Post Production

[Mike T.M.]

What techniques do you mostly fine yourself using in the post production work for your final proof/prints? I want to make my images like a sr. portrait session.

[sapearl]

Well, that may be a bit challenging if we're talking about general wedding work. For formal portraits, you have a great deal of "formal" lighting control of the subject.

But for the rest of the wedding day, lighting is usually all over the map, and precise "senior portrait-like" control and finishing may be difficult. Certainly don't let that stop your attempts - it just may take a bit longer due to the lighting variation. Afterall, you could be dealing with 400 - 500 images easily.

BTW, love the portrait lighting on your avatar . - Stu

[Mike T.M.]

Okay lets say, wedding shots and mostly candid's. For the formal shots I use a one light set-up 800w alien b's and meter around f8 and I'm really not doing close-up then. just mostly party shots. What do yo meter at? But back to the question at hand, is I would like to make the photos pop just a little more than what I've been coming up with. So, I'm hoping there are some plug-in's or some tech's that anyone would like to share.

[Big Mike]

Can you post an example of what you mean by 'pop'?

Depending on the image there are any number of things that you can do to make it 'pop'. I like to use curves to add contrast (slight S curve). Maybe a saturation boost. Sharpening can add some 'pop'. A vignette can help to tone down the background...giving the subject more 'pop'.

[Mike T.M.]

Yea, I try to post some of a weeding I did here and some images on the web. And compare them.