Another mistake made -- please help

[liz_cook]

<center><img src="http://www.lizsamson.com/uploaded_images/example.jpg" border="0"></center>

 

<P>I made the mistake of trusting an assistant 100%. She has worked for me many times and usually produces

excellent work. This time I sent her off to take the groom's portraits and family shots without me, so that we

could get more done in less time. Every single image she took of the groom and his family (extended family --

parents, grandparents, bridal party, etc.) has a huge sun glare in the image! I am beside myself. I know this

bride is NOT going to be happy. </p>

 

<P>So my questions:</P>

 

<P>1. Is it possible to completely photoshop this glare out? I have never successfully done that and made it look

immaculate. Any advice?</P>

 

<P>2. Should I bring this issue up when presenting the images to the bride? I usually just give them a CD package

and let them take them home and review the images themselves. Should I bring this up immediately and offer $$

back and a chance to re-take images (I pay for tux rental, etc.)? I can't imagine them being willing to do that

-- with the extended family and everything coming from out of town.</P>

 

<P>We did take other images of the groom with his party and parents in another location, so there ARE back-up

images. But we do not have other options for the images with the grandparents and extended family in them. </P>

 

<P>I just do not know what to do. Any advice at all? Does this merit an entire 100% money-back situation? I do

have a contract, but I am more concerned about the bride's satisfaction.</P>

 

<P>Thanks in advance for all suggestions and advice offered.</P>

[Jerry_]

Had the 'glare' been in the faces, you would have a major issue. As it now looks, you should just 'clean up' one image and show the bride what can be done. When the bride makes her choices, spend some time on the computer and clean up those images. (Remember, the wedding is about people images, not the shrubs.)

 

 

Money back? For what? You can correct the images in Photoshop.

[rffffffff]

really its not that big of a deal... assuming you have enough megapixels, you could crop those horizontally for the quickest fix, but photoshopping the glare out of there wouldnt be too difficult, it will just take time.

 

I think there is too much headroom in the picture right off the bat, so cropping a lot would be my first option and you'll have less to fix.

[michael_mays]

I think the pic is to far away anyway and the grass is dead crop it. it might end up being an odd size but a better pic.

 

Good Luck

[liz_cook]

Some of them do have a glare in the faces. I am sure it's possible to photoshop them, I guess my question is -- how? This is not something I have ever had to do before.

 

<P align="center"><img src="http://www.lizsamson.com/uploaded_images/example2.jpg" border="2"></P>

[paul_sokal___dallas__tx]

I agree with the other responders: crop. Even without the flare, they will be much better picture. In the one just above, you've got lots of back ground distractions-plants, landscape light, blown out sidewalk, etc-that should be cropped out. Some clone stamping or even the patch tool should take care of the flare above them.

[gpjoell3]

Liz, just use the stamp tool in Photoshop. It took me less then 30 seconds to sample a part of the tree holding down the Alt Key and then dragging my mouse over the sun spot. You can use a pen pad too. You can then sample a small part of the Grooms hair and cover the sun spots there. Now, if you really want help, then show us the worst photo. So far these samples are very easy to correct.

[amanda___minnesota]

I find that a lens hood is key to avoid this... and a pretty 'cheap' investment. I have images where sunspots - flair - are still on the images, (yes deliberate!) but I like it there... and the images are more 'candid' than formal... You'll be fine!<div></div>

[mgk1966]

If you absolutely can't crop or stamp, a last resort would be to lasso the area (conveniently in a nice circle shape) and fix the local hue/color a little. Black and white can make it a bit less distracting too.

 

Just me, but I wouldn't bring it up to the bride. She might not notice or might not care. If she brings it up to you, then do what you can to make her happy. The important thing is you have a picture of groom & parents, nobody's head or feet cut off, eyes open, good exposure, in focus, decent background, even a little hair light on mom.

[liz_cook]

Thanks for the advice and reassurance that it's "not that bad." Also, I appreciate the additional critiques!

 

There are about twenty images with the glare. The first one I showed was the strongest glare, but probably the easiest to fix through cropping. I will take the advice and not mention it to the bride and just see if everything goes over smoothly!

 

Thanks guys :)

[niccoury]

What about getting creative with your post-processing? Do some cool b-w editing and in PS, it should get rid of it artistically.

[francie_baltazar]

I agree that a lens hood will take care of this as well as I use a UV/Haze fiter which all but eliminates this issue. you can easily photoshop these photos - none of them are bad enough to not fix in a really short amount of time... I wondering if she was checking her work - I check my work in sunlight or shadow to insure that I'm not getting spots or dark areas showing up... no folks I not chimping just making sure I am getting what I am seeing...

[david_schilling___chicago_]

A lens hood might have prevented this but I doubt it. I don't agree with the "reassurance that it's "not that bad."....actually, this should have been avoided in the first place and should have been noticed at the time of capture. Fixing them in PS may be possible but will also be a PIA. I'm sorry, anyone can make a mistake but I'd have some major concerns about trusting this 2nd shooter in the future.

[wedding-photography-denver]

Very fixable. I would show them as you are happy to have yourself/work presented. If that includes a fix, so be it. If not, show it the way youl think best.

 

easy fix on those types of shot largely, just time consuming.

[fotografz]

As long as the flare hasn't affected the subjects faces, this is a no brainer fix that will take you less than a minute to

completely correct.

 

So, just correct it as you would any other error. No need to even tell the client.

 

Do NOT use a clone tool for this fix ... instead use the Patch Tool in Photoshop ... with the top menu selection set to

"Source." Then make a selection of the flared ares one at a time and move the selection to an unaffected area of the

bush. The Patch Tool make such corrections seamless looking because it duplicates the texture (or in this case

leaves and branches). Heck you can even add some flowers where there were none : -)<div></div>

[luca_ragogna]

I really don't mind lens flare at all. I also add it on purpose at times. If that was the most intense flare out of the bunch I wouldn't bother fixing it, and it is completely fixable.

</p>

<p>

If you present it as a mistake the bride will see as such and you'll have to compensate her, but if you deal with it as a creative treatment to your photo it will be more warmly received.

</p>

<p>

Luca