Feb
11

Soda Pop Talk...Before and After #4

SodaPopTalk.jpg

For this installment of Soda Pop Talk, I wanted to choose an image that I actually did a lot of work on in Photoshop.  

We took Easton's 2 year old pictures about 3 weeks ago, during a nice warm-spell here in Denver.  We were shooting about an hour before sunset, so the light was a little brighter than I had hoped.  Here is the metadata for the image below:  

1/3200, f1.7, ISO200, 85mm.  The image was also overexposed by two stops in camera.  Anytime I am back-lighting a client I will most always overexpose the image so they won't look so dark.

EastonBeforeandAfter.jpg

Editing Steps:

1.  Opened in LR and added a small amount of fill to lighten up his face and added a little more black to get some more contrast in his clothes.

2.  Exported to PS

3.  In PS, I used my clone tool to lighten up under his eyes a bit.  I also cloned out the tree that was sticking out of his head.

4.  I used the Ying/Yang action (using the burning tool would also work) to darken the wheat/grass/weeds around him so it didn't look so blah (like my technical terms?).

5.  Ran Oh Snap (part of the TRA action set) at about 50%

6.  Ran Fade Up Summer (also from TRA).  This is a very strong action, so I used it at about 10% to give the image more of a warm-feeling.

7.  Sharpened for web.  I have three different sharpening actions...for print, for web and for Facebook.  All of them have different numbers and resolutions.  
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Kelly Mendoza says:

Great before and after! What a difference a little editing does. He is adorable :)

 (02.11.11 @ 10:09 AM)
Melissa says:

The pp looks great! Do you export from LR and save as a jpg before taking into PS, or just take it right to PS from LR using "edit in" (ctrl E). I'm a LR user that has just learned PS and am confused on the best way to bring it in PS.

 (02.11.11 @ 11:44 AM)
Christina says:

Thanks for sharing! I love seeing the befores and afters and hearing others' techniques!

 (02.11.11 @ 04:37 PM)
Nicole | BH Bridal Bliss says:

This is great Keri - I love seeing the before and after and also love that you give the steps. You rock girl! :)

 (02.11.11 @ 07:56 PM)
Darci says:

Win ticket...Darci!!!

 (02.21.11 @ 04:54 PM)
Myrian Peery says:

Love your technical terms! Thanks for the info....!! I love following your blog.

 (03.01.11 @ 09:05 PM)
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Jan
19

Soda Pop Talk...Before and After #3

SodaPopTalk.jpg


Below is the beautiful Milena of Milena Consulting.  I really didn't have to do much editing to any of her photos, which is why I chose the image below.  

I used to be someone who dabbled a bit too much in Photoshop actions, which considerably dated my images.  Any "trends" in photo-editing (for example, selective coloring) will go out-of-style just the same as clothing so, in my opinion, it is best to keep them as original as possible.  I now try to give my photos a clean, classic edit in order for them to be as timeless as possible.  Enjoy!

BeforeandAfter3.jpg

1.  Open in Lightroom and make exposure, fill light and color adjustments.  This one was good as-is, so I just exported as a PSD file and opened in PS.

2.  The first thing I did was ran Noiseware.  One downfall of my Sony camera is it's ISO capabilities.  I start seeing grain really early, at about 400 ISO.  I ran the program on a duplicate layer and erased back the eyes.  I want eyes to stay nice and sharp and sometimes the Noiseware program will take that away from my image.

3.  After merging layers, I cleaned up under her eyes by using the clone tool.  The patch tool will work, too, I just have grown accustomed to using the clone tool.  

4.  Although my exposure was good in this image, I tend to "brighten" up skin tones by using the Ying/Yang action.  At a very low opacity (15-20%) I just use a small brush over her skin to make it pop a little more.

5.  Lastly, I run SmartSharpen, which is built into PS.  There are many ways to sharpen an image, but this works for me.  :-)  Save-as JPEG and we are good to go!  

If I had a faster computer, this probably would have only taken a couple minutes to complete.
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Kelly Mendoza says:

Awesome clean edit! Boy I sure wish I looked this good SOOC (or after an edit for that matter)

 (01.19.11 @ 05:52 PM)
Priscilla joy says:

Love it! I have to say, I am a huge fan of the Pro-Retouch action by TRA...if used well and sparingly, I can often achieve similar results as clone/patch tool and it has a built in eye bump function. thanks for sharing!

 (01.19.11 @ 06:18 PM)
David Gaston says:

Now take the retouched image; lay it over the original and lower the opacity 20-40%.
The art of retouching is to make it look untouched :)
Retouching really stands out in the current image.

 (01.19.11 @ 07:06 PM)
Taylor Jackson (Toronto Wedding Photographer) says:

Hi Keri! I found your blog clicking through a couple of other photography website and first I wanted to say thank you for this post! and you totally rock! I love the classic feel you go for with your images and I think the retro theme of your blog rocks! I just redid my webpage and I've been looking for inspiration everywhere and yours in totally inspiring! I'm bookmarking your site for sure!

 (01.20.11 @ 05:11 PM)
Digital Backgrounds Fan says:

Beautiful...thanks for sharing!!

 (03.17.11 @ 07:51 AM)
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Nov
18

Soda Pop Talk...What's In My Bag??

SodaPopTalk.jpg

I got a message on my Facebook Biz Page from Nevada M., who asked "what's in your bag?".  I did one of these posts on my old blog, but times have changed a bit and I have a couple more lenses that weren't in that old post.  

Thank you for asking, Nevada! (BTW - Love your name!!).  :-)

Whatsinmybag.jpg

And because every time I get out my camera Ryland insists on having his picture taken, here ya go kid!  :-)

RylandSillyBW.jpg

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Nevada says:

Thanks! Okay..I started out Canon...40D Thinking of upgrading 5D Mark II................why do you love Sony? I own one prime lens 50mm 1.2.........wonder if I can use it on a Sony?
I started out doing equine photography and now am moving towards people..mainly romantic, sensual shoots...some would call it boudoir....but I don't want to be that limited.
Love your work and thanks for being so kind!!!!!

 (11.19.10 @ 05:45 AM)
Pua says:

WOW! I had no idea you shot Sony! I've heard such great things about the Sony cameras!! They definitely work well for a talented photographer ;).

 (11.19.10 @ 11:04 PM)
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Nov
01

Soda Pop Talk...Before and After #2

SodaPopTalk.jpg

This is from a recent photo session with one of my models, Cory.  Below are the steps I took to edit this image.

BeforeAfter.jpg

1.  Opened in LR and lightened up a bit.
2.  Opened in PS5 and used clone tool to clear up small dark circles under her eyes.
3.  Duplicated layer.
4.  Ran Noiseware at about 50%, erased back eyes.
5.  Merged layers.
6.  Used Ying/Yang at about 15% (from TRA) to lighted up face/skin and darken background.
7.  Ran Oh Snap (from TRA) and FlareUp (golden) at various opacities.
8.  Smart Sharpen.
9.  Save as JPEG.

And, there you have it!  :-)  HAPPY MONDAY!
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Mom says:

Looks great. Wish I knew how to do that. I have no idea what you are talking about except LR. You do great work Keri!

 (11.02.10 @ 08:28 AM)
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Oct
24

Soda Pop Talk...Portrait Wall Displays

SodaPopTalk.jpg

One of my most frequently asked questions is "how do I display my images?".  

You've picked out the perfect outfits, planned for a perfect day of shooting and have gotten some fabulous images in return.  You stare at your online gallery and try to think of how and what to display on your wall.  No fear, I have an answer for you!!

I have lots of experience on how to make a photo wall display, not only in my own house, but in my clients house as well.  Something that helps visualize are my fabulous wall display templates.  I can arrange canvases or frames in a certain "scene so you can see how your wall will look.

Below are two different rooms, the first having a collection of canvases and and the second being a framed print collection.  Pictures are from my most recent family session.

Enjoy!!

fireplace.jpg

chair.jpg

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Brittany says:

Hello, Keri! Great work! I am also a Sony shooter (one of the few), and was just wondering if you enjoy your a700? My hubby keeps discouraging me from getting it, but I have only read good reviews. I know its just your backup, but have you/would you use the a700 as your main shooting body? Thank you for your time :)

 (10.27.11 @ 02:43 AM)
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