I've been thinking about your question [MENTION=41398]"CHRIS"[/MENTION] buddy. My first choice is to take the best photo I can, and do as little as needed in post processing. But there maybe times where more post processing is needed than you prefer, and then you need to decide if you can retake that photo to get a better shot to start out with. If you can't take that shot over for some reason, then you need t decide rather to just discard the shot entirely or do your best in post processing to make it what you saw in your mind what it should be.
You have just seen the most process photo I have ever done, as glamour shots are often done more to either before or after to do such a dramatic change from normal. Things often done before glamour shots is clothes and very professional makeup to hide imperfections and emphasize her beauty. Like airbrushing is commonly done for famous people to achieve this. But the portrait professional post processing app I bought allows for a way to do even glamour shots without the high dollar photo prepping that use to be required to manage it.
So the line your looking for not crossing is one you will have to put up for works for you my friend. Some photographers shoot strickly so that only the camera settings effects how their photos turn out, and I've seen others who pull great photos out of nearly black photo files with post processing.
So I hope this helps you answer your own question, though I know this wasn't the easy black and white answer you were hoping for. Lol
Bill, did the "nurse" get to see the before and after? That is some amazing stuff right there!
As a newbie, I've been wanting to ask what everyone's opinion is on post processing? More to the point, where is the line drawn between capturing a remarkable image.........and "creating" a remarkable image? Anyway.........give my best to you wife!