Charmshots editorial ·
Start from a usable original
Check whether the eyes are sharp and the face contains visible detail. If the image is severely underexposed or blurred, a new photograph may be more useful than a strong correction.
Compare carefully
- Keep an untouched reference.
- Increase brightness in small steps.
- Check forehead, cheeks and light clothing.
- View the result at normal phone size.
A dim café portrait may tolerate a modest lift, but pushing the whole image can make the window behind you lose all detail. The best choice is the smallest change that improves readability.
Stop before it looks processed
Toggle between the original and edit. If skin colour or the room's atmosphere changes dramatically, reduce the adjustment. The aim is an accurate, clear portrait, not a uniformly bright image. Keep the original so a later crop or export starts from the best available file.