giggles

<p>Lens cap on? Just kidding.<br>

Try setting your camera to P or A mode and then check your histogram after you shoot a series of pictures. Aim it right at a light source and see what you get. Is this a new camera or your first time using it?<br>

Good luck!</p>

 

<p>I believe they are actually suspended. I am sure the parents hands are directly under the baby just in case something were to happen and that the photographer clones out the hands for the final image - at least that is what I would do. I know the fabric is a cheese cloth material that you can find at your local fabric store.</p>

<p>When I started my portrait business about 4 years ago, I started with two 10x20's in solid black and white and then a couple 8x10's in a traditional brown and traditional grey. I never liked my end results with the 10x20 white cloth and I never use it today however one of my favorites among my collection of about 25 drops is still my 10x20 black. My other favorites are my seamless paper rolls. Now the white seamless paper is wonderful! Every now and then I still get the traditional customers in so I will pull out my first brown and grey ones as well. </p>

<p>I LOVE my Bees and would recommend them highly. I use a Ab800 for my main light and a AB400 for my fill.</p>

<p>I am sure she running some sort of color pop action. They are available from Totally Rad Actions, Kevin Kubota Actions, or Jinky Art. But Jose is right it involved a bumped up saturation and high contrast usually.</p>

If you have PS just try using your curves white eyedropper or try using your highlight dodge brush on the areas you'd like white. Good luck!

I soley shoot in Manual Mode - I think it is just a control issue. I like knowing that if I don't get something right, I can learn from it and that it is noone else's fault but myself. That being said, I do check my histogram a few times throughout my shoot along with having the highlight feature on when doing high key shots. Just do whatever you feel comfortable with:)

Sarah - I am in Iowa as well and love McKenna Pro out of Waterloo/Cedar Falls. There shipping is really fast and customer service is outstanding.

McKenna Pro is having a special on 11x14's right now. You might want to check them out.

I know that MPIX just started to offer wall clings. I don't know the size they offer however.

I signed up about 2 years ago and at that time they needed my tax id # and website. Maybe their policy on shipping has changed. If so, that's great for smaller independent photographers like you and I. They do have great quality and I haven't heard too many bad things about them.

 

MPIX and McKenna Pro both offer Metallic as well. McKenna Pro offers the gamut of textures, papers and backing whereas MPIX is more limited to lustre, metallic and true bw.

They offer no charge shipping since they make so much more on their prints. I know you must be approved to be a miller's customer. I was approved a few years ago but I remember that you have to spend so much money per year to get the free shipping. I think it is around $10,000 for the free shipping but I could be wrong on that amount. I would find a colorful and well exposed image that you've taken and have it printed at about five different labs in an 8x10. I would order them all the same day and then you can compare for yourself on shipping, pricing, quality, etc.

Miller's is very good but it is on the expensive side. I would recommend starting with MPIX or McKenna Pro. I have used both and been very happy with each. MPIX is very easy to use and McKenna has many products and professional services to offer. I strictly use McKenna Pro for all of my need now. Hope this helps:) Good Luck!

I love my 18-200 Nikon VR and use it 95% of the time in my studio shots.

I use my 18-200 vr lens for 90% of my baby portrait work both indoors and outside. I have the 50 mm 1.4 but with active children I find it hard to get a crisp shot when I have the lens pretty open.

One of my favorites for maternity and children shots is Linnea Lenkus. I believe her website is http://www.linnealenkus.com. She does classic beautiful portraits.

I am using CS2 for now. So dumb question, where do I convert to sRGB for my images on want to place online?

My images look great while I am editing them in PS and when they come back

from the printer BUT when I try to post them here they all turn red. It is like I give

my subjects an instant sunburn. Is there a setting in PS that I have screwed up?

My monitor is calibrated with Spyder 3 as well.

I remember my first "real" portrait shoot - 4 kids under the age of 8, all separate and all together. I couldn't even sleep the night before I was so nervous. My equipment was not good as I was actually just using a SB600 with some garage work lights for fillers. The session ended up going ok and the mom was pleased but I remember asking myself "Is it worth the stress and will it get better?" Well, with each session I did I became more relaxed and confident. You just need to remind yourself that you will be way more particular than your clients. They don't even seen to notice things that we as photographers do - like hot spots, composition or posing troubles. My clients really focus on expressions and the clarity of my work. I am not saying you shouldn't perfect each area but it happens over time and with numerous situations and subjects.

 

I have spent hours practicing on large stuffed animals and will still throw one on my backdrop before most sessions so I can set everything up before my clients arrive. I hate spending time adjusting my camera or lights when the clients are there.

 

Getting back to my first session, the mom ended up ordering a 16x20 of each of her children separate and now has them beautifully displayed in her home. I look at those shots and nit-pick everything that could be better and she looks at them and smiles at her beautiful children:)

 

Emily

I use http://www.bigblackbag.com for my site. I have used them for three years and have been very pleased. They give you a 7 day free trial period to play around. If you decide to go with them, tell them I sent you and I will get a referral fee too:)

I agree with Jeremy and would lose the blue eyes and touch up the little guy's face. That being said, it is a great composition and is good technically.

I would suggest to move the sitting to early evening - dusk. I love beach shots but wearing white in bright sunlight is just asking for problems. Good luck:)

Hi Kali - Blu does have some beautiful sites but lately I have been hearing there are various problems with them. If you go to www.ilovephotography.com and do a search you can get the specifics. I personally use Big Black Bag - which is similar to Blu. I have been using their site and hosting for about three years and have run into very few problems. You can see samples of their templates at http://www.bigblackbag.com or check out my website http://www.gigglesngrinsphotography.com.

Check out "Totally Rad" actions. They offer numerous actions that can help you achieve that soft glamour look way more efficiently than doing it on your own. Kevin Kubota also has some of those actions but they are a little more pricey.

Thanks Rand - I am off to check out those website you recommended.