How do people get this much "POP"

Hello all,

I have seen a number of different photographer's websites and portfolios that achieve this much clarity/brightness and just overall "POP." I used to consider myself as having a pretty decent understanding of post-processing, but after looking at some other Photog's portfolios, all of my images seem to be lacking this sharpness and overall impact.
I was curious if any of you have any ideas or input on how to achieve this. Generally, I use Aperture and mostly the definition slider and a little bit of the edge sharpen for my sharpness and then exposure, levels and curves for contrast and brightness. I saw a link for a tutorial posted by someone on here to this deviantart tip for adding pop to eyes by using 3 layers in PS and changing blending modes of the layers and it looks to me like maybe this photographer employed this technique but for more of his image than just eyes?

Here is a link to his website, sorry I can't post an image directly from there..
http://www.stevezphoto​graphy.com

Thanks for any input in advance!

Lighting and post processing.

As to their EXACT workflow, thats gonna be harder to break down.

LiberationFrequency wrote in post #11879093
Lighting and post processing.

Ditto this. Add exposure. Add experience.

It just seems to me that there is something more going on in his post processing than what I am currently doing aside from his lighting and composition of his images. I know it's virtually impossible to tell what someone's exact workflow is, but I thought maybe some people on here know of another way of getting more exposure/brightness and clarity by using multiple layers and blending modes to get better results than just adjustment layers on a single layer. Maybe I'm just geeking out on this too much, I don't know..

Play around with Lab Color as a start. It gives a little different pop than most people are used to.

DJCronin28 wrote in post #11879309
...Maybe I'm just geeking out on this too much, I don't know..

Well to get a more specific answer, link us to a specific image. Hopefully someone can deconstruct it.

The one photo that caught my eye was the skiing bride.

Having taken my SLR out with me on a few snowboard trips I can tell you for sure that quite a bit of post work went into bringing out all of the color in the wedding dress (and getting results like he did).
Notice how even though it is around noon, it isn't blown out and white like the snow? Also, the downhill side of the dress (away from the sun) is lit as well as the uphill side of the dress facing the sun (off cam lighting).
The bride herself (arms, face) is pretty well lit/strobed (very little shadow)...which is probably more than a little post work too since you would need some pretty large reflectors/off-camera flash and very good assistants aiming them to get them in an action shot (assuming they let you on a ski lift with that stuff).
Also look at the snow around her. You do NOT get properly exposed subjects if you adjust your levels for snow on a bright, sunny day.

It is a good photo, but that particular shot probably took least 2-3 hours of post work adjusting different levels in different layers.

I'm just an amateur, though

I can't copy a link or paste an image from his site because it's in Flash I believe? Here is a screen shot of one image but he has many others that are also unbelievable. I know there's no substitution for getting everything right from the get-go, but I also know there is obviously no way any of these pictures came out of the camera like that. I was just really curious because these and a many other photographers seem to have post techniques that are just in another league than just using the straight-forward sharpening/levels/curv​es etc.

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Thanks Tarazanman, that's what I'm talking about. I figure many of his images involve hours of post

Tarzanman wrote in post #11879592
The one photo that caught my eye was the skiing bride.

I don't see anything special about the processing on that one. In fact, I doubt he did anything more than sharpening.

That shot is all about lighting and exposure, IMO.

Throw an ND in to make sure nothing blows out and the skiing bride seems entirely possible with just timing and 2-3 strobes/flashes.

LiberationFrequency wrote in post #11879668
Throw an ND in to make sure nothing blows out and the skiing bride seems entirely possible with just timing and 2-3 strobes/flashes.

Not sure on the ND. A polarizer for the sky along with a small aperture for that large DOF would probably be enough.

I'd agree, not so much special about the skiing shot or the kid surfing other than great technique/timing and lighting

Portraits that Pop -- wow, you could write a book about that...

Umm, well, now that I think of it, many books have been written about it!

The point being it is a big field that can consume a persons life/career and the best in the business become successful artistically as well as financially, but it is a long term investment to learn, practice, learn, practice!

And, spend time in the Photo Sharing area in the People and Wedding sections! If you see something that grabs your eye, say so and do some non-intrusive "fishing" for tips!

A couple threads I'd point you to:

First, as has been mentioned, good lighting in various conditions, as an art/craft:

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=653964

Second, a cool fun thread that delves into post processing in creative ways:

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=880373

LiberationFrequency wrote in post #11879668
Throw an ND in to make sure nothing blows out and the skiing bride seems entirely possible with just timing and 2-3 strobes/flashes.

I'll have to disagree given how bright the sun is and the angle it is coming in on. Anything that lit the shaded end up enough to remove the shadow should have blown out the front of the dress and her arm on that side.

If you like, I will be happy to email the photographer and ask how much post went into that particular shot