to much so it looks odd.  I used Portrait Professional but not the Studio newer one like I did here.  Anywho, so here it is anyway.....I can only get better from practice I suppose. So tell me....can you tell? Oh, and I also did a subtle reshaping of her eyebrows, which could have gone either way with just leaving it as it was, but I'm okay that I did this anyhow.


Constructive criticism is very important and wanted/needed so I can work on things more; it's the only way I'll learn.... What I probably should have done as well and will work on some more is lightening up the background; it's too dark.  Although I did lighten it a tad, I probably should have done so more.  I'll work on that on my own at home during some extra free time.

I haven't entered into the 'Before and After' Challenge yet but I'm hoping Amy and Angie might make an exception. If not that's okay, because I would love your opinion just the same!!! And as always constructive critism is great and very desired so I can only make myself a better photo taker and editor.  Lotsaluv ya'll!


**Just read my email from Angie saying that it'd be fine to enter in Mr. Linky's "Before and After" challenge.  Thank you Angie and Amy!

BEFORE

AAAANND....TA DA......

AFTER

Hey, it's no Pablo Picasso or Ansel Adams,  but it's not that bad and  even they had to learn a few things 'eh?