Have you ever wondered what goes on “behind the scenes”? We meet, I snap a million pictures (well, it seems like a million, but it is usually between 100-200). We part ways and 7-14 days later you are presented with a gallery of fabulous proofs to view. So what goes on in those 7-14 days?
First, I download the images from my memory card on to my computer. Then when I find some time to sit down (not easy with a VERY demanding 14 month old who DOES NOT approve of computer use), I do an initial sort of the pictures. I erase any shots that have motion blur (when you are chasing kids… this is inevitable!). I remove shots that have closed eyes or nose picking (you didn’t REALLY want to see those ones- did you???). I erase shots that are just not flattering and I erase duplicate shots (I tend to take 3 or 4 at any pose just to make sure we have one without nose picking and blinking…).
Next, I open a group of files in photoshop. I look at each shot individually and decide what I need to do to make them ready for printing. My goal is to have beautiful, perfectly exposed images straight out of my camera… but let’s face it- when you are dealing with kids there are bound to be flaws! Here are some examples of what I do-
- I straighten tilted shots (which tends to be most… I need a camera with a laser level attachment… LOL). Or I tilt shots that need a little artistic flair.
- I crop each shot for a pleasing composition.
- I remove boogers, pimples, drool, etc.
- I brighten where needed.
- I fix color casts caused by the sun/ shade, etc.
- I add some pop to the color if needed.
- I remove distracting items from the shot (trash cans, birds, some guy who decided to walk into the shot at a really bad moment…).
- I filter shots with too much grain to them.
- I convert some of the shots to black and white and add artistic touches (such as texture) to others.
These edits can take anywhere from 2 minutes to 10 or more minutes per shot depending on the amount of boogers, drool, hair, color casts, background flaws…
After this, I save the now fabulously edited files in a new folder.
Once all of the edits are complete, I prepare them for you gallery. This includes resizing and watermarking. I then make a new gallery and upload the files to my website.
Whew… So you see… there is a lot more to professional digital photography than picking up the camera and pressing the shutter button.
…and because I cannot bring myself to have a blog post without photos… here is a sample of what a little photoshop magic can do-
Here is a shot from my ill fated session with my own kids (if you have not read the blog post about this experience, here’s the link- http://lindseyqphotography.wordpress.com/2012/01/09/mine-the-truth-about-photographing-my-own-children/). So as you remember, I had lost all light and was working with grumpy subjects- which makes for a few less than ideal shooting conditions. 1.) Low light leads to a “cool” tone to photographs and more grain. 2.) I was in a hurry, and so I did not concentrate on composition. 3.) Giving a baby candy = drool.
So here is what photographers refer to as SOOC (or “straight out on the camera”)-
It is too cool, and slightly grainy. There is dirt on his face, snot in his nose and drool on his sweatshirt.
and here is it after cropping, filtering for grain, warming up (a bunch), popping the color a bit and removing the “imperfections”…
