Hey Girl, Nice Shot

Conference Fever

The conference invitations are pouring in but does it really make sense for me to go to more conferences?  I've been to both the PPA Conference: Imaging USA, and Photoshop World in the past year and a half.  Is it worth the money?

I attended Imaging USA in January of 2006.  It had an AMAZING Expo.  At first when I looked at the schedule I thought the amount of time set aside to visit the expo was silly...then I realized you needed that time to really look around. At the time I wasn't planning on having my own business, I was mostly just helping my sister-in-law with hers so I attended the Photoshop track which I found extremely helpful.  If I were to go back I would probably spend more time in some of the technique classes.  The next Imaging USA is in January 2008 in Tampa FL!  They are still finalizing the event program so stay tuned!

Yesterday I got the invitation card in the mail for Photoshop World which is September 6-8 at Mandalay Bay in  Vegas.  I attended last September and the hardest part for me was the walk from the hotel to the convention center because I was pretty far along in my pregnancy.  But, it was totally life changing for me to attend the classes.  I went to a pre-conference class by Fay Sirkis on Mastering Photo Painting and it was so awesome!  I felt like every class I went to was totally worthwhile and I use what I learned at the conference every day.  If you are doing retouching, color correction, or want to get into more of the art side of using Photoshop this is definitely worthwhile.  I saw that Fay is teaching another painting workshop (using a combination of Photoshop and Corel Painter).  The best part of the conference...the workbook contains the notes from EVERY workshop offered.  It is like my Bible.  Just a note, the conference rate at the hotel books almost immediately so book early if you want to get the special rate.

I also know that the Wedding and Portrait Photographer's International organization also has an annual conference.  From what I could see from last year it is a great event but I have not yet attended one.  Have you?  What whas your experience like?  It looks like Anne Ruthmann has fun!  Or feel like you were there by checking out the photos on Mike Colon's site.

RAW Files Photography Workflow - Part 2

So I left off with my last post with my five star organization system.  So, once I have all the images rated, I select from the filter drop-down to show all images with 3 or more stars.  It it still seems like too many I might go through and tweak my ratings.  I then pick a couple of pictures that I really like to correct and create the images that go on my blog as the preview for the client, and to show as an updated portfolio.  The images are saved to my "03_Preview" folder.

I then open the images in the Camera Raw processor from Adobe Bridge to do a first round of adjustments.  I then save the images as JPEGs into my "02_Slideshow" folder. I import these images into TimeExposure ProSelect which I use to create the slideshow that I'll use for the client review session.  I might break the images up into categories and if I do I create category header images which will lead each category in the slideshow.  Usually I use my favorite image from each section for that images header.

Since I've already selected the images to show the clients so the next step is to create the online gallery which they will use to place their order.  I use StudioCart for my online ordering.  I create the gallery, link it to the appropriate price list, and then use the GalleryLoader software to upload the images from my computer to the gallery.  It automatically creates low-res versions of the files for online viewing, and you can choose to include a watermark.

Next, I create a sheet of 2.5"x3.5" wallets using one of my favorite photos from the shoot.  I print the wallets on Photo Rag Paper.  On the back of the wallets I include the instructions for logging into the online gallery to view their proofs.  I give them 8 wallets which they can share with friends and family.  This has been extremely popular for the clients as they get prints of their images, and it also has helped up-sell on prints to the photo-rag paper which I love to use for artistic portraits.

Now I'm ready to put together a folder of information for my client for their review session.  I have a
Word template that has instructions for using the online ordering system.  I just plug in the session password, and if they have a discount code I put that in the document as well.  The folder will include a printed copy of this document, an envelope with the printed wallets, and a copy of the contract if they have not already been given one.  I then meet with the client where I project the slideshow.  Typically I show it to them more than once.  The first time I'll just let it run through with no comments.  The second time I will make suggestions for ordering.  I'll show them some possible storyboards too because it is easy to do in the software.    I then go through the online ordering system and show them their wallet sized cards. 

Once they place their order online I go back into Adobe bridge and mark the images they selected to order with a red label.  I typically give clients one "bonus" item that I've selected for them.  I'll mark that image with a purple label.  I can then sort the files to show only the red and purple items and I run an action to create the PSD files from those selected files.  My action creates a duplicate layer of the background, and then it creates the adjustment layers for levels, curves, contrast, saturation, and color balance. The PSD files are saved to the "04_PSDs" folder.

I can then go through each PSD one by one to do any adjustments using the layers I already created.  This process is pretty fast if I've gotten good images to start with.  I also scan the images looking for bug-bites, scratches, and other items that need to be removed.  Then they are ready to be cropped!  I crop each image and save the cropped image to my "05_Cropped" folder.  I add the crop size to the file name to make it easier later when I'm printing (ex. IMG_0001_8x10.jpg).

I do the majority of my own printing.  I print mostly on Kodak Pro Lustre paper, and on Hahnemuhle Photo Rag paper using my Epson 9800.  For canvas I use the Epson PremierArt Water Resistent Canvas.  I'm then ready to deliver!

RAW Files Photography Workflow - Part 1

I've now completely switched over to shooting in RAW with my Canon 5D camera.  Most of the time, I shoot in the Manual mode, occasionally I might shoot in the semi-automatic program mode.  In any event, I shoot almost entirely in RAW now and love it.

Now that I'm shooting in RAW I do feel like I need to think about my workflow.  I'm sure my current workflow, that worked great when I was just shooting JPEG, will probably not fly.  So I'm checking out what some others are doing for their workflow.

First I read Carl Ebrey's digital workflow for his wedding photography business.  His is pretty easy.  One key is he backs up his original files (twice) and he backs up his "finished" JPEGs (twice). Other than that, it goes from Lightroom -> Noise Ninja -> JPEG.  Seems so much easier than what I'm currently doing.

Brian Euer over at Epic Edits seems to have a workflow closer to what I'm currently doing.  For his backing up he is using Protect My Photos which I'll have to check out.  I'm not exactly good at backing up my images right now.  Shhhh!  He takes his scans a setp further than I do by applying keywords.  Maybe I should start doing that too?  His post-processing sounds almost exactly like what I'm doing.

So what do I do (I liked the way Brian categorized his workflow so I'll borrow that):

In-Camera Workflow
At the beginning of a shoot I format my card to make sure it is completely cleared and ready for the shoot.  I was told at one of my classes that it is better to format the card in camera rather than just deleting the images off the card from my computer.  I'm not sure if this is true but considering it takes about 2 seconds to format the card in my camera, I just do that.   I currently have my my camera set to shoot in RAW only.  I used to do RAW+JPEG but it just irritated me to have two copies of the images and I'd pretty much only go through the RAW versions anyway.  I use my light meter to set my Manual camera settings.  I use my ExpoDisc to set my custom white balance.  Doing those two things up front have definitely saved me post-processing time so they've been totally worthwhile.

Organizing
After the shoot I next copy the RAW files to my computer.  Here's my image structure:

• 2007
  • May (shoot month)
    • Client Name
      • 01_Originals
      • 02_PSDs
      • 03_Flattened Proofs
      • 04_Cropped
      • 05_OnlineProofs

My file structure needs some work now that I'm using RAW.  I feel like I'd like to have it be something more like this but haven't committed to it yet:

• 01_Originals
• 02_Slideshow
• 03_Preview
• 04_PSDs
• 05_Cropped

You'll see why...

I copy the RAW files into the 01_Originals file.  I then open that file using the Adobe Bridge.  I go through each photo and rate them with 1-5 stars.

*Ick!  Out of focus, etc.
**Oops! Person moved, etc.
***OK!  Not a great photo but maybe a small print would be good for the scrapbook.
****Good!  One that is likely going to be ordered by the client. 
*****Fav!  A favorite of mine from the shoot.

So now I have my files off my CF Card into a folder, and they have been rated.  Yeah, notice I don't back them up.  Bad news, I know.  That will definitely be something I add in pronto!

I'll save some for later.  My baby just woke up from her nap....ah, working from home.  :-(

Internet Bubble

I came across an interesting post today on how the world of photography is changing as the technology changes, and more and more people have access to inexpensive but high quality photographic equipment.  One of the most interesting ideas in the article is that the Internet bubble is somewhat responsible for this massive growth in the field of photography (the number of hobbyist, semi-pro, and pro photographers are flooding the world with photography).  I, for one, am completely guilty of this.  I keep my personal blog, mamacat, to keep friends and family around the world up to date on our family happenings.  I have a business photography blog which is like a live portfolio.  And I have this blog which I use to talk about the process of starting my own photography business.  And while the original post seemed geared towards stock photography, there are certainly parallels in other photo markets...

Here's a quote from the blog post regarding how the Internet bubble has changed photography:

The Internet Bubble: This is the one that I don't hear many people reference. One of the qualities of high tech worker's is their ability to quickly learn and master new technologies. When the Internet Bubble burst, there were a lot of high tech worker who were either out of a job and/or frustrated with the high tech trap. Pair this with the innate (yet hidden) creative nature of some high tech workers, and digital photography makes a perfect place for them to focus their efforts on. There is a high percentage of photographers that I know who come from a high tech background. The online nature of sharing digital photographer dovetails into this. Thus we have a sudden surge of photographers who can learn quickly and innovate a market space.

I was once a web developer.  I did the startup thing.  And after 10 years of doing web development and project management I decided to stay home with my son.  Then after my daughter was born (and a year of doing hobby photography and helping another photographer with her retouching) I felt like I was ready to go out on my own and go pro.  I do feel that being able to learn quickly has helped me.  I've been to some classes and spent a lot of time reading and practicing.  I just hope that once I get that part down, I can innovate!  What was your background before you became a photographer?

Before and After

Today I had a shoot at the local botanical gardens.  In general it is hard to go wrong there because there are so many beautiful spots.  That is, until it starts pouring rain when you have only taken about 4 pictures, which is exactly what happened to myself and the 6 yr old I was photographing today.  We hid out in a gazebo that was there and tried to get a few pictures in using what light we had and without getting too wet.  Eventually we managed a few more pictures out in the gardens but we certainly did the best we could with the conditions.  The gardens are about an hour away from the area we live in so the weather can be drastically different.  In addition, this young lady lost the second of her two top front teeth two days ago so we did lots of more serious poses.

Here's the picture with just a straight conversion from the RAW File:

To get the image ready to show to her mom, I ran the Technicolor Dream World action from Boutwell Studio's Totally Rad Actions, masked her face where it was a little too intense, dropped the opacity of the adjustments so they weren't as overpowering, and added a vignette to the edges.  I think the adjusted photo still shows her beauty but also adds a dreamy quality that wasn't in the original.  If I were to do one more think I *might* give her eyes a once over to add a little highlight area but I'm not even sure that I would really do that because I think they are pretty as they are.

I delivered some pictures to a client yesterday and she was totally stunned by the difference in the finished product and what she saw in the proofing area.  Her online proofs were straight out of the camera, and her prints were color adjusted and retouched where necessary.  I feel like it has been a hard line to walk...how much should I be doing to the images before showing them to the client so they can see what they'd get, and how much do they just need to trust me on?  How many pictures from a shoot should I show?  If I just did my 10 favs from this shoot I really could probably do some adjustments to each of them and show something closer to the finished product.  If, however, I show 40, I don't think I can afford to spend that kind of time.

Typepad Tips

I use Typepad as my service for creating my blog and it is so feature rich that I haven't had time to go in and figure out all the little nooks and crannies.  I came across a blog about, well, building a better business blog with lots of tips about using typepad.  Maybe it'll be useful to you too!

Get out of the Shadows

Need to brush up on your lighting techniques?  The Strobist, a super popular website focusing on using off-camera flash, is holding a summer lighting class: Lighting 102.  And best of all, it is FREE!  If you haven't already gone through the Lighting 101 on their site, head over soon to get through it before the next class starts!  Most of what they do can be done with minimal cost and equipment!

An Extra Pop of Color

If you've spent a lot of time surfing photography blogs like I do, you'll notice that many of the pictures are super vibrant.  Like, not really natural but beautifully vibrant.  Many of these photographers use Photoshop actions designed to help you enhance the photo.

I recently purchased the Boutwell Studio Totally Rad Actions for Photoshop. If you go to their site you'll be able to see samples of each and every one of the 46 actions.  I'm particularly fond of Technicolor Dream World, Prettyizer, and Super Fun Happy.  For this picture I ran Big Blue and it really made the sky beautiful!  I also like their black and white conversions.

 

I gave a 5x7 of this image on Hahnemuhle Photo Rag Paper to the mom as a bonus because she placed a pretty decent sized order and she was so excited.  She was surprised by how vibrant the colors were, especially compared to the photos she reviewed for proofing which had practically no processing done on them.

If you are looking for a free alternative to test drive, try out Tammy J's Free Urban Vintage actions.  They do a nice job too!

Some of my favorite blogs to read for inspiration:

• My Absolute Favorite Children's Photographer - Audrey Woulard
• Another one of my Favorites...Jessica Strickland
• She created the free action - Tammy Jarman Photography
• Beautiful color photography of children and now she has workshops too - Cheryl Muhr
• They created the Totally Rad Actions and have beautiful wedding photography - Boutwell Studio
• Another stunning wedding photography site - Jessica Claire Photography

What photo blogs do you read for inspiration?  Do you have other actions that you've found to be useful?  How much processing do you do before you show clients their images?  If you do a little more, are the orders larger because they can imagine the actual prints better?

Travelling with Camera Gear

I get nervous when I travel with my camera gear.  I have a big camera backpack which actually barely fits in the overhead on big planes and forget about smaller regional jets.  Since I'll be heading up to Albany in August to visit my family in August, I'm starting to think about travelling with my gear.  It'll be the first time all the grandkids have been together so I absolutely have to take advantage of that opportunity!  And I might do some other portraits while I'm there. 

I do have a small bag that I think I'll likely bring which will be able to fit under the seat if need be.  It will hold one camera body, my 300mm lens, my flash, my light meter, and my expodisc.  But I'm always looking out for travel advice (especially because on that trip I'll also have my two year old and my 5 month old, and I might be travelling solo with them).

I came across a very detailed article with lots of quotes from various professional photograhers on travelling with their gear.  Worth a look!  They also have a second article with information on travelling internationally.  Apprently England pretty much should be avoided at all costs because of very restrictive baggage rules.

Get Your Pictures in Their Hands

After I get home from a shoot I can't wait to take a look at the pictures on my computer.  I frequently have already previewed them on the back of the camera in the car at stop-lights.  Yeah, I get excited.

Usually there is a shot, the shot, that I love.  I can't wait to see it printed.  So I figured out a way to print that picture right away.  I create 2.5"x3.5" wallets, 8 of them, with the image one one side.  On the other side I print the instructions for logging into the proofing site.  I give the wallets to the client during the review session so they can see the picture printed and they share the wallets with others so they can see the pictures too!

I may do some post-processing of the image before I print. Sometimes I run some actions to add a dreamy effect, or antique it, or add a vignette.  And when I print, I print it on Hahnemuhle Photo Rag Duo 316 paper.  It is yummy, thick, textured fine art paper and prints on it from my Epson 9800 are beautiful.   I tested lots of different brands and weights of paper and this is definitely my favorite double-sided art paper.

So far every client has commented on what a cool idea it is so I'm sharing it with you.  They give the cards out to friends and family.  The cards have the instructions for logging into their proof site so the can place their own orders (great for Grandma's), but it also means they can go to my site and see my other portfolio work.  It means more people are going to get to know who I am, and remember that cool wallet card when it comes time to have pictures of their children done.