Photoshop Tip {Layers}

My tip for today may seem pretty simple, and really, it is, but it’s not something that I caught onto for quite a while.  Working in layers.  It’s one of the best things you can do for yourself whether you’re a photographer or graphic designer (like me).  Every change you make to the photo you are editing could be forgotten after a few more changes; I often found myself coming up with a great effect on a photo only to have no clue what any of my settings were.  Or even accidentally saving over my original because I didn’t duplicate that layer or better yet, duplicate the image!

Here are some instances where  I find layers so important – and I’d love to hear more!

*Skin smoothing (this one’s a must so you can mask out what you do NOT want smoothed)

*Color Balance

*Adjustment Layers (since I found these I haven’t used the flyout menu options for Levels, Curves, etc!)

*Working on eyes (I always leave this layer separate until I save a final copy)

What we mean by “Fonts Not Included”

I often wonder if people misinterpret what we mean when we say “Fonts Not Included” in our product files.

Simply put, this means, that we do not actually attach the font file to the product you are downloading. Fonts are protected under copyright. In most cases, you may already have the fonts that we use in some of our templates. In other cases, you may not. We try to do our best to list the ones we’ve used.

So, we actually LEAVE the words typed up there, if it’s something you can change, on the file. It just may state something like: Fonts Missing and lists them – when you open the actual file. If you have the font, great! It works just fine as if you are looking at our sample. If you don’t, it will ask you to replace it.

We tend to purchase fun fonts from companies like veer.com, and myfonts.com – but you can also do a Google search for the fonts we have listed in the product to see if it’s one we have found online, free to download.

So, don’t get discouraged! We just have a serious font addiction and between all us designers, we own so many. We also respect the font designer’s copyrights by NOT redistributing them. Besides, we know you’ll LOVE the fonts we use, so why wouldn’t you want to own them too?

The Magic Hours

Check out these amazing photos that showcase the wonderful light hours after and before the sun rises…..simply stunning!  Check them out here on the Reuters page….

Magic Hour Slideshow

Need to know the best time to shoot in your area?  Why not head on over to this calender here that lets you calculate the sunrise/sunset….

Sunrise/Sunset Calender

How about an example of making the light work for you?!  I took this photo of a recent senior about an hour before sunset.  By picking a shady spot in the road, I was still able to capture her without any harsh sun in her face but still have that magical glow that an impending sunset gives off.  The corn behind her gave off a perfect golden glow that I was looking for and I was soooo happy I was finally able to get this shot…..

You can find info like this and so much more by heading on over to the forums at Pink Ink where people share a wealth of information photography and business related!

Photoshop Tutorial – Liquify Tool

Most of us at one time or another have used Photoshop. I use it on a daily basis. There are so many tools in PS that it can be overwhelming at times. One tool that I have been wanting to try was the liquify tool.

You can find Liquify under FILTER on the top menu bar of PS.

I have been intimidated to try Liquify, but found with a few tips its not so bad.

I started with this picture

While it’s a beautiful image to start with I wanted to make it even better. First I cloned out the part of the counter to the left of her using the clone stamp.

Then, I used Liquify on her back to make it a little more “smooth”  So, I selected Liquify from the toolbar when I had the image open. Sometimes it can take a few minutes to open depending on what size your image is, so be patient. After it was opened, I used a small brush on the parts of her body that I wanted to work on. The trick to the Liquify tool, is going slow and doing it in small increments. It did take a while but here is the end result

I do realize that I am NO expert with this tool, but I think it turned out o.k for one of my first attempts using it. If you have any tips on using the Liquify tool please leave a comment below.

Thanks everyone!!

-Melissa

Business Marketing tip

The number one marketing tip I have is to sell yourself. This works especially well for wedding photographers. A lot of us that are just starting out photographing weddings may not have the vast portfolio or confidence that is needed to book a lot of weddings in our area. That is where your business side and personality really need to come out. If the couple genuinely likes you, they will book you. I always ask the couple if they would like to meet for a consultation. This usually occurs at the coffee shop. Relaxed atmosphere, however, I always dress nice and never casual. I bring album samples and portfolios. All of my material is consistent and clean – and me! That is the second business/marketing tip: Be branded! Clean, consistent, organized material makes everyone feel comfortable and helps to recognize you. It shows you have it together. When all of this is in place you need to let your personality shine. Don’t push the big sale, just get to know them. Ask to see the ring, ask how he proposed, ask what other vendors they are working with. All of this builds a relationship and trust. Take the time to get to know your clients – whether it’s newborn portraiture or a wedding couple.

Business Marketing Tip

The number one marketing tip I have is to sell yourself. This works especially well for wedding photographers. A lot of us that are just starting out photographing weddings may not have the vast portfolio or confidence that is needed to book a lot of weddings in our area. That is where your business side and personality really need to come out. If the couple genuinely likes you, they will book you. I always ask the couple if they would like to meet for a consultation. This usually occurs at the coffee shop. Relaxed atmosphere, however, I always dress nice and never casual. I bring album samples and portfolios. All of my material is consistent and clean – and me! That is the second business/marketing tip: Be branded! Clean, consistent, organized material makes everyone feel comfortable and helps to recognize you. It shows you have it together. When all of this is in place you need to let your personality shine. Don’t push the big sale, just get to know them. Ask to see the ring, ask how he proposed, ask what other vendors they are working with. All of this builds a relationship and trust. Take the time to get to know your clients – whether it’s newborn portraiture or a wedding couple

Photoshop Tip

Quick Photoshop Tip

How-to create an action that will place your copyright as a watermark on your photos

Under the actions palette you will see a series of small icons. To create a group of actions, click on the fourth icon which looks like a folder. You can name this group anything you’d like (I call mine Traci’s Workflow to save all my actions). Then click on the fifth icon, the one that looks like a folded square. This will create the action and once you name this step the recording will begin (before you click on this, make sure you have an image open). Follow these steps to write your action:

1. Open your copyright/watermark file.

2. Using the move tool drag the watermark onto the image. Where ever you place the watermark layer is where the action will place it each time you run it.

3. Adjust the opacity of the watermark layer if needed.

If you want to save and close your image continue with:

4. Save your file with File-Save As (or if you’re lazy like me, ctrl-s) in a different location than your original file (DON’T overwrite your original!!)

5. Close the file with NO changes.

You can now use the Automate – Batch dialog to batch process your watermark onto your images if you choose.

Yay for workflow!

*This is written with the assumption that you have a copyright file ready for use as a watermark*

Photoshop Tip-Great Black and Whites

Today’s photoshop tip is how to make beautiful black and whites using just photoshop. There are lots of great black and white actions out there. But recently I have been using my own formula to make my black and whites. I really like it and thought I would pass along the information to you all.

Making Facebook work while you sleep

Using Facebook as a Marketing Tool
by John Law 10/14/08

Facebook is a social networking site. Let’s face it, your best business is based on word of mouth. Why not help spread the good news. Almost every client has an email address now, so that is step one. Collect your clients email address.

The next step is to invite your clients to FRIEND you on Facebook. Then after processing the photos post a couple of your favorites on Facebook. The best feature in facebook is TAGGING. Now make sure you tag all the photo’s with your client’s name. This is how facebook accelerates the friends spreading the word about your great work.
Scenario

My friend has a session with You. You post and tag my friends photos. The next time I log into Facebook, I see your new photos on my friend feed from Facebook. I comment on a couple pictures, my friend sees the comments and comments back. Now I know about you as a photographer, and so do all of your clients friends on Facebook. So lets say you do a wedding, and you tag some photos with all the brides maids, but not the groomsmen. The bride then tags the rest of the people, now all of those people tagged get an email!! But the best part…the friends of all those friends see the photo. Now if the friend comments, then all of those friends see that photo.

Can you see how this speeds the spreading the good work?
Three Last Steps and Reminders
1.Add all your clients on your facebook friends. Invite them if they are not on facebook already!
2.Post and Tag your favorites from sessions. Tagging is like sending your client and their friends a business card saying, “Here are some recent photos I took, enjoy!”
3.Comment and encourage commenting from clients, friends and family.

Facebook.com / MySpace.com / Friendster.com / Flickr.com
This is basically the same idea for all of these services, facebook seems to be the most popular.

If you have questions please feel free to contact me directly, john@flomdesigns.com

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