After all is said and done, I think I like the Pastel the best. It just seems to fit the mood of the photo. And it’s funny because I don’t usually go for the pastel looks, but this worked. Thanks for sharing, Jodi!

I love the last one with the border! Any chance you’d consider doing a step by step tutorial explaining how to create that effect with the sky? Thanks. I love your blog.

I like number 1 the best with the white sky she really pops out in the photo – I did like 2 also but the blue sky against the green grass competes with her for my eye’s attention – it has a great overall effect but I love how she is the total focal point in the first photo. It’s a amazing what small changes make to the overall photo. As always wonderful work Jodi.

I like number one as they are….but I think number two would probably jump up on my list if (as Jodi stated) the blue in the sky was toned back down. Good job Jodi

I like “after 2.” The blue sky and green grass seem to say, for me, “I’m home” Beautiful job Jodi!

Ditto Martha. I love the pastel. It just fits. Thanks, Jodi.

I like all the edits except for her skin/face. They look too washed out and her facial features practically disappear. I think if you take the unedited version and create a layer mask out of it, and place it under the edited layer, then using the eraser tool on about 40% opacity w/soft round brush and erase just her face and arms on the edited layer so that the unedited underlayer starts to show thru, that it looks better. I took a play with it on my computer and it looks better, to me, since she looks more tan and you can see her facial details better. Just my 2 cents. #2 and 3 are my faves, and I love the pastel.

I love after 2 and the pastel … you make it look so easy Jodi

this was an awesome step-through, jodi! thanks! i especially appreciate the tip on adding the sky–believe it or not, i had never thought of doing that before! =P thanks again!

All three are great, but because of her face/skin, I think the pastel version is best. Her face did lose a lot of detail, but I like the blue sky much better than the white, and the golden sky looks good too. Often those colorized versions are not my thing, it’s only when you get the right image that I think it works. I guess this is the right image! Thanks for this. It’s interesting to see different plays and also to hear the various comments which are definitely not skewed in any particular direction! Go figure.

I think the face did lose too much detail. It needed to be a little darker. The blue sky is a little too overdone for my taste. I like #3 better. However, I think the pastel is great for this pic. I like lots of color normally, but the pastel just suits this pic so well. Thanks for all the options. Thanks for teh sky tip. I can’t wait to try it.

I kind of like the blue sky. Her skin looks almost too perfect. Maybe that is just a wierd thing I am thinking though. I love the picture. VERY cool!

Just wondering if there is a good way to avoid the halo around her arms? She kinda looks like she is glowing. lol I get this sometime…do you have any advice?