Retouch a Model Portrait in Photoshop

• Take a portrait photo and bring the photo into Photoshop
• Mask out the subject using the Lasso Tool (L) *the Magnetic Lasso tool may be easier to use.

• After the subject has been masked out, right click and click on the Refine Edge option
• This will bring up a window with "Radius" "Contrast" "Smooth" "Feather and "Contract/Expand" adjustment bars. Just adjust those until the subject is outlined well.
• Click ok, and it will bring you back to the image with a selected area. Right click and click the Layer via copy option, so you can compare after wards.

Now that you have your subject on its own, you can make adjustments.

*Use Add New Layer Adjustment, just in case you need to make adjustments later.

• Start with the levels adjustment, followed by curves, colour balance and saturation. 
• After, adjustments have been made, use the Spot Healing Tool (J) or the Clone Stamp Tool (S) to fix any blemishes and smooth out skin.
• The Smudge Tool (R) could be used to raise eyebrows, make smiles more prominent, etc.
• Then add "make up" by adding a new layer and using the brush tool, making sure the hardness is down to 0%. Highlight the cheekbones, even out the skin, whiten teeth and make eyes brighter with this. After all "make up" has been applied, lower the opacity of the layer to make it subtle but significant.

After all adjustments have been applied to the subject, add a background

• Add a background to the image by adding a new layer and dragging it behind the subject layer.
• You can use an image, flat colour or gradient as a background.
• I wanted to go for the studio look, so I used a Radial Gradient (G) and reversed the colours, so that the white is in the middle and we're left with minimal vignetting.