Do you use actions or plug ins?

[psxindo]

Sorry if this has been discussed or not. I tried to search both here and Post Process, and can't seem to find it.

Wedding photogs,
do you use either actions or plug ins?
If yes which ones?

I'm using both photoshop CS3 and Lightroom 2.

Right now I'm interested in either Kubota or Totally Rad.
I just can't decide. Between these 2, which one is better?

[PubUltraStar]

I use Lightroom for a majority of my post-processing. However, I use actions in my workflow alot more than I use Plug-ins. My favorite actions of late are:

Jeff Ascough Actions II
Totally Rad - Caffeine Jolt
Itty Bitty Actions, the sweet set.

For Plug Ins, I'm a big fan of Redfield Sketchmaster and Imagenomic Portraiture, and Alien Skin Snap Art.

[tim]

I don't use actions or plugins.

[OdiN1701]

Yes. But mostly stuff I've cooked up myself.

[PMCphotography]

From time to time I use a few from the totally rad! set. Not very often though. I wrote several that I use most of the time.

[auroraskye]

I do the majority of my processing in Lightroom, using presets I've created myself OR some I've downloaded for free (legal, yes). I have also created my own PS actions.

[Peacefield]

I almost don't use PS at all any more. If I could straighten the occassional crooked image in DPP, I'd use it even less. I do like TIffen's DFX application, but try to use that sparingly.

[bnlearle]

I use both :) You can see how I use them here -> San Diego Wedding Photographer (http://bobbyearle.blogspot.com/search/label/Before%20and%20After%20Wednesdays)

[caught14]

I use both Presets in Lightroom and Actions in PS, but they are all ones that I have created. With the selective editing feature in LR2, I find myself editing 95% or more of my shots to completion in LR and mainly preparing images for print in Photoshop. There are some exceptions of course, like texture overlays, etc. But LR can do so much now that many things can be done with a LR preset.

[jonwhite]

I use lightroom for post processing the RAWs into colour JPG's but then its all down to actions for my colour conversions black and whites etc.

Mainly use.

Totally Rad Actions (http://www.gettotallyrad.com/jam/jrox.php?id=1042_1_tlid_8_WFF)

and occasionally

Kubota Artistic Tools V2 (http://www.kubotaimagetools.com/)

[Svetlana]

I use Totally Rad Actions and actions from Pioneer Woman.

[picturecrazy]

No actions or presets. Just basic presets I've created for myself.

A few years ago, everybody's photos looked like they were run through Kubota's Artisic paks. They all were looking the same. Now they all are looking like Totally Rad. It's harder to be unique when everybody is using the same action packs and presets. Try to carve out your own style. It's more painful at the start but more rewarding long term.

[bnlearle]

It's not that simple though, is it? "Don't use famous actions and then you've carved your own style..." I know that might not be exactly what you're saying - but it seems like that could be what people gather.

Fact is, it's another "who the hell cares" thing, like RAW/JPG, PC/MAC, Nikon/Canon. There are tons of photographers who are awesome that use presets/actions that someone else created and just as many who make their own. I mean there are tons of photographers who's pictures look "totally rad" but there are just as many who look "simply LR'd". After that it's just personal preference mixed with standing out by having solid photography beyond the processing, isn't it?

Either way, everything's sort of been done a hundred times over. I'm quite sick of the whole be creative/unique/revolutionary/groundbreaking BS. Now I'm venting beyond what you've said - just so we're clear - but today I read friends' tweets sort of boasting about originality and creativity. It's all a bit ridiculous to me. I've never been naive enough to think I'm going to create anything new with my wedding photography. I figure I'll take pictures I like. Process them how I like. Show that to my potential clients. The ones who like it will want me to do it my way - win, win. If I'm overly unique/creative/original as a byproduct of creating pictures, I like? Great! But I doubt I will be. Everything has basically been done...

Bobby

p.s. I thought your black and whites were a mocha preset/action from one of the kubota sets, Lloyd?

[TheHoff]

http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/_/31808561/Michael+Jackson+Jackson_popcorn.gif

[PMCphotography]

No actions or presets. Just basic presets I've created for myself.

A few years ago, everybody's photos looked like they were run through Kubota's Artisic paks. They all were looking the same. Now they all are looking like Totally Rad. It's harder to be unique when everybody is using the same action packs and presets. Try to carve out your own style. It's more painful at the start but more rewarding long term.

I don't think you're photography should be defined by your post processing. If it's not a strong photo before you run an action, an action won't make it a good photo.

[picturecrazy]

I don't think you're photography should be defined by your post processing. If it's not a strong photo before you run an action, an action won't make it a good photo.

Well, whether you like it or not, it DOES happen, though more to some than others. Honestly, Bobby is one of them. His style is greatly defined by his processing. Even if you DON'T blast actions and weird tonings all the time, your style can be identified as natural and neutral.


p.s. I thought your black and whites were a mocha preset/action from one of the kubota sets, Lloyd?

Yeah, I have the Artistic 2 pack. I used to use the mocha action or something for sepias but stopped using it a long time ago as it's performance was not consistent. Which is what I discovered about presets and actions-- if you don't shoot or prepare the file the way the action/preset author did, then the action doesn't work quite so well. So I just use a LR preset to do all my sepias now instead and it looks much better.

And there's a difference between claiming to be one of a kind, and just not wanting to look like the majority of the others out there. I know very well that anything you do, a thousand others have already done it. But I'd rather be in a group of 5,000 than 50,000.

[bnlearle]

Did someone just say that you can't make a bad image good by PP and then Lloyd said "Bobby does it"?! Ouch! :p

Hmmm... just so you know, Lloyd, there are at least as many people's photos that look LR'd all quite similar than there are people who look "totally rad" or "kubota'd". There's nothing wrong with you doing things in LR - but you aren't in some unique club...

Outside your cross processing and your mocha tone to your black and whites, your photos look nearly identical to my non-album/digital negatives images. Why? Because they are edited simply in LR. Obviously, I wouldn't edit them that way unless I liked them, so I'm not knocking you - just saying it's not some elite minority. If anything, it's the majority as LR'd images look quite similar and I see 'em as much if not more than any of the famous actions. Hell, the LR vignette is probably the most spottable thing out there! The actions just get noticed more often as there are too many people who don't tweek them -- just apply as is ;)

Still, I think it's weird to concern oneself with making sure they are different or unique -- or at least in the smaller big group than the bigger big group. In fact, I'd venture to say you don't care about that either. My hunch is that you PP the way you do because you don't like the other way -- regardless of 5,000 or 50,000.

Bottom line, do what you like. If it's crazy simple, clean or gnarly and soon to be dated, it's YOUR art. No one should be meant to feel less of an artist for any approach :)

[PMCphotography]

Well, whether you like it or not, it DOES happen, though more to some than others. Honestly, Bobby is one of them. His style is greatly defined by his processing.


I can understand that, but what i've seen of Bobby's stuff would look good even if he didn't PP it. It's technically good, composed well, and exposed well.

[picturecrazy]

Did someone just say that you can't make a bad image good by PP and then Lloyd said "Bobby does it"?! Ouch! :p


well, that's certainly not what I was trying to point out. I meant exactly what I said: your style is greatly defined by your processing. Nothing more, nothing less.

[bnlearle]

Dang man, you're too serious with me on these things!

[picturecrazy]

i just wanted to be clear that i wasn't trying to bash you, directly or indirectly.

[bnlearle]

And be a wet blanket in the process? :p

[jstep7262]

I love Totally Rad Actions...