Advice please!

Hey everyone,

I'm just starting out in photography...I just graduated from hs. What do you think of my latest photography session: http://priscillajoypho​tography.blogspot.com …ssion-jack-butler_05.html.

Any help/advice/tips would be greatly appreciated!

You have a good start. I guess the one thing that jumps out to me is that the skin tones on the subject are quite hot. There is little detail there and the face is nearly blown out. Are you using a calibtrated monitor?

nice looking shots, but I also notice that the highlights are blown. Spyder monitor calibrator is your friend.

Some of the colors are very vibrant/saturated, just be careful not to go overboard with post processing. You might want to actually get some prints done and compare to how they look on the screen to get a better idea of what they look like.

Ok, thanks for the tips. But what is spyder monitor calibrator? I am just staring out with the free trial of lightroom 3....i am hoping to get adobe photoshop 4 by the end of the year. this was pretty much one of my first times ever editing photos with this kind of processing....i know i need lots of work in that area!

priscillajoyphotograph​y wrote in post #8984425
Ok, thanks for the tips. But what is spyder monitor calibrator? I am just staring out with the free trial of lightroom 3....i am hoping to get adobe photoshop 4 by the end of the year. this was pretty much one of my first times ever editing photos with this kind of processing....i know i need lots of work in that area!

Spyder 3 Express

It's a device that goes over your screen (plugs into computer with USB cable) and the software displays various shades of colors which the device reads and then it makes your screen look the way it should. If you get one don't be surprised if your screen is darker then what you are used to, and alot warmer looking.

I have Spyder2 which I bought used for $40 or something, works great.

i see. $40 doesn't sound bad. one question tho, is it something that is recommended for photographers...?? do most of them own this?

and do you have any advice about adobe photoshop? i am trying to decide between that or lightroom 3.

I would hope that most pro photographers would have their monitors calibrated! Spyder is probably the most popular brand there are a few other ones that are good too.

I think alot of wedding photographers will mainly use Lightroom 80% of the time because it can do all the important things that need to be done with a very quick workflow. Some pics they might open up in CS4 or whatever to do more manipulation with them. For basic photo editing, I love Lightroom!

check out this website http://www.lightroomki​llertips.com/

Ok, thanks for letting me know. I didn't even know that existed. I will look into getting one. Right now I'm doing famalies, Seniors, kids, etc....hopefully eventually will do weddings once I have more experience. So is Lightroom best to start off with and then advance to Photoshop?

priscillajoyphotograph​y wrote in post #8984596
So is Lightroom best to start off with and then advance to Photoshop?

I would say "yes" but everybody is different. Judging by your current photos, you aren't doing any heavy manipulation to them or making them very "artsy", so LR should be able to do what you need it to do. If you are working with RAW files, LR is especially good.

Check out this link to see the differences
http://www.adobe.com/p​roducts/photoshop/fami​ly/

CS4 is a very, very powerful image editing/graphic design program.

Another good option to have along with Lighroom is Photoshop Elements.. still a very good program with a much lower cost then CS4.

I'd really prefer not to make too many changes to the photos....because I'd like them to be as original as possible. But still good looking images.
This photographer: http://jamiedelaineblo​g.com …-Shannon-and-Darcy.....my goal is eventually get these kind of photos....I know it is a long way away....but her photos are stunning.

priscillajoyphotograph​y wrote in post #8984687
I'd really prefer not to make too many changes to the photos....because I'd like them to be as original as possible. But still good looking images.
This photographer: http://jamiedelaineblo​g.com …-Shannon-and-Darcy.....my goal is eventually get these kind of photos....I know it is a long way away....but her photos are stunning.

Very nice photos indeed. Kinda similar to my wedding photographer (and sort of a mentor) Jeff Toogood .http://toogoodstudios.​ca/

He mostly uses LR, CS4 when needed.

I use Lightroom because I do very little artsy or pixel level editing, and when I do need to go in for more editing than LR can handle I use Elements. Spending full boat for Photoshop which I almost never use makes no sense to me.

The point to monitor calibration is because a monitor is a changeable device. You can turn the brightness up or down for instance. Calibrating a monitor means that prints made will match the appearance on screen.

I would say that is a good start as well, but the person needs to be more natural than straight looking at the camera

JeffreyG wrote in post #8985244
Calibrating a monitor means that prints made will match the appearance on screen.

After I shot my first wedding I spend many hours editing the pics and I thought they looked great. But after getting them printed- and worse- seeing them on the couple's computer screen all washed out looking.. It was an easy decision to hunt down a used Spyder2express!!

Right after you've taken a shot, there's a button on camera that will show you if you have blown out highlights due to overexposure. Take a look in your camera manual at the various display modes. There's one that will show you over-exposed areas. Also read up on histograms. Then your pics will only need small adjustments to look beautiful on your calibrated monitor. If your budget is limited, take a look at the Huey Pro calibrator for about $90 new. I use one and the prints I get back from my lab match my monitor very closely.