Ad Composition Example

I'm not aware of a photography book that helps with advertising composition, so I'm saving up for Robin Williams Non-Designer's series. This is my first instinct but I've heard such ads start with pencil and paper (and a good copywriter), not with the photograph. 

 

The fine print says:

Portfolio piece, not a real ad. This is an example of a potential advertisement composition, that may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes, and only in its entirety and without modification or detraction of any kind. 

Cropping with Canvas Size

Photoshop Tip: To avoid making a permanent 'destructive' change to an image, crop by changing the Canvas Size rather than use the Crop Tool. When I relied on the Crop Tool I'd end up with several cropped version of the same file, for example,  DaphneyWall_cropped_lower_right_tight, DaphneyWall_cropped_face, DaphneyWall_cropped_lower_right_tight_purplehue.

Using the Canvas Size instead allows me to have one file, e.g., Daphney_Wall; with three or four main layers, e.g., Daphney_Face, and Daphney_lower_right_tight; and their respective Manipulation Folders, e.g. B & W and Purple_Hue.

Each one of my working Photoshop files are huge, but everything is much easier to find. However, if you've found a better way, please share.

and here's the process in action.

I hate editing

This is one I worked on myself and I'm my worst critic. I see things that I missed--things that could have been done better, faster, with more attention to detail. What's more, even though my edits are non-destructive, when I'm done, I'm DONE, and I feel I've wasted a picture. The solution isn't using retouching software, because that is like having a back itch and nothing to scratch with. I've learned that to save myself the frustration and verbal self-mutilation, its better to hire a retoucher.