Hi OSP!

Happy Tuesday everyone!

Is there an easy way to remove bags from under the eyes in a portrait? Recently, I shot a few headshots for an actress and now she doesn't like the bags under her eyes. I'm using Lightroom and PS CS3. Any advise is greatly appreciated, thanks!

Patch tool (Under the spot healing tool)... Voila...

Great work, Jamie! I was going to say to try the clone tool in Lighten mode--do it on its own layer and then you can lower the opacity if it looks too fake. But Jamie's way sounds easier.

Hey Sam
I tried the patch tool and then changed the opacity and then press cntrl+sft+N and color corrected a little. I am sure you can do a better job with the full size but this should be good enough for her. She has to know she has them and it is who she is.






Edit: Looks like I wasnt the only one with that idea.

For removing bags, I tend to duplicate the layer, do the patch tool on the new layer and then reduce the layer opacity to taste.

just as a friendly fyi, you can save time by doing the patch tool, then while the selection is still selected, go to edit>fade and bring down the intensity that way. i heart the fade command.

kate

Clone tool, 20% opacity, taken from cheek or forehead usually. lol

For future shooting a pan reflector under the face will throw some light upward and help with that. For real beauty lighting think clamshell lighting, top and bottom.

This is what I do.. on a seperate layer of course.. I never take them out completely, my crap-photographer totally made the area under my and my husbands eyes completely flat in our e-pictures and it was ridiculous. So I generally soften them but I will leave a shadow if something is supposed to be there.

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate it! I'm rushing to catch a train to cover the Obama

I basically shot this session for free ($50.00) because this young lady is the girl friend of a close friend. We agreed over the phone that we would shoot for 30 mins, I'd edit them that day as she needed them asap for this publication. We agreed that if she liked my work we would then schedule another session where we would shoot multiple looks, outfits and locations for her to use.

She postponed the appt by 30 mins (her make up artist was late), then she showed up 30 mins late with three outfits. I went with it and actually lost track of the time and we ended up shooting for at least an hour with multiple looks. I have 200+ images to edit and didn't charge her anything extra.

This morning I sent her 14 shots, all edited (eyes whitened, skin smoothed) and she just sent me an email message saying she hates them all because her eyes are too puffy.

Now, is it my fault that she stayed out all night the night before the shoot? And, since it would take time to properly correct 200+ images I don't feel I should do that for free. Help me out, does my attitude/approach need correction?

Did you already tell her you'd give her 200 images? I think I would give her very few images.. 200 is a bit overkill for headshots.

Send her all 200 unedited in an online gallery and tell her if she sees one she likes, you'll edit THAT ONE. Any others that she wants retouched will be $50 per image or whatever your fee is. Or, offer to do a reshoot with proper rest and better under-eye lighting. Don't over-edit the bags. She needs to look like she looks if she's going for acting jobs. She doesn't need to look retouched. Nothing personal, but edits shown above LOOK retouched.

For removing bags, I tend to duplicate the layer, do the patch tool on the new layer and then reduce the layer opacity to taste.

OOOOh thanks for that!!! I usually do the layer then reduce opacity too, but this could be quicker

Amd i agree with the "less is more' school of thought when it comes to editing that sort of thing. People still need to look like themselves.

That is how I do it too.

Just be honest with her and tell her you are a really busy man and will retouch one or two for free but any others will be for a fee or hourly rate. Don't sell yourself short. She is literally asking you to change her face. I hope you had fun in Chicago.

Here's my attempt mostly clone tool 39/45, slight dodging of the bags, slight smudge tool on the lashes... Dude like this is way too much work for the money you asked. Post is where I like to have fun, this is work! It's not perfect but it's the direction I would go in.

I think that's way too much.


I wouldn't even show her one done that much. It's too much and makes her eyes look different from how they really look. She has big eyes. So what? Just make the darkness underneath less dark. Don't make it go away completely.

Jules, they're bulbous, Sam said they were puffy. I was trying to give her the benefit of the doubt. I agree Jules. I neglected to mention the cloning was on a seperate layer no problem in backing it off.

i just tell them to get some sleep.

fwiw, 200 is way too many and overwhelming. the most i would give her to choose from for editing is 20-30 max.

Sam, your frame is classy, like a poster I'd have hanging in my kitchen. Nice.



I'm a casting agent. I need an actress with big eyes. I choose her.

i was going to say the same thing about his frame!

Kubota's "dark line eraser" action works well.

++++++++++++1

Jules, I understand that models and actors need be a la natural. Sam has to explain that to her. Smile Jules

Thank you everyone! You guys are truly awesome and I am blessed to be able to call you friends. I'm at my "day" job but will respond to everyone later. Again, THANK YOU for all of the help!