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.