by Guest Contributor Amanda Padgett

Hello! I am super thrilled that Pretty has asked me to come back and do another editing tutorial and “challenge” with you!

When I was thinking about what I could talk about or teach, the main thing that came to me was levels. Levels is an amazing adjustment layer that both Photoshop CS# and Photoshop Elements has, and in my opinion, it is seriously under-used. So, today I’m going to be the “Levels Evangelist.”

To teach levels today, I am using a picture I shot of my daughter last fall, when the white balance was not set right, giving me an image that was too pinkish.

You can download this picture at Flickr, if you would like to work along with me during the video (below).

If you remember from my first edit tutorial/challenge, the first few things I fix when I begin the edit process is exposure, contrast and white balance. Today the white balance is glaringly off, so I am going to fix that first! Here are the steps I followed for my edit:

• White balance fix: Levels adjustment, click the gray dropper and then click around on the whites of the eyes until you find a WB that suits the image. Lower the layer opacity if needed.
• Contrast bump: Levels adjustment, pulling in the black slider to about 12 and the gray slider to about 1.08.
• Brighten eye sockets and face: Levels adjustment, pulling the gray slider over to the left to about 1.25 and the black slider to around 7. Then I inverted the mask (control/command + i) and brushed over the eye sockets at about 50% brush opacity and then over the whole face at about 30% brush opacity. Then I lowered the layer opacity to suit.
• Color pop: Levels adjustment, pulling in the black slider to 19 and the gray slider to .93. Inverted the mask and brushed only over the grass and her shirt.
• Light-up catch lights: Levels adjustment, pulling in the white slider to around 224, the gray slider to 1.35, and the black slider to 8. Then invert and brush over catch lights and iris of each eye.
• Warm it up a bit: Warming filter 85, reducing layer opacity to around 50%.
• Whiten teeth and eyes: Hue/Saturation adjustment, reducing saturation and increasing lightness. Invert and brush over teeth and eyes at different brush opacitites, then lower layer opacity to around 50-60%.
• Fix under-eye circles: Blank layer, use eye dropper to sample “good” skin around under eye circle, then click on brush and brush the color over the circle. Repeat for other eye and then lower layer opacity to around 40%.

Here is the before and after comparison. I think it is a nice, realistic, clean edit that did not take super long to accomplish. And, it helped show off how awesome Levels is!

Hopefully, the first edit challenge helped you be more familiar with what we did today. If you are a little confused still, watch the video below. I show the whole edit process in both Photoshop CS5 (plays first in video) and in Photoshop Elements 10 (shows second in video). Those reading this blog post in a blog reader or via email, the video will not show up for you. Please click over to the blog and then you will be able to view it.

Hello!  I’m Amanda, a quirky, introverted Mom of four, who is passionate about helping others learn their cameras and editing software. I also currently homeschool my four kids, ages 13 to 6, all whom run away when they see me carrying my camera.

Visit me at my WEBSITE and FACEBOOK page!

 

by Guest Contributor Laura Winslow

Choose a design that you love
Just like a home, you want to make your blog a place that you enjoy being. If you enjoy being there, so will your readers. Some resources that make it easy as pie to create an uber-fab blog are {Blog Sugar} Kits from Dear Miss Modern, and add-on designs if you have a wordpress ProPhoto blog. Choose a design and design elements that make you happy, that speak to you and that are reflective of who you are (not who you think you should be).

Write in a way that shows your readers who you are
I love to laugh and probably need a “smiley face anonymous” group as I am a complete abuser of the little dudes, but that’s just ME. 🙂 Hey, I like smiley faces, I like using them and I would much rather use too many smiling icons than to ever be interpreted incorrectly online or via email. Are you more direct and less casual? Then show it! Ultimately, your best clients are those that really see and feel your vision, and there is no better way to ensure that they do than to be yourself. Let them feel like they know you before they even pick up the phone. One of my favorite blogs that I feel is the perfect example of this is the sweet Kristen of Brand Camp. Read it. Feel it. Laugh and learn. Kristen also has SO many wonderful products that help you with everything from writing a bio to creating interesting blog content.

Choose topics that interest you and that are relevant to your readers
Creating a regular blog feature–whether it be weekly or monthly–helps to ensure quality content for your blog, helps you to stay on track and keeps readers coming back for more. Have you tried weekly blog columns in the past and had them flop? No fear, lovelies! Know that sometimes you will fail, it is all just part of the path to awesomeness. I have had a myriad of ideas for blog posts–some are received with a standing ovation, others simply fizzle out. I don’t take it to heart and this only serves to motivate my creative brain to think up the next new idea. I have a wildly popular weekly blog feature titled Wall Art Wednesdays. I religiously posted fun wall display ideas to this column for well over a year before it actually took off like wildfire. Yep, a YEAR. Now, each Wednesday brings 10,000 or more loyal visitors to my blog. I am a photographer, so naturally those that follow me (and of particular importance to me, my clients) are interested in how to use their photographs to decorate their home. I find it fun to seek new ideas and inspirational walls to share with others.

When appropriate, make sure to spread the love to those that you find amazing
Link, link, link baby! Did you post photographs of your daughter enjoying an ice cream cone at that cool new spot? Share the name and website for all to enjoy! Did you use a new template for your recent mini sessions? Share with your fellow photogs! Think people will be interested to know where you got that rad mirror peeking out of your photo? Share the shopping love! We are a community of photographers, bloggers, mothers, fathers, families and commerce–what does it hurt to give others a little exposure? In my experience, even if you gain nothing (which should be your expectation), anything that does come of it is just awesome gravy, baby. 🙂 (Had to add a little smiling love)

Promote your blog and its content
There are SO many free and easy ways to grow your blog and your audience. Each time I publish a new blog post, the link automatically is posted to my personal Facebook page, my Facebook business page and to my Twitter account. I can also then promote it by writing a little catchy blurb and linking again. I also have a link to my blog, my Facebook and Twitter accounts in my email, and by using Wisestamp, I can also have an excerpt of my most recent blog post automatically added to my signature. Voila! Easy, peasy! A title pulls them in from all over! Email marketing sites like Madmimi and MailChimp allow you to post an email sign up on your blog to grow subscribers. You can then use those subscribers to give them relevant and fun updates on some of your more pertinent blog posts.

Above all, enjoy the journey–don’t take yourself or your blog too seriously. It should be a fun place to go, to share and to use as a creative outlet. Make it your sweet little haven and others will come and feel right at home. 🙂

 Print your own 8×10 {blog it} poster HERE + stay inspired!

xoxo,
laura

About the Author:  Laura is an on-location photographer in the Phoenix area with a modern yet classic style. She loves her clients, traveling and chasing after her two little sweeties, Jackson and Addison. With Starbucks in hand, she loves to dream of both her next vacation and her next fun project. Laura’s work has been featured in Babytalk magazine, Celebrate magazine, on HGTV.com and as the featured photographer in ads for MpixPRO in Professional Photographer, Rangefinder and Digital Photo Pro.

Visit Laura at her WEBSITE | BLOG | FACEBOOK pages today!

 

by Guest Contributor Elizabeth Halford

Have you ever had a client claim that they don’t like their photos because they aren’t like the ones on your website? Or had a wedding client confused about why her photos are in B&W? Had any complaints at all? Unfortunately, it might be your fault. But not in the way they’re trying to make you believe. You may simply have not maintained their expectations.

Expectation management. It’s the single most important element of your business communication because if you don’t get it right, you’ll probably give up. Like I wanted to before I realized that it was me, not them. But fear not – you can manage your clients’ expectations with a few simple steps:

First Impressions – Expectation management begins before you even know they exist. When someone clicks through to your website, this is your only chance at a good first impression. And of course, it’s in tip-top shape with the best of the best of your work. And hopefully by the point you’ve launched yourself as a photographer who is now available for hire, you know who you are and what you want to be offering to your clients. If you don’t want to do maternity sessions, don’t show them on your website. If you love exploring a certain genre personally but aren’t ready to integrate it into your business, don’t show the work. Because if you do, you’re saying: “…and I could do this for you, too!”

Consistency – I’ve said before on my blog that you shouldn’t get into the business until you can consistently produce the same caliber of work over and over again. This means that you’re not just showing a few lucky shots you got on a shooting spree, but work which you are confident that you can reproduce for your new client so they don’t wonder if it was even you who took the photos they fell in love with in the first place.

Brand – Your images are the product you’re selling. And just like any company producing products, they need to maintain your brand identity with integrity. For example, you can pretty much expect that when you walk into the Apple store, you’ll walk out with something smooth, white, fast and sexy {ok…I’m a fangirl}. Wouldn’t you be like “…what on earth?” if you walked into the shiny, bright store to find a bulky, black, matte computer smack-dab in the middle of that store? I feel like that when I view a photographer’s portfolio and I see something like this:

• Image 1: soft
• Image 2: etherial
• Image 3: dreamy
• Image 4: super moody urban grunge
• Image 5: soft
•  Image 6: dreamy

That sharp, grungy urban image throws the whole thing off. It’s clearly not part of the identity of that business. So this is where it’s so important to maintain vision about what your brand’s image is actually projecting and knowing what kind of photographer you are.

One way around this if you strongly identify with two different styles is to be very calculated about sending the right message to your clients. For instance, having the main page of your website be a choice between entering your urban portraiture and vintage lush websites. Or two different portfolios. Or two different branches of your business altogether with different websites, different marketing materials, different business cards, all meant to be drawing different clientele.

This post is about how I personally balance image consistency and creativity without sacrificing one or the other.

Editing – Going along with the above, your editing should remain consistent so your clients can picture their pictures and know exactly what they’re going to get if they hire you. And the editing should remain consistent throughout the post production process of each session individually. Don’t do some photos punchy and others soft. This will cut right through the storytelling power of viewing the images together and the capabilities the clients have for displaying them together.

When people pay for a session, they’re buying a product that doesn’t even exist yet. They’re buying faith in you and their faith will be stronger if they can look at your website, know exactly what you provide and what it will look like for their own session.

The most important question – When you get that first contact with a client, have a few important questions ready for them. The most important to me is asking “so what image(s) made you want to call me?” Then right off the bat, I know what they will love for their own session and they won’t be surprised with the results. More about that here.

Money – There’s no worry about a client getting sticker shock at their viewing session. Because my website clearly states the starting price of both a la carte prints and collections. This weeds out people who don’t want to pay at least that and gives them a starting point in their mind of what they’re looking at spending.

Booking – When they book a session, I explain how everything goes, how long it will be, whether I plan on posing or not, what the location is like and when they will see their photos.

So, you see, it’s all about communication. Communicating in words, yes, but also in imagery, brand integrity, customer service. It’s all about telling your client exactly what they’re going to get and giving it to them exactly.

{Further Reading}

Maintaining Artistic Expectations

What’s in my Wedding Contract

Managing Client Expectations – Weddings

Managing Money Expectations

About the Author: Elizabeth Halford is a professional photographer and blogger. She gives real photography advice in real.plain.english. Visit her on Facebook and join a community of photographers just like you!

 

by Guest Contributor Leigh Anne

I am not a professional photographer. I am a cook and I am a blogger thus I take pictures of food. I have taken a photography class and learning to shoot in manual has been the best thing I ever did for my improving my photography skills. But most of what I have learned has been through trial and error and reading great blogs like Rock the Shot!

The first question I am always asked is what kind of camera do I use. I shoot with a Nikon D90 and use either my 50mm1.8 or my 17-55mm 2.8.

When people ask me about my food photography and how I get such pretty pictures my number one tip is use natural light.

My kitchen has a nice little area with some beautiful northern light. This is where I do most of my picture taking – right on top of my table. I have a real professional set up.

My backdrop is a white foam core board from the Dollar store and that is an old cupboard door I found at the dump! Sometimes I use another piece of foam core board on the table instead of the cupboard door. I also use another piece of foam core board as a reflector. Like I said, I am not a professional! But it works.

This is my basic backdrop which I can then change up with different colors and materials. I have a collection of different color poster boards that I use a chip clip to attach to the board.

Here’s what the actual photo looked like.

You’d never know it was taken on top of my kitchen table!  I also have a collection of wrapping paper that makes a great backdrop too.

I like variety so I have accrued quite a collection of fabrics, papers and serving pieces that I use for my photos.

I am also lucky enough to have a small office off my family room with a closet and counter where I can store all the stuff. There is a lot of stuff! Fabric napkins make a great photo prop and are just the right size. I also like to vary texture so old wooden cutting boards, burlap, bamboo all work great too.

Sorry for the bad photo… I have a slight addiction to cake stands.

Using natural light can sometimes be a challenge for a food blogger, especially in the Northwest where I live. In the Fall and Winter and sometimes in the Spring and Summer natural light can be limited. We have lots of cloud covered, rainy, gray days here in Oregon! I blog about the food my family actually eats, what we are having for dinner. So a lot of my photos are taken at dinner time. In the winter when the days are short and it’s dark outside by 4:00 p.m. it’s hard to take a good photo!

Fortunately I discovered the Lowel EGO light which helps on those dark and dreary days. It is certainly not as good as natural light but it’s better than my regular kitchen lighting!

Here’s a photo taken with the light. Not bad but natural is better!

The other tool that is helpful in low light situations of course is a tripod. I am a little slow to the game and just recently started using one and it has helped tremendously when I have to use a lower shutter speed because of the lack of light. My pictures are much crisper.

Thanks to Rock the Shot for letting me share today! If you are interested in any of the recipes for the food you just saw I’d love for you to come over and visit me at Your Homebased Mom! The taquito recipe is here. The chocolates were a gift, sorry no recipe and the cookie recipe is here.

This year I’m focusing on Being Grateful and sharing a photo each day on my Facebook Page of something I’m grateful for – I’d love for you to follow along.

Hi! I’m Leigh Anne, mom of four, recent empty nester and wife who loves family, food, entertaining and fun. I love sharing my journey of finding the pretty and delicious in life at Your Homebased Mom and taking pictures of all those pretty and delicious things.  I have learned that the pretty and delicious is always there – sometimes we just have to look a bit harder for it than other times.

 

 

by Guest Contributor Anna Gay

If you are new to Photoshop, you may find yourself repeating the same steps over and over again, because you like the effect that certain adjustments have on your photos. By now, you have probably heard about Photoshop “actions,” which are basically just a series of steps that, by pressing one button, will be applied to your photo – very similar to a Lightroom preset. You can easily create your own actions in Photoshop to simplify your workflow!

Keep in mind that actions cannot be written in Elements, unfortunately, they can only be written in Photoshop CS. However, actions can be written in CS that can be used in Elements, so if you want to download pre-made actions online, be sure that you download the actions that are specifically for Elements.

For now, let’s look at how to create an action in CS.

First, make sure your Actions palette is open by going to your top toolbar and selecting Window, Actions, and a check mark will appear next to the word Actions. You should have a palette similar to the above photo open on the right side of your screen.

Click on the folder icon, Create New Set

You will then see this box, at which point you can rename your folder if you want for easy identification, especially if you have a lot of actions stored in Photoshop.

With your new set selected, click the Create New Action icon, circled above.

Again, you will have the opportunity to name each action within the set. Now, click Record. From this point forward, Photoshop will record everything you do.

The best thing you can do when you are writing actions is to work with Adjustment Layers. So, every time you want to apply an effect to your photo, select Layer, New Adjustment Layer, and then the type of adjustment you want to make. That way, when you are finished recording your action, all of your layers will remain visible, and when you use the action in the future, you’ll be able to tweak each layer, depending on what works for the photo. If your action works on one photo, chances are it may not work exactly the same on the next, but with the layers remaining open, you can make small adjustments to each layer, if need be. When you are through writing your action, press the Stop button, circled above.

Finally, when you want to play your action, simply click the arrow next to the set you have created for your actions, and then select the action you wish to play. Then, press the Play button, and your action will repeat every step that you have recorded!

Anna Gay is a portrait photographer based in Athens, GA and the author of the dPS ebook The Art of Self-Portraiture. She also designs actions and textures for Photoshop. When she is not shooting or writing, she enjoys spending time with her fiancee, and their two cats, Elphie and Fat Cat.