WNY Models

I've been working with models and photographers for a while now and I'm starting to take pictures of my own-- since I'm not a photographer and don't know what I am doing, I'd like to get advice on changing lighting in Photoshop / Other Picture editors. Should I do it? If so, am I doing it properly?

This photo is the unedited, naturally lit photo:


This one has been sharpened and the lighting has been changed:


Thanks in advance!

I don't think you really changed the lighting. It's still coming from the same direction(s), etc. but you did adjust the contrast and added a vignette. It looks good to me except you might want to back off on the shirt. You lost detail in the subject's left arm.

Instead of spending all that time in PS, why not take a workshop or get some pointers from a photographer on how to get the look you want from light captured in camera. Many times when you try too hard to change things post capture, you get some funky things going on that look fake. Not that you did in your example but if taken too far in PS, it can happen.

There's certainly nothing wrong with enhancing an image or creating something that's beyond photography.

Keep shooting.

The more you get into photography the more you realize just how important time is.

Why spend 10 minutes making corrections ito a photo in photoshop to get it where you want it when it takes a minute or so to set up the scene before pushing the shutter? Multiply that 10 minutes to altering dozen or so images to the same way and you realize just how important time is. Mr. Hatch is right, the more you manipulate, the more "fake" it looks.

Hook up with a pro - yes. Read lots of books and magazines - most definitely. Get honest critiques from those you know and respect - absolutely. The best way to learn, however, is to get out and shoot. Learning how to manipulate the light, about lighting ratios and their effects and how to get the desired look is best learnt by trying it and keeping records of what you did and when. When you do get the desired result, you can consult the notes and do it again.

If you are shooting 50 to 100 images a day and learning from them, your images will improve by leaps and bounds.

Keep posting

Mark