Here at Two Belles we believe photography should be fun and accessible for everyone. Today's technology, phone apps and Photoshop filters everyone and their grandmother is a photographer. Anyone can point and shoot, my one year old has taken quite a few shots from my camera phone. It doesn't mean they are any good, even though I see potential :)
One of the ways you can take your photography to the next level is through editing. I love Photoshop; it is literally a digital paintbrush. One important lesson to learn though is just because you CAN do anything in Photoshop doesn't mean that you should.
Below is a typical example of over editing.
Below is a typical example of over editing.
Photography is a lot like fashion in the sense there are trends, fads and many different styles. Photographers can be rustic or modern. They can be traditional or edgy. They can be romantic or dramatic. You want to find the style that matches your personality and avoid some pitfalls. Photoshop filters are a tool to accentuate your model, not overshadow him or her.
Coco Chanel said it best "Fashion fades, only style remains the same." Here at Two Belles we are focused on providing you with a timeless keepsake. When you look back on one of our photographs we don't want you to remember the editing style, we want you to remember that chapter of your life.
So Maurissa and I have compiled a list of a few things we consider to be The Seven Deadly Sins of Photoshop:
Coco Chanel said it best "Fashion fades, only style remains the same." Here at Two Belles we are focused on providing you with a timeless keepsake. When you look back on one of our photographs we don't want you to remember the editing style, we want you to remember that chapter of your life.
So Maurissa and I have compiled a list of a few things we consider to be The Seven Deadly Sins of Photoshop:
Ahhh, Vignette, it can be a black or white fade that you see framing a photograph. You might remember this effect on post cards hanging on a rack by a roadside gas station and that is where they belong. This is potentially a wonderful tool you can use to subtly accentuate your model and draw your focus to the person not the background. If you are flipping through a few photographs and you notice this dominating a photographer's portfolio just remember: less is more.
A blurry background is a great way to put a greater focus on your model. This can be done with the proper Aperture setting on your photographer's camera, but it can also be done through Photoshop. Notice in the left image you can clearly see where the blur begins? There is no fade and the image starts to fall flat. Sometimes the best editing is the kind that you can't even tell its been done. That is how you get a natural, timeless photograph you can proudly display for years.
We see this in a lot of beginner photographers as they are learning how to enhance their photos. Yes, a bright white eye does make your client's eyes pop but we don't want them to pop right out of the picture.
Sometimes you want to bring a nice youthful glow for a more romantic and ethereal picture. When it is poorly done though like on the left your model ends up losing a lot of the contrast in her face resulting in yet another flat image. What some people call imperfections we call character, and that character is something to be celebrated. I'm not talking about pimples here, we can zap those out no problem. :)
Lens flare, the most abused filter of all. That is why a lot of people snub this photo effect. It is important that your photographer has a grasp on lighting, artificial or natural lighting is what makes a picture. Notice on the right hand side the placement of the lens flare? Its no where near where the actual sun would be. The shadows are all on the right side of Maurissa's face because the sunlight is coming from the left. On the right image it is placed peaking over the tree line, like a sun starting to set creating a nice natural glow.
Can't stress this one enough. Lighting! Lighting! Lighting! Over exposure washes out your client and an under exposed picture lacks contrast and creates a one dimensional flat image.
Black and whites are my personal favorites and this might be hard to spot. Did you know there was a difference between a black and white photo and a desaturated one? Desaturating does exactly that, it sucks all of the color out. Images work as CMYK or RGB and these colors combine to make up your photographs on the screen or on paper. When you suck all the color out and the photograph is only using black tones to compose your image you don't get the depth and richness that you can with a properly shot black and white photograph.
I hope this post helped you learn a little bit about the big world of photography and helps you out when you're on the prowl for a photographer. If you've made it to our little corner of the world wide web we hope you don't have to look any further.
I'll leave you with another quote from the lovely Coco Chanel, with a little Belle's spin.
"Photograph shabbily and they remember the Photoshop. Photograph impeccably and they remember the CLIENT"
I'll leave you with another quote from the lovely Coco Chanel, with a little Belle's spin.
"Photograph shabbily and they remember the Photoshop. Photograph impeccably and they remember the CLIENT"