What's the best way to minimize wrinkles?

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

04/22/2010 10:05:26 PM · #1

I'm doing a headshot tomorrow for a woman who's primary concern is whether or not I can eliminate wrinkles. :P

All she wants is a small picture shoulders or waist up for a website of a school she is teaching for. I've never met her, so I don't know if I am walking into a situation with a 99 yr old granny or a mid-50s who's just a little sensitive. :P

I understand the concept that to minimize wrinkles, the light needs to get into the shadows. Most of what I've read recommends doing this by shining the light directly into the face.

Any other suggestions?

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

04/22/2010 10:37:30 PM · #2

Diffuse light will reduce shadows, therefore softening wrinkles. Doesn't necessarily have to be so diffuse that the lighting is completely shadowless, but should be very soft. You may still need to do some work in post. A "soft focus" filter applied in post works wonders. DO this:
- Duplicate the base layer
- On the top (duplicate) layer, apply a Gaussian blur of perhaps 8 pixels radius
- Reduce the opacity of the blurred layer to around 35%-40%.
- Add a layer mask to the blurred layer
- Paint with a feathered brush at low opacity in black on the layer mask to "paint back in" detail where it is needed: hair, eyes, lips.

You can use two blur layers if you want, one at 4 to 8 px, and another at a larger radius, but much lower opacity. Experiment to see what works for you. If you convert your blur layers to smart objects before applying the blur, you can go back later and adjust the blur filter (non-destructive).

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

04/22/2010 10:43:45 PM · #3

Originally posted by karmat:

Most of what I've read recommends doing this by shining the light directly into the face.

Yup, soft light directly in front and slightly high will minimize wrinkles. You can also go B&W with emphasis on a particular channel (I think it's green) to soften lines. For more severe cases, bulldog clips can work wonders.

chromeydome

Nikon D7000

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

04/22/2010 10:52:30 PM · #4

distance and size of the light source matter, too. The bigger and closer you can get the light (as close as possible without being in frame) will greatly soften the light. "Beauty lighting" often means a reflector (or a second light) down in front, filling in under the chin, etc., but not as bright as the main. A few sheets of white foam core and a single light (softbox) can make things very luminous and soft.

What will your light source be?

Clamshell Lighting might be an option.

You can work out a Triflector approach with your reflectors/white foam core, too. This is very effective, and is a single light set up.

LindaLee

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

04/22/2010 11:01:25 PM · #5

As per Photoshop for wrinkles: this is a longer, but excellent way to tone down wrinkles:

1. Make a background copy, then make a snapshot in the History palette and put the history marker on that snapshot; rename the snapshot "Sharp".

2. On bkgnd copy, choose Filter-Blur-Gaussian Blur and blur to the point that the dark lines in the face are blended away, (usually about 20-25px for fairly prounounced wrinkles). Make a new snapshot and name it "Blur" and then put the history marker on THIS snapshot.

3. Click back on the "Sharp" snapshot (in the blue part where it shows active) to make the image sharp again.

4. Select the History Brush, and on the Option bar, set the Mode to Lighten and Opacity to 25%

5. With a medium soft brush, paint over all the dark lines to lighten and soften them. The changes will be subtle. Turn on/off the visibility of the layer to see your progress.

6. Go over all the dark areas and lines building up strokes if needed for darker lines.

7. To tone down highlights: Set the Mode to Darken and make brush just slightly larger than the width of the wrinkles and brush over wrinkles to tone down highlights of the light parts of the wrinkles, which will minimize them. Go over the entire face to soften.

Make a new snapshot and save as "Blended", then continue working on image as necessary.

(This is from a Suzette Allen workshop I attended - she is awesome with retouching!)

Message edited by author 2010-04-22 23:02:05.

love

Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM

04/22/2010 11:56:08 PM · #6

Oil of Olay : )

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

04/23/2010 10:43:22 PM · #7

Well, that wasn't so bad.

Actually, she didn't have a lot of wrinkles; her skin was nice and firm so I suspect she used Oil of Olay. ahahha

The problem ended up that she was a "squinter" but not just in the bright sun. Even indoors, her eyes were just narrow. Now,it is one of those situations of "Do I fix it or not?" If I don't, is she going to ask me to? If I do, is she going to wonder why I messed with her face????

(I used my 30D, 17-40L that I have "borrowed" permanently from my BIL, a crappy Bower flash, and the Gary Fong thing that I've never used before. Also, I had my son holding one of my light tents in a V shape in front of her. We shot outdoors in noon sun, in the shade. For once in my life, I did okay on exposure. Just gotta figure out what to do with the eyes)

Cory

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

04/23/2010 11:09:05 PM · #8

Originally posted by karmat:

Just gotta figure out what to do with the eyes

Paste in cat eyes... Cat eyes are cool, everyone likes cat eyes..

chromeydome

Nikon D7000

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

04/23/2010 11:17:58 PM · #9

A trick that sometimes works at the shoot in the case of the eyes as you describe: ask them to close their eyes, then to open them on the count of 3 and find the lens. There is a moment where their eyes are open just a bit wider. At least with some people there is... If you catch it, it can help. But this only seems to help with some people. And you have to have reflexes to catch it.

My reflexes are best measured with a calendar.

Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 E-mount

04/23/2010 11:21:11 PM · #10

Yea mine too. I actually did something very similar to that, and have one shot where you can almost see the eyeball. .. :P

Hipychik

Sony Alpha a6000

04/23/2010 11:29:04 PM · #11

When you get it figured out you can take my picture. :P

MattO

Nikon D4

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

04/23/2010 11:35:50 PM · #12

If you think Squinters are bad, try a blinker. I had a client who has really sensitive eyes to flash, no matter what I tried I couldn't use fill flash or she would blink. Even waaayyy off camera bothered her. I ended up walking half a mile back to the car to get a reflector only to find she was also a squinter. :(

Post some when you get done.

Matt

Cory

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

04/23/2010 11:57:10 PM · #13

Originally posted by chromeydome:

I've got it.. Use firecrackers in a metal bucket.. Smells terrible, but you'll really get the eyes open for a second... (you'll probably need an electronic ignition system (model rocket kit)..)

Or, actually, I guess a manually released dropped mass onto a piece of tin or (even better) a cymbal, anything to make a loud noise, that should work at least once... And who knows, maybe you'll be able to get even more from your shoot, as it might well become a popular picture if it's the last one ever taken of said person... (sell it at the funeral.. Great idea, trust me).

--

*Disclaimer* - Never listen to anything I say.. :)

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

04/24/2010 12:01:43 AM · #14

[thumb]872518[/thumb]

I won't be leaving these up long as I don't have permission to. :) But, I did want y'all to take a look see and tell me if there are any "tell-tale" marks from my editing that I just don't see.

I've decided not to worry about the squinting unless she says something. She told me what to do with the wrinkles (not that there were a lot of them)

she only needs a very small one to put on the faculty website

(I removed the picture from my gallery)

Message edited by author 2010-04-25 22:13:20.

Cory

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

04/24/2010 12:21:49 AM · #15

Hory sheet!

You weren't kidding about the squintyness of this one were you!

No it looks pretty darn good.. (can you maybe spot edit the redness of her eye, looks like she just smoked a big-ol fattie. And if you want her to really love ya, do a bit of teeth whitening, but really, don't go overboard on that at all..)

actually a reasonably nice portrait. I'm sure she'll be pleased as her main concern is well "covered"..

chromeydome

Nikon D7000

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

04/24/2010 12:25:48 AM · #16

I agree--looks good, and a small image online should be fine. Plus it might not look natural at all if her eyes were wide(r) open. Might indeed look like you used the firecracker trick and scared her to death. I suspect she will be very pleased with this shot. Nicely done.

MattO

Nikon D4

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

04/24/2010 12:28:01 AM · #17

Wow you were right, she almost has them closed all the time. That is crazy. Let us know how she reacts to them. I personally would be worried what she might think about it. But then again maybe that is her normal look and she will love it.

Matt

MikeO

Fujifilm x100

04/24/2010 02:42:25 AM · #18

Photoshop a pair of shades to cover those eyes ! ;-)

Think you have done an excellent job but you cant help it if that is how she is (eye wise)

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

04/24/2010 12:03:13 PM · #19

ROFL, the wrinkles were a cakewalk compared to those eye-slits! Squinter doesn't even begin to cover it!

Hipychik

Sony Alpha a6000

Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 E-mount

04/24/2010 12:22:40 PM · #20

I think she might be a vampire. Just saying...

LindaLee

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

04/24/2010 12:40:53 PM · #21

Whoa, the wrinkles weren't the issue at all were they? Good job on the wrinkles though..