Shy model!

"Cheers my friend!".........Ken

Does an image straight out of the camera with no touch ups actually reflect reality?

in my experience... no.

there are perspective and distortion issues depending on the lens..
there is the fact that the lens picks up details, colors and contrast that the eye and brain may see differently..
then there is movement, or rather the lack of it which give the viewer more time to study the "Flaws" that we get to ignore in our daily lives.

Simply put, a photo can exaggerate the complexion and imperfections that we normally miss in real life.
I'm sure seeing the cameras sharp resolution of fine lines, hairs and pimples combined with the cameras higher contrast which shows subtle reds and darkens shadows that our eyes don't normally see can be quite misleading to a subject.

from start to finish the photo is just an interpretation of the scene... you can stick with the cameras limits and interpretations or you can apply your own.
I say the final image should either be pleasing to the subject or at least not insulting, if it is to be successful.

Very well put, Don. Your last sentence hits the nail on the head for me.

for portraits, I always apply touch ups to a new layer... then when finished pull back the opacity to allow some of the original flaws to show through...... that to me always looks the most realistic.

That second picture is such a natural shot Ken, I love it. I'm sure hter girl in the photo would be very pleased with your efforts.
David

Second shot is the better of the two.

I like both shots as each in its own is quite different.
She does not seems to be too shy as she is really 'flirting' with the camera.
Hope you got her contact details as she deserves to get copies of the shots.
I bet once she sees them you got a willing model for some more shots with her.
Very well done.

i'm the shy model. im 16 and from holland, and now live in england, my skin has improved a lot since this picture was taken, unfortunatly i lost all my eyelashes a couple of months ago so now have to wear fake ones every day. but if anyone knows anyone who would be interested in photographing me because i would love to get into modelling, please let me know x

If you had camped on tyne green at hexam during the tyne tour you would not have the best complexion.

I agree 100% - I detest all the touching up that is done to photos and makes the person look like a mannequin or some such - we're human we have flaws - I want to see the flaws.

Also in this case she already is a very] beautiful young woman - the second shot is fantastic and her laugh looks so sweet.

I must say, on this occasion, I agree with those suggesting a softening.

Is there a reason for it being such an aggressively tight crop in the first place? There's simply no escaping the skin texture - it's very contrasty, and framed by the dark surround. The camera emphasises things in a way you'd never notice if you were just looking.

With Lidy's PP I think it's very good, but without it, it really emphasises the things she probably doesn't want emphasised.

It's not so noticeable in the second one, but the same treatment would transform that as well, bringing out the personality without the distractions.

Hell, I edit photos of myself, if I can, before showing them to people, especially if I was tired at the time. Why do you think I prefer the viewfinder end of the camera?

+1

Hello Vera!....fancy seeing you on here!...what do you think of the learned comments?

some off them are horrible, all teenagers are pressured to look perfect and the truth is they dont, we all have spots, but pointing it out is harsh. But most comments are really lovely, thankyou everyone x

Don't mind any of those comments Vera, they were all aimed at trying to improve the photograph, not you. Thats the problem with many photographers, they seek perfection and it doesn't exist.