Need to Learn Digital Editing for Event Photography

[michael_scharf]

I?ve built an event photography business by accident over the past ten years.

I started in the video business and then sold all my equipment, as SVHS was

being phased out. I don?t claim to be very good but people keep on calling. I

mostly fill the nitch in my community for an inexpensive photographer. I

always shot 35mm until about two years ago when I went digital. I am shooting

with a Nikon d70s, SB600 and Nikon 18-200 lens. My pictures always came out

pretty nice but nothing special. Since I only do about 3 or 4 jobs a month I

never spent a lot of time working on my digital files but now I?m looking to

improve my work. I have Elements (I think this is a PS program) but it just

seems like to much work to learn (I work in finance full time). Can any one

recommend an inexpensive but good easy to use program that I can use for basic

editing? Also can any one recommend a basic tutorial only digital editing.

Right now I am using Picasa but the options seem extremely limited.

 

Thanks.

Mike

[danielserrano]

if your on windows an alternative to photoshop besides elements could be paint shop pro..

if your on mac, could try pixelmator...

 

can buy it with some more apps at a reduced price on https://www.macheist.com/buy/invite/97738

 

cheers

[ronald_moravec1]

Elements is a basic photoshop. Learn it and move on to full PS if it will not fit your

requirements. Nikon nx is competent and there are others.

[don_hill]

It sounds like Lightroom is the best solution for your needs, it is inexpensive for what it

offers in convenience. Go to www.lynda.com and get all your training online - this is a great

resource for only $25 per month.

[tolik_p.]

Yes i agree with Don, Adobe Lightroom is really nice software to work with lots of pictures at a time, and not really complicated to use. Then over time i suggest to learn Photoshop for those "hard pictures" and you'll be set.

[mark_harrington1]

I would highly recommend you consider using ExpressDigital's Darkroom Core edition software. This is a program that is designed for event photography as well as team pictures etc. It allows you to put frames, borders etc around the image as well as to do basic correction and editing. Best of all if you don't want to pay the $495. for the software, there is a web version you can use for free, you just have to have the sponsoring lab print the pictures. You can learn more and figure out the best options for you at their website: www.expressdigital.com

 

I use this software for basic print onsite projects.

[conraderb]

if you ask me, software is only one part of it. are you satisfied with your files out of camera? 95% of my files never see photoshop - they only need small tweaks (these are raw files).

 

if you ask me, too many people focus on PS skillz, when they need to work on getting good captures, strong compositions, good moments, etc.

 

just an idea. no idea where your skills are - you might be a wedding photography god, and you might not.

[david_schilling___chicago_]

You might want to find a copy of David Zizer's DVD http://www.digitalwakeupcall.com/ and http://www.photovisionvideo.com/store/shop.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=P&Category_Code=DVD for the Photovision Photoshop Simplified.