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Second Look: Music video that reveals how easily editors and photographers can enhance looks

Posted on: 07-3-2014 Posted in: Photography

Hungarian singer Boggie made waves when she released her video earlier this year, and it still blows everyone’s mind. So why discuss an old video? Because it shows a helpful path and workflow that photographers and videographers usually don’t follow.

The workflow and the order of the manipulation shown in this this video is great for beginners to learn about retouching and editing tolls. Instead of just being amazed and watching in awe, pay close attention the skin-tone and imperfections adjustment done before the overall exposure of the image. which is what most photographers would have done.

Yeah, I know, we all do have our own way of doing things but if you have read this far, you may as well keep reading because as much this video is cool, it also reveals a good workflow message and teaches us a thing or two.

It also brings a point which may not be always be a good idea like duplicating her left eye and flipping it to the right side for better symmetry.

There is a lot to be said about perfection and symmetry because perfect can also take away personality from the image. Eyes are something that specifically add personality and charisma. It’s also good to keep in mind that what works well in video does not mean it does the same in a still photograph. Video is moving at 30fps and a photograph remains still showing facial features in more detail (flaws) than video does.

But if you take the process of what you see in this video and can apply to the same to your image editing skills/tools, then this works as a great editing workflow tutorial on how several different parts of facial features are separately adjusted and manipulated. Sure there are video and editing tutorials more elaborate and with more detailed explanations, but lets leave the geek factor out of the equation since most photographers cannot concentrate for longer than 10 minutes.

In the perfect world you don’t need to go to this extent in editing. Proper lighting, hair & makeup will take care of the majority of your issues.

About the video:

The video was made by planning intensely before shooting, then filming 4 separate scenes with different amounts of makeup and styling, then lots of post-production. This is similar to the process used for an actor in a commercial, except there you only see the final version.