Softening Skin in Photoshop

Skin Softening + Brightness + Contrast + Sharpening Adjustments

Softening or Smoothing Skin in Photoshop

In my opinion (being a natural light photographer) photographing clients outdoors is ideal. However, in full natural light all of our skin's uniqueness tends shows up!  To the naked eye the subject is moving and little details aren't as noticable, but once captured, frozen in time, every little detail starts to show. 

As a photographer, I like the details but I don't want those details to keep us from seeing the beauty of the moment! So, even on the softest littlest of skin, I like to do a little smoothing. 

My favorite way to accomplish this in Photoshop is using a CoffeeShop Action. They are free (please donate to the site) and easy to use! I can use the same basic concepts and create this look myself, but Rita does it brilliantly. For this tutorial I used Powder Room 3. 

My steps:
(1) Run Power Room 3 in photoshop
(2) Use white soft brush at 100% to soften skin
(3) Adjust opacity of layer to likeness
(4) Pick Eye Define Layer and not only define eyes but go over the lines in and around the face to give them a little more definition. 

Sometimes I use the whitening layers and brightening if needed. 

When I'm done I merge the layers and continue adjustments. 

The difference is subtle but needed!

Don't forget to link up!

Show us what you would do with this photo!

There are some exciting things and more guest posting photographer/bloggers coming up soon. I can't wait! 

RESOURCES:

PowderRoom 3 

coffeeshop-actions-and-presets.html

MAY CHALLENGE!

Welcome back for the May Challenge! I'm hoping to get a few more of you guys editing and linking up this month so be sure to share on Facebook, Twitter, and your blogs!

I started photographing this little girl's little brother in January and get to spend a year (hopefully longer) watching them grow. During his sessions we try to squeeze in a few with big sister and she just steals the show! If you'd like to see a few more of their previews, you can see them by liking Gray Mornings Photography on Facebook.

Click to download larger version. 

Here are the details:

1. When you link up, please use your edited photo as the thumbnail! (NOTE: We will not have photo thumbnails this month)
2. Link directly to your blog post or flickr photo for the challenge. All other links will be deleted. 
3. Don't forget so share your editing steps, or some tips and tricks so we can learn from each other!
4. Don't forget to use the #editmechallenge hashtag when you share your posts on Twitter. 
5. The linky will open at the time of the post on Tuesday, May 7th and end May 31st. 
6. Don't forget to visit the other participants, and leave some comment love! As usual, the more you participate the more feedback you will get!
7. One (or more) of you will be featured during the last week of the challenge! 

I can't wait to see what you do! 

If you would like to submit an editing tutorial, please email editmechallenge@gmail.com. 

April Feature!

Getting going again has been a little tough over here at Edit Me, but lets keep it going! I'm hoping many of you will still link up before the end of the month! You still have time.

While I'm recruiting guest posters, we may not see many tutorials mid-month unless I have the time to write them myself. Fortunately, Anne from Hot Coffee Mama explained her steps for us to add a sunflare in Adobe Elements so I will be featuring her edit and tutorial with you guys today! 

Here's what Anne did: Opened in Photoshop Elements and cloned out minor imperfections and distractions. Adjusted levels, added soft light layer 30%, new layer gold 15% screen. Used coffee shop's sun flare action and adjusted to my liking. Adjusted brightness and contrast, did a slight burning around the edges to make the girl pop more, reduced noise slightly and sharpened for web and there you go, more or less. 

Head over to Hot Coffee Mama and I'm sure Anne would be glad to answer any questions you have!


A tutorial on how to add sunflare in elements manually can be found here.

Thanks for participating in the Edit Me Challenge! 

A new Challenge starts May 7th! 

Edit Me is back! April Challenge

Hello long lost Edit Me friends! Anyone still out there? I sure hope so.

I've given this blog and challenge much thought over the last few months. I have even sought advice from friends in the blogging community about just what to do with this space. Finally, I have reached a decision because I terribly miss this learning forum that was once pretty great here, I am officially bringing The Edit Me Challenge back! 

I will probably be tweaking the site a little over the next month or two. For now, it will be just me, Stephanie, with hopefully some guest editors, teachers, and advisers. I hope to make this a place where new photographers can come to learn from those with experience and connect with those who are also just starting out. 

There will be some changes, so here's what you can expect: 

• Monthly Photo Challenges - On the first Tuesday each month there will be a new challenge posted. The photos you will see will come from photographers/bloggers who already have a pretty good grasp on how to use their camera. This challenge will be about growing your skills in editing. The purpose will be to take a well composed  photo (with room for improvement) and making it the best it can be so the client cannot resist. There will be a link up open throughout the month to submit your edit. 
• Editing Tutorials - In the weeks in between challenges there will be posts from experienced photographers (hopefully some who've been here and grown) showing you their own tips and tricks to make that finished product their customer cannot refuse!
• Feedback & Features - On the fourth Tuesday of the month some of you will be featured in a feedback and features post. To be featured, you must have linked up to the challenge and share some tips and tricks about how you edited the photo! I will ask other photographers to anonymously critique the chosen edits and possible offer some tips on how to make it even better OR maybe just an easier way to get the same effect.
• Sponsorship - For now, we won't have any prizes or winners, I will be working on a new featured button for you to grab. Also, Edit Me will be accepting sponsorship and ad swapping beginning in May. I am looking for sponsors to be photo blogs and shops looking to get more exposure, shops that sell actions, textures and templates for photographers, or businesses that provide services and or products for photographers.  

Now, here's what you have all been waiting for... this months photo. This is from a recent portrait session with a very busy little girl. This photo has the potential to be so much more than it already is. I can't wait to see how you guys rise to the challenge! 

click to download photo

Here are the details:

1. When you link up, please use your edited photo as the thumbnail! (NOTE: We will not have photo thumbnails this month)
2. Link directly to your blog post or flickr photo for the challenge. All other links will be deleted. 
3. Don't forget so share your editing steps, or some tips and tricks so we can learn from each other!
4. Don't forget to use the #editmechallenge hashtag when you share your posts on Twitter. 
5. The linky will open at the time of the post on Tuesday, April 2nd and end April 30th. 
6. Don't forget to visit the other participants, and leave some comment love! As usual, the more you participate the more feedback you will get!