With the right software, portrait editing can be a relatively simple process. However, even with the very best photo editing program, it takes a lot of time and attention to detail to get it just right. Images that have been overworked or otherwise altered badly are not hard to find on the internet. This can be due to lack of skill, but often the problem is one of too little time. Much like the creation of an oil painting, the process should never be rushed unless there is no other choice. Mistakes are much more easily missed at high speeds.
Another issue some photo artists can have is one of perspective, or rather the lack thereof. Before beginning any photo manipulation project, it is a good idea to create a back up copy of the file that will be altered. This is not only to make sure the original photo is not ruined forever by an error in judgement, but also because keeping a copy of the original image open will help an artist maintain perspective. This will help ensure that the finished face does indeed still look like the person from the source photo. Even professional airbrushing artists can lose sight of how the person really looks, if they don't make sure to refer back to the unedited picture. Another way to regain perspective is to walk away from the photo for an hour or so. Coming back later with fresh eyes can make all the difference between a so-so portrait and a great one.
The best portrait editing, of course, is not noticeable. Photo manipulation should always be used to enhance a person's natural beauty, not recreate the person from scratch. Too much digital alteration to a photograph often looks no better than bad plastic surgery does. For this reason, anyone considering changing a photo in this way for a non-commercial purpose should make as few changes as possible. If there are blemishes that detract from the beauty of a portrait, it is both possible and preferable to remove them without smoothing away all pores, lines and other signs that the skin is real and not made of plastic. Tasks of that magnitude should be left to professionals who work with magazine cover art.
Another way to avoid making errors in judgement while manipulating the photograph is to look over the picture thoroughly. Then, before altering anything, make a list of changes that need to be made, such as removing blemishes or increasing color saturation. Once editing begins, if the change is not on the list, it probably should not be made. Though this is not always so, it can certainly help in making more informed editing decisions.
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