sirlensalot Loc: Arizona

Kudos to your camera, lens, tripod and editing software. I think it took the man behind the lens to put it all together. lol Congratulations!

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

Don't mention your post processing to them.

A10 Loc: Southern Indiana

Enjoy the accolades. You can not make a silk purse from a sows ear, so you started with a good product. I too use Portrait Pro and know a little help is usually better than a lot.

jpgto Loc: North East Tennessee

Congratulations Jerry. It's the person behind the camera and lens that makes it happen.

Wolfwillow

Good job Jerry! No matter how good your equipment is, good results come from good photographers with solid ideas and planning.

steve L Loc: Waterville Valley, New Hampshire

Nice !!!!

Pixie Jackie Loc: New Hampshire seacoast

Hi Jerry -- I've been away for a few days so I'm late in posting this. (Maybe your problem is already resolved.) It's always gratifying to hear that people like your work. What was discouraging for me to read was what you wrote later: "Now I have to print copies for everyone to take home." My advice is: Don't do it! After more than 40 years of taking pictures, I've been in that situation too often--where you want to make people happy and make prints for them. BUT they're taking advantage of your good nature! It takes SO MUCH TIME to make prints, deciding on sizes, what kind of paper, using up expensive inks, etc.---IT'S NOT WORTH IT!!! Now when I take pictures of people--especially when MANY people are involved--I send the pictures to Shutterfly and have Shutterfly send them e-mails so that they can look at the pictures--and THEY CAN ORDER WHAT THEY WANT FROM SHUTTERFLY! After all, that's why Shutterfly is in business!!!! Let Shutterfly do the printing! And if there are only a few people involved (individuals are always asking me to take pictures of them for Christmas cards, for advertising, for families--and someone wanted nice pictures of their DOG!!!) after taking the pictures for them, downloading them to my computer and fixing a few problems, I show the people quick prints that I've made, they select the ones they like, and then I send those pictures via e-mail to the nearest Walgreen's and have the people pick up their prints there! In the towns that I've lived in, the local library, the historical society, etc. would ask me to take pictures "pro bono" for them. In the old days of film, I would take the rolls of film and afterwards, on site, hand the rolls of film to whoever wanted the pix and let THEM take care of having the film developed and prints made. (No pro would ever do that! It shows any "mistakes".) But I wasn't about to spend time in a darkroom for hours, carefully developing the film and being sure to make perfect prints!!!! I wanted to spend my hours in the darkroom to work on my OWN "artistic endeavors" instead of being taken advantage of! And it was fun to look at their promotional literature later on and see MY pictures and think "Hey, that looks pretty good!" So the alternative is: If they want pictures that badly, let them go to a pro who wouldn't mind making money for all the work involved. -- Jackie

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Retouching has always been a component of traditional portraiture in photography. Expert retouching will de-emphasize certain undesirable lines or wrinkles, remove blemishes and correct varios facial issues that can not be entirely addressed at the camera by means of savvy lighting, posing and camera placement. This treatment should not alter the subject's likeness or be applied in such a way where it becomes distracting or noticeable to the extent where it calls attention to itself. Retouching is not a cure-all or remedy for poor camera work.

Over the years, clients of professional portrait photographers have come to expect some degree of flattery. In my over 50 years in the business, I have seldom encountered a client who wanted their portraits to be unflattering and ask to be portrayed by showing "warts and all"! There are also dramatic portrait studies where retouching is not required or may be considered counterproductive in expressing or interpreting the subject's character, or age.

Expert retouchers know what to retouch and what not to retouch and most importantly, when to to STOP retouching an image so it will not become "plastic" or totally fake. Some photographers feel that every image must be documentary and nature and be completely unadulterated or manipulated. That philosophy has its place but would not always bode well in the portrait business.

@ the OP- it's is perfectly understandable that when folks see flattering well crafted portraits of themselves they will equate that with professional quality work. Take their compliments graciously and don't berate yourself. Besides you new retouching software, perhaps you posses some natural talents and acquired skills that you are not aware of. Post some of you results! Perhaps a professional career in photography is in your future.

plessner Loc: North Dakota

way to go---let's see a couple of them!

fstoprookie Loc: Central Valley of California

Good evening Jerry - I read your opinions on this site all the time - You should be proud at the reactions you got. I'm not surprised at them, you have a solid grasp of the hobby/profession. Comments and posts you, RMarley(Hope I spelled it correctly) and a few others have surely helped a lot of us that regularly visit this site. Congratulations and thanks for your wisdom.

rdrechsler Loc: Channel Islands Harbor, CA

Congrats. Those rewarding experiences will continue to build your confidence and maybe, someday, you'll be selling your work if you want.