Lauren

Hi Marion:

I think Lauren has chosen a great photographer to take a photo to add to her portfolio.

My caveat on what follows is that I'm an amateur photographer who does not do portraits but would like to start.

Is there some skin texture that could be left on her forehead and her cheeks? Just wondering what she would look like if the opacity of the re-touching layers on those features was backed off a bit to make her skin seem more natural.  I'm  also wondering about a bit of a crop on the right side,  maybe up to her shoulder,  and about 1/3 of the space on the left side.

Your reaction to these comments will help me a great deal since I obviously haven't got a clue.

Thanx and Regards, John

Hey John,

First thing, it's Mar_L_on :)

I appreciate the comments, and actually I did crop it tighter on the shoulder, but I still left a bunch of space to the left... that's just kind of my style, it's not for everyone but it's how I compose my images.

As per the skin, Lauren had great skin and I didn't do a great deal retouching her forehead or her cheeks... Though I did dodge the highlights a bit so maybe that's where you're missing some of the texture. I'm not a big fan of the plastic-skin, no-pore look either. The place I had to retouch the most was her chin, which was a bit red with some imperfections. 

Thanks for looking!

Marlon:

Thank you for feedback. It is greatly appreciated. I fully respect your style. I think space has power in photos. Mostly, I try to envisage adding it rather than taking it away,  and your perspective has reinforced that.

Sorry about replacing the L in your name with and I.  I think it is the font that intersects the r with the l that had me believing that there was a gap in the l. Just goes to show me how perception differs from reality. When I look at your name above this photo, I still easily see the  l as an i.

Regards, John

It's fine, lol, when I see the name Marion I usually think it's mine!