Skin Tones

One of the biggest areas where many photos could benefit from some post processing is: skin tones. I didn't pick the very best example here, because I purposely overexposed this shot a little... but it at least gives an idea.

This is one of the very first photography tips that I learned. I still remember 8 years or so ago, when my friend took my photo that I thought was pretty good and "warmed it up" for me, and the difference was AMAZING. I was dying to know how she made out skin look so much better, like it was a beautiful sunny day, instead of the overcast dreary day that it was.

Skin tones can be very hard to get "right", and I still struggle in this area.... but fortunately, they are quite easy to get "better". But a lot of it depends on training your eyes. In the top photo of Keturah, can you see how her skin is gray? Bluish even? The "tone" of the skin is a cool tone. Well, that's fine if you're photgraphing Russell Crowe in Gladiator when he's at the frozen battle field and the snow is beginning to fall... those scenes are all filmed so dark and gray, it's just perfect. But personally, I like warm outdoor photos for the most part... not always, but usually.

They day that I took this photo it had been raining much of the day, and had just stopped. The sky was thick with dark clouds, it was very dreary outside. But with a little post processing, it almost looks like my daughter was outside on a spring day, not a rainy, dark one.

How to achieve this is different with every program, and I suggest looking up tutorials for your spec program. I use Photoshop, so I can tell you what I did, but it still may sound like gibberish unless you know what I'm talking about. I adjusted the curves to brighten and warm it overall. I then turned up the red until I liked it, then I turned down the blue (which in turn turns up the yellow). I also did 2 other complicated steps that I'm not getting into today... but the result was to defog, sharpen and intensify.

The biggest goal of this post is to get you to begin looking at skin tones with a critical eye... and not settle for blue-gray caucasian skin anymore. :)

Here is another example of "before and after" showing skin tones. Yes, it's very warm, but that's my style. :)

Sweet Little Puppy

Just wanted to share this cute little puppy's before and after editing. It may be a little intense, the colors, brightness, sharpness... but I like to do that with animals since you can't as much with people. LOVE this little puppy!!

The B Family

If they look pixelated at all, that's only because of the sizing for the blog post... they will be crystal clear in real life. It's just so much faster to resize for internet posting than it is to make a proof logo on each example and then wait for the larger file to load. So, just know the prints will be clear. Any of the samples you see here are also available in black and white, and those always print up very beautiful.



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H Family Proofs

H Family, I absolutely LOVE how your family photos turned out!! I can't wait to see them printed! The photo number/name is to the right of each photo... use this number/name when choosing which ones to order. Each photo that you see here can be printed in any size... 8 x 10, 5 x 7, 4 x 6 and wallets. Let me know if you have any questions! Thank you!

Holly, I later deleted the last two photos because I forgot to fix her skirt in those! Sorry! It was late when I was working on them. I can later darken that area as I did in the other, if you want to use those photos, I had colored samples printed up to show you next time I see you. :)








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Proofs for the Lobo Family

Liza, the image name is at the side. I can print any of these images in any size. I tell my clients to think of relatives who may want a 5 x 7 of the family, that also makes a nice gift... to send a photo already framed for them. Let me know if you have any questions.


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A SOOC bounced flash

Just wanted to share this bounced flash photo... many more will come as I try and learn this art! I wonder what it would look like with a little editing to help the exposure? I am so used to editing outdoor images... I don't know how it works with indoor light, let alone bounced flash light. I will have to play later and see what I can get. Please pay no attention to the food all over her face! LOL

I am still learning exactly how the flash +/- works in hand with the ISO. Then there is EV, dialing down or whatever ... ... ahhh... I feel as though I may never understand it all! Haha.... Nah.... just a bite at a time, be patient Jenny! I WILL understand this all.