Can anything be done with reflections in eyes

[coalfire]

As the title says I suppose we had some professional pictures taken of our little one recently they just came back and there is two big flash gun reflections in each eye. Now I have other pictures of the older boys that have one reflection in each eye but doesn't look too bad, as they arnt too big (if that makes sense)

Unfortunately I don't have the pics to show you what I mean as they have gone back to see what can be done but the photographer is saying if she touches them up the eyes will be gray (the picture has big blue eyes apart from these reflections) and our little one will look dead.

So is it just me or a bad photographer who should be able to do something

 

[cyclone]

Catchlights give life to a portrait and are desirable.
As the guy said you can clone them out and the eyes look dead (not sure about the grey bit?)

 

[Sonial]

Admittedly you wouldn't want to clone the catchlights out completely but I'm sure they could be improved upon....as for making the eyes grey...what a load of twaddle....sounds like they don't want the hassle, obviously time is money to them but then so are happy clients!

I have had a quick go to give an idea of what can be done....

Ist image..rather 'messy' catchlights



2nd image....I have tidied them up....I don't 'think' this loses the life of the eyes too much :shrug:



Hope you get something back that you are happier with.

 

[OlyPaul]

I guessing the guy just does not want the hassle and in some cases it can be difficult to remedy effectivly.

Sonia's example is a fairly simple one with small point catchlights, but I'm guessing from your post large soft boxes or brollys were used, some thing similar to this one I took pehaps (although I do not mind these reflections) where the reflection is covering the pupil and the coloured corona of the eye.

As you see it can be done even keeping the coloured corona of the eye, but it does look dead, so adding another catchlight is always a choice, but this is not the easiest of things to do realisticly.

 

[bobiscuit]

In both of the above photos I think the 'before' shot is better! Adds character and life to the subject .

If you're otherwise happy with the photo, then you should maybe trust the photographer's opinion that removing the catch-lights would leave the eyes looking dead.

 

[cowasaki]

It is NEVER a question of IF you can but IF YOU CAN AFFORD IT, just like NASA's famous saying. I have widened pictures, continued the background and added an arm; removed cars; opened gates etc etc.... It is just a question of cost, cloning is not too difficult fixing inherent major problems are the hardest thing to fix (such as an irregular shadow across part of an image etc).