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lanette_steele

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Posts posted by lanette_steele

    Image in PS looks darker than image in camera view

    in The Digital Darkroom: Process, Technique & Printing

    Posted

    <p>Roger, Ryan and Francisco - I can adjust my LCD brightness. I lowered it to -3 from 0. So hopefully that will help not mislead me in the future. I shoot in RAW. I didn't realize about the image displayed being jpeg. My ISO was set to 100. I set my lightmeter to ISO 100. Since the pictures are all too dark, then yeah, 1/2 power wasn't enough. I am still learning alot of this through trial and error. So to just automatically know through experience is a work in progress. Luckily these were my family xmas pictures and not a client. I am able to adjust them all and make them work. Chalk this up for another lesson learned. In my shooting menu it gives me an option for Color Space. I have it set to sRGB. But there is a 2nd choice for Adobe RGB. Would that make a difference? My setting in PS is sRGB IEC61966-2.1. Below I inserted what I ended up with. It may be alittle blown out too much now. I will lower it some. But CC on it would be helpful. Thanks for all your comments and pointers. Lanette<br>

    <img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/10237223-sm.jpg" alt="" width="160" height="200" /></p>

    Image in PS looks darker than image in camera view

    in The Digital Darkroom: Process, Technique & Printing

    Posted

    <p>Strange thing. I haven't noticed this before. I did my family Xmas pictures yesterday. In camera they look great. The white is white. Exposure is good. I put them on computer and fired up PS CS4. In PS they are darker, and the white background is grey! I haven't used my white background since this summer, but I don't recall those images being this way. I opened the same image in my ViewNX software. Although it was alittle lighter, still not like it looked in camera.<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2574/4128885878_d2e37330f7_m.jpg" alt="" width="159" height="240" />This is as is. And the shadow on the left wasn't as deep either. I am a bit frusterated. I can fix them. But this is kinda shaking my confidence in my ability! lol.<br>

    This was shot at F8, 1/100 sec. (1) SB800 light at 1/2 power with large softbox on it and silver reflector on opposite side.<br>

    Is this something that needs to be adjusted in photoshop under assign profile (I did mess with this and it helped by changing it to "Nikon Color Match RGB" I shoot with a Nikon D300)? If so How do I do this to all of them so I am not going and doing it to each and everyone. If anyone has experience with this please enlighten me. If more information is needed let me know. Thanks anyone who can shed some light on this. Lanette</p>

    Can I have some critiques on my images

    in Portraits & Fashion

    Posted

    <p>Ok. I changed the background to just black. I had added the orange to give it some color. But I can see how it could be distracting to the images. I have noticed alot lately that smugmug has been down. I am only using it until I can learn to make my own. So for now it is what I need to go with. Don't have the funds to do another site. But I will look into the dotphoto.com, thank you for the pointer.<br>

    So if anyone else sees my post now, please take a look again. It is up right now without problems. Hopefully it will stay that way, lol. Thank you. L</p>

    Can I have some critiques on my images

    in Portraits & Fashion

    Posted

    <p>I would like to get some feedback on my images. I think I have enough now in my galleries to give a good overall feel of my style. I do not have any technical school training. I am learning by assisting a wedding photographer and watching instructional videos and practice. I love my work. Clients have loved their portraits. But I really need some trained eyes to point out areas I need to focus on. For reference I have a Nikon D300 with a SB600, 1 Alien Bee SB800 and large square softbox and 5-1 reflector kit. I have attempted to set up flash as slave for background light, but with frusterating results. So for now, I just use my softbox. Until money allows to add a 2nd alien bee. Thank you for all comments.</p>

    <p><a href="http://goldenimagesphotography.smugmug.com/">http://goldenimagesphotography.smugmug.com/</a></p>

    Creating card template-cs4

    in The Digital Darkroom: Process, Technique & Printing

    Posted

    <p>I am using Photoshop CS4. I have a family portrait session in November who wants christmas cards. This is new for me. I use Millers Lab and they offer this, but wanted to try my hand at creating a card design vs buying one of theirs. Unfortunately, I am a hands on learner and often feel uneasy as to whether I am doing something right without a guide. Has anyone here designed a card. Say a 5X5 top folded card with an insert in the center for the image. I want to ensure the quality of the image after sizing it for the insert size. How do I do this in photoshop.</p>

    <p>My image size is 2640x3300 pixels and document size is 8x10 with a resolution of 330.<br>

    I created a new document, sized at 5x5 with a resolution of 250 and made my design on it. I figure if the image insert is 3.5x3.5 it will look great.</p>

    <p>I know this may seem like an amatuer question. I am just starting out with my business. But everyone has to learn somehow and start somewhere. I do have a photoshop book, but there are so many explanations in there. I just need a direct answer that doesn't leave me wondering which way to go.</p>

    Using Flyers for Advertising

    in Business of Photography

    Posted

    <p>Thanks for setting me straight on these 2 ideas. My brother in law is giving me his Guerrillas Marketing book on Tuesday. I will be reading through it this week for more ideas. Thanks. Yeah, the littering on cars, was not a fond idea. For I hate that tactic too. But sometimes a bad idea seems good when you can't think of anything else. I also see your points on flyers. It does seem low end and doesn't show much value in a business. I thought of a direct mail appoach. But cost is an issue right now.</p>

    <p>*My earning goal is $20,000 to start/year. I am not going to expect a booming business my first year. But if it exceeds my expectations then I will be pleasantly suprised instead of disappointed. I want to take advantage of the upcoming christmas rush of "family pictures to send to family"</p>

    <p>*I want to market to families with kids. Mostly moms. They usually make the portrait appointments. I have started a business plan and outlined these goals.</p>

    <p>*Budget, $200 to $300 max for now</p>

    <p>*I have ample time to market. I work every other week for about 20 hours right now.</p>

    <p>I am currently working on "word of mouth" by doing portraits of seniors of friends of friends. No cost to them for me to do it. If they like them and wish to purchase them, I am offering 25% of my print prices. I have 3 seniors to photograph this month. I wedding that came my way that is in 3 weeks and a family session this weekend. I see the potential for word of mouth to come from all 5 of these as pretty good. I just want to up my chances for family portraits, since christmas is coming and it is a busy time for those "family pictures".</p>

    Using Flyers for Advertising

    in Business of Photography

    Posted

    <p>I have just started my business. Portrait Photography. I am working on getting my name out there. Building my portfolio etc. I am thinking of making a flyer. I am wanting some insight from anyone who as marketing skills, or who has gone with this approach. Where are good places to post these flyers that are legal? I keep thinking grocery stores! I can't see past that location. I personally, don't look at those boards. I thought of making postcards and putting them on car windshields at office buildings or doors of homes. Has this worked for anyone or is it a bad idea? Any other inexpensive ways to get your name out there while your waiting for word of mouth to spread?</p>

    Wedding jitters

    in Wedding & Event

    Posted

    <p>I just received my first email on requesting information for a wedding in December and what services I offer. I have done 2 weddings. But they were low end and for acquaintances. This wedding is at the Ritz Charles. This will be higher end, than my first 2. Which is the direction I want to head, but I don't want to screw this up. I have shadowed a high end wedding photographer for 3 years now. He uses a second photographer. I don't have a second photographer though. How important is that, should I look for one? I think it is needed. I am just really nervous about this and hope that I can recall everything I have picked up on over the last 3 years now that it could happen. I want to offer everything Dave offered. Full day coverage, 2 photographers and 1 assistant, an engagement session and register book for the big day, and a wedding album. He charges $3500 for this. This would be my first wedding under my business. Am I setting myself up to fail? I don't have a 2nd photographer or assistant. I would have to jump on finding someone. I have signed up with Millers' Lab for my printing, but not had the oppurtunity to order albums and see how it all works putting them together. You have to start somewhere, but am I putting the cart before the horse? I have a Nikon D300. I am comfortable taking portraits and being in the wedding scene. I just have not had the chance to be the number one at the wedding.</p>

    HELP! I get calls, but no appointments!

    in Business of Photography

    Posted

    <p>I too am just starting out, so I don't have alot to contribute. But I have a similar experience. I had a 3rd cousin ask my prices, but I never heard back from them after I gave them the info. I just asked my cousin for some input of why she had not booked yet. If it was my prices or something else. She informed me that my pricing was very reasonable, but with a new grandbaby on the way, and a child getting married, they just didn't have the money right now, and that they were going to wait for the baby to arrive to get them in the pictures too. I also have a brother-in-law, who with a masters in business, tells me you should never leave pricing info via email, unless you have to. It doesn't give you the oppurtunity to sell your product. It puts the ball in their court and you left waiting, or calling after and coming across as pushy. I don't know if that helps.<br>

    Great images, you don't have to worry about that. Website could be alittle bit tweaked like the poster above stated though. That would be a turn off to me (music, pulldown menus)</p>

    inexpensive, simple websites-to display and sell

    in Business of Photography

    Posted

    <p>I haven't looked into any of these sites mentioned, except smugmug. I am currently trying out the trial/demo version of Site Grinder. It is used with Photoshop to make your own webiste. I made one in less than 8 hours. I have not purchased it yet, so it is not up for you to look at, but they do have sites you can look at that were done with it. It is very user friendly. You will need to buy a domain name and pay for a host, but it is yours, if you want to look into it go to <a href="http://www.sitegrinder.com">www.sitegrinder.com</a> I don't know about the password part of it yet though. I am still looking into it's capabilities for that. I see sites that used Sg and have it, but not sure how they got it yet. Lanette</p>

    To charge or not and how?

    in Business of Photography

    Posted

    <p>Thanks Jonathan. My Grandfather, who owned is own glass/framing store for 40 years only gave a 15% discount to family, that included his own children. Yeah he had a bank roll when he passed away. So there is a point to it. I just feel greedy about it I guess. I need to get over that.</p>
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