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

It is disheartening to read some of the disrespectful and nasty comments directed at a 95-year-old person. I am, however, I'm not surprised- it seems par for the course around these parts

The OP did not post any of the images in question. He may have done a good job, as per most acceptable standards, or the images are indeed poorly crafted.

His question was, in effect, waht to do about a dissatisfied client. My advice was to do a re-shoot- simple as that! I have been making portraits, professionally, for a lifetime. I know what I am doing and most of my clients are more than satified. I, however, am not perfect or infallible- I make mistakes, take the wrong lighting or camera-angle approach, or miscalculate the degree of retouching, or the client or I just had a bad day. So, I guarantee my work as to re-shoot or refunded! We're all human beings- not AI-driven robots!

The OP mentioned that he is not into retouching. He should have told the client that before undertaking the job. There are alternative methods of "softening" an image other than retouching so those should have been applied. The client specified a close-up image. A 3/4 length image may have beedn more appropriate. Skin softening is not the only problem or remedy, the are many other factors that can create an unflattering portrait.

If the portraits in question are going to be on public display and the subjects are concerned about their appearance, the photographer should be advised of this requirement and if he is ill-equipped to handle the assignment, he should suggest engaging an experienced portrait photogher.

By the way- I have, on occasion, if I am not completely satisfied with a portrait session, asked a client to come in for a re-shoot or an extended choice of images. I do not want a faulty image on display with my signature on it. I would rather let my ego guide me this way rather than against the client.

kmielen Loc: Eastern NC

Let it (her) go.
But save the photo for her obit.

Horseart Loc: Alabama

I have re-read the original post and I have had to re-think my response.
I may have missed something or read too fast, but at 22 or 92 I would not appreciate my picture being displayed anywhere without seeing it first. There are good shots and bad shots of all of us and it would be my luck to have someone post a public shot of me that would scare someone into thinking Halloween had returned and may never go away. I never appreciate pictures of me being posted anywhere without my approval.
Still...at 22 or 92, who cares at what age...if she cannot be pleased, that's on her, but never show a picture of anyone without their approval.

Edit: I just read EL's post and he hit the nail right on the head!.

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

Or fix it using the mask feature in LrC. It’s a quick fix and could save a friendship

bittermelon

Just let it go, life's too short.

ThreeCee Loc: Washington, DC

The camera don’t lie. If you use the right lenses it captures what it sees. I hate when people want me to beauty edit a snapshot. We are living in a photoshopped world far from reality. They don’t know all of the pro makeup and retouching done for a model shoot. They also don’t want to pay what those photographers make.

Ed Commons

Just tell her, it's not you, it's just that cameras always tend to add age and sometime weight to a person, and science and technology has not been able to solve the problem yet.

Badgertale Loc: Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA

You want to handle these things delicately, but sometimes you want to say just that! I recently took pics of my mother and father, who had not had anything formal done in a while. They were shocked and devastated that they did not look how they felt. Yes, they are in their middle 70s and look great for their age, but they still feel like teenagers inside. When they saw the photos, particularly the ones I took of Mom, she was beside herself. "Do I really look that old," she asked. I said that she looked like she always had to me...like my mother. Of course, family and friends accept each other for who they are (most of the time). Anyway, she's gotten over it. Even Pop has gotten over the fact that he ain't 20 any longer. LOL.

As to what the op should do: Even though he's not responsible, he should apologize and offer to take something she does like. This is a woman he needs on his side, even though getting her there may take some effort.

Badgertale Loc: Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA

The Orson Welles of Photography is the man I want to be and he has spoken well on this subject. Thank you!

Blair Shaw Jr Loc: Dunnellon,Florida

NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED...... Buy her some chocolates.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

One of the morals of the story is that it's possible to do unflattering things when doing portraits and anybody undertaking that task should be well aware of the possibilities. That applies to taking the photos and also to the post processing. The bottom line is it's all too easy to do unflattering things. Is the lighting favourable? Are you zoomed in too close? Have you got the subject/s in a relaxed and preferably comfortable frame of mind? Have you used too much contrast or sharpening in PP?

Craig Meyer Loc: Sparks, NV

Remember, @ 76. keep praying to be doing anything at 86!

REPEAT

(caps intended)

C

PS: Also, note the way personality traits endure.

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

That's exactly why I never shoot people!

radiojohn

"She is 92 and does have some lines on her face. Now she is ending our friendship."

It is very hard to discern what will "trigger" a person. We cannot accomodate everyone's personal insecurities or unknown quirks.

She may get over it.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

It could be some dementia was at work. It can make people angry and irrational.