Can you spot the difference? When the clone tool comes to the rescue...

Can you spot the subtle difference in these two photographs?


If you're still looking, let me point you in the direction of the Bride's hair. See it?

As a photographer it's my job to pick up on things that are important or of concern to my client. It was hot and humid from morning rain the day of the event and Cassie was concerned about her bangs separating. She and her bridesmaids tried to keep a close watch, but every now and again they got away from us. That's where the clone tool comes in!

The clone tool let's you more or less "copy and paste" from the existing image. As your brush paints over a specific area, instead of a single color it paints an exact copy of a selection within that image. For Cassie's hair, I selected the clone tool and pressed ALT. This changes your cursor from a brush to a cross hair or bullseye looking cursor. While holding the ALT key, you'll select the area you want to copy. I selected the side bangs almost right next to the broken section by simply clicking the cross hair in that area. By doing that, you've told Photoshop where you want to paste from.

What I love about Photoshop CS5 is that when I remove my hand from the ALT key and begin painting, I can see what is going to be copied there before I click the mouse. After adjusting my brush size, I simply painted the small section of skin poking through.

The finished product is what you see. No more broken bangs, just perfectly set hair. =)

Camera Raw Magic

I always love to see before and afters when it comes to what photographers and Photoshop can do to an image. Unfortunately many photographers aren't willing to share what they consider to be "unfinished" work or how they got to the end result.

I'm not one of those.

I will be the first to admit I don't get it right in the camera every time. Luckily my background in Photoshop dates back as early to my first website in the 6th grade. I judge a good photographer by the end result - I don't care how they got there.

I shoot in RAW format. Well, RAW + JPEG to be exact. RAW files have a lot of flexibility. You can change exposure, color balance, highlights, shadows, saturation - THE WORKS - before burning the image as a JPEG. There's a reason the file format is huge. Having that ability to go back and correct a mistake I've made on the camera is priceless.


Take this image as an example. It's completely blown out (or over exposed) but with Camera Raw in Photoshop I was able to bring out the blacks in the image and re-saturate the washed out colors. After the application of some of my favorite Photoshop Actions (the Florabella "Vintage Summer" action to be exact) and VOILA. One of my favorite images from Jacob & Jessie's wedding!

Friday 5


1. I saw on your Facebook you rented a lens. Do you do this often? Where do you rent from?

I typically shoot with my own lenses for portrait sessions, but for weddings it is important to have versatility and a good zoom lens. For the wedding I shot this weekend I rented the go-to wedding lens, a Nikkor 24-70mm 2.8. I went with Lens Pro to Go, and I have been SUPER pleased.

2. Who takes your family photos?

I have never been shot by a professional portrait photographer outside of the places at the mall! I think part of the reason is that I am a perfectionist and when I take the pictures myself - whether it is through self-timer or recruiting a family member to do it - I can process them into my style and what I'm looking for. I haven't found any photographers locally that I'd be willing to give up the control for yet! 

3. Is it hard to do wedding photography with your stomach condition?

Yes - and no. My condition, microscopic colitis, has varying degrees of severity that I cannot always control. I initially stayed away from wedding photography due to the pressure of it being a one-time-deal that can't be rescheduled should I become ill, but I don't want my condition to hold me back. I take every precaution I can to curb any symptoms and prevent any from coming on. Sometimes it starts days in advance if I have a big event like a wedding to shoot. So far, *knock on wood* it hasn't held me back. 

4.  I love photography myself and even majored in it at college for a short time. I want to get a more professional camera, just to have and take cute shot of my kiddos, what kind of camera do you use? Can you make a recommendation?

For most of the sessions you see on my blog, I am using a Nikon D80 SLR camera with a 50mm 1.8 lens ($120!) I recently upgraded to a Nikon D7000 - I upgraded for better ISO control, newer technology and speed. There are entry level SLRs like the new D3100 that is an excellent camera for the price.

A great SLR body is a great start, but great glass (lens) can really make or break a picture. The 50mm 1.8 is a big staple in a photographers bag and is so inexpensive. When just getting started it was all I could afford and I haven't looked back.

However, for just shooting around the house and kids, any kit lens that comes with your camera will get the job done until you get more familiar with your camera and different lenses. Just the upgrade from a point and shoot to an SLR will make a HUGE difference in your photos.

5. Do you have any tips for a start-up business owner?

Just starting out in the photography business I did a lot of free sessions to build my portfolio. I asked friends that were already married if I could shoot "engagements". It was a win-win. I was able to build my portfolio, gain practice and they received a disc of images for their time. Once I did a few free sessions, I started doing sessions free but clients were asked to buy prints from me in exchange for an otherwise free session. Once I got enough experience and had a substantial portfolio, I began going "legit" and charging for both my time and talent.  



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Friday 5


1. What kind of preparation goes into a shoot before the actual shoot itself?

After I've coordinated a location, time and package for a client I check in with them about a week before our actual session to finalize the details, send them a helpful information sheet and forward them a copy of their contract. The night before a session I charge of my batteries, clear out my memory cards, clean my lenses, my camera and make sure all my camera settings are back to my usual shooting defaults. I never want to walk onto a shoot unprepared or having to make all those adjustments in front of a client!


2. I know you like to shoot outdoors, but what do you do for indoor shots? Do you use your flash?

Natural light will almost always look more flattering than light from a flash. If I find myself shooting indoors for events or even just personal images, I will turn my ISO up to allow for the low-light. Even with a lot of bright lights on indoors, it doesn't compare to natural sun-light, even in overcast weather. I also use an SB-600 flash made by Nikon. It is so much more flattering than the little on-camera flash that pops up on my D7000.

3. What is the greatest compliment you've received to date?

A friend and I were discussing a recent wedding invitation we'd both received when she asked me if I'd taken the photographs for it (opening a wedding invite with my pictures is like Christmas morning!). She said that she thought I had, because just looking at the images she thought they were "my style" and "my work".  I don't think she realized she was giving me a compliment, but it meant so much to me that someone could identify my work like that. A photographer is always crafting his style and point of view and I finally feel like I have found mine.

4. Along with the same question above, what is your greatest reward from your business?

I love seeing my work in my clients homes. Whether it's on the refrigerator, over the mantel or in frames along a bookcase, I get warm fuzzies. It means so much to me that clients love their images enough to want to proudly display them in their homes and for all their friends and family to see. I love walking into my siblings and parents homes to see my images all over the walls - it's often hard to spot one I haven't taken. It really gives me the confidence to keep going and growing as a photographer.

5. Have you ever had any really weird requests? For like poses or locations or something.

I'm happy to oblige my clients in any request they may have, within reason of course. That's the beauty of digital - if it doesn't work, it's not as if I have wasted a frame of film. I find that sometimes kids want to be extra silly or might have an odd pose they'd like to shoot. Instead of forcing them to smile or pose for those "over the mantel" photos, I am happy to take their silly picture. They feel a part of the session and don't go into a meltdown, which makes the shoot easier overall.



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Friday 5


1. Do you let clients preview their images on your camera after/during the session?

No, I don't. It's like getting a haircut and making a judgement before it's been styled and polished. I may take a great shot and show it to my client immediately after, but I would never let them flip through all the images I've taken. I like to wait for the "Wow" factor after they've been polished in photoshop and only the best are kept. =)


2. What kind of lighting is best for outdoor sessions?

Sunrise and an hour or so before sunset is the best lighting, which is why I typically conduct all my sessions in the evening. When the sun is high, it creates very harsh shadows and is too bright on the face. By waiting until the sun is almost down, shadows are much softer. Overcast or cloudy days may not seem ideal, but they are actually perfect lighting for outdoor sessions.

3. What kind of camera do you shoot with?

I currently shoot with a Nikon D80. When I purchased my SLR camera I don't know that I had seriously considered shooting professionally. I just knew that I loved photography. Had I known where my business would be at today, I would have bought a higher-end model. However, I think my work speaks for itself and a nicer camera does not always a photographer make! I would really love to upgrade, but that will come with time. Time and money. Money is important.

4. Do you have a favorite famous photographer?

I actually really love Annie Leibovitz. She is the head photographer for Vanity Fair magazine. I love the coloring, textures and softness in her photos and the photo journalistic quality to them. One of my favorite shoots to date of hers were the first pictures ever released of Suri Cruise, the daughter of Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise.

5. Do you prefer to shoot film or digital?

Hands down, digital. Like so many others, I grew up shooting film. I hated tearing open that envelope of freshly developed pictures and seeing shots I really hoped turned out in fact didn't. I love seeing the immediate results after I've clicked the shutter to see if the shot worked or not. Plus, there's no time in between shooting and getting the images on the computer to edit them. They're just so versatile. I've worked with film in college, learned the process - which is beautiful - but professionally and to keep my sanity, digital is the way to go.



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