7 days till Christmas

Here I am testing the Nikon remote which fires my Nikon 700 remotely.

  

As you can see, Santa is not impressed at all with my tech y gadgets. 

While, I thought it to be pretty neat to be able to fire the camera from across the room, he just sat and looked blankly back at me.  Guess compared to a flying sleigh  and reindeer  it is pretty lame.

Your Customers Are Not Impressed Either

Yes it is the same way with our clients and customers.  What is important to us as photographers generally falls on deaf ears when it come to our equipment, or technology in the eyes of clients or customers.  We can talk all day that we use a Canon Mark ll xyz, Or, that we have this or that.  It means nothing to them.  They are commissioning you for the result only,  and how they are treated during the whole time you work with them.  

What will impress them is the experience while they are with you.  Not just once, but throughout the various times of being together.

If emotionally you live "atop the mountain" and your ego overshadows the way you act or treat your client, don't expect them to be repeat customers no matter your level of expertise.  

If you are indecisive, and inattentive, they will not be back. Sort of like the old saying, "treat guests as family, and family as guests."  Your goal is to provide the feeling of the "pampered guest".  If you failed etiquette training...go get a book.  Because their feelings are what will bring them back again and again, and what's even more important they will bring in others.

There is more psychology to portrait photography than photography.  You must know your craft, that goes without saying.  Knowing to the point that you don't have to think about what your doing while your doing it.

Your customer will remember the experience long after the cost is forgotten. And they sure don't care what you used.

Some photographers say "I  have the GREAT Quality"??  Compared to what?

What is Quality 

Some words just have no real meaning.  Sort of like the word "Quality".  

That word is the most over used, empty word in advertising or speech when talking about the products you market. You don't have high quality, or the best quality.

What is Quality really?  

An under-exposed, off-color images might be better quality than a cave drawing.  

Or, your image might be as perfect as the Mons Lisa, but it really cannot be defined with a word.  It cannot be defined in print, it has to be proven by deeds.

Quality is fully in the eye of the beholder. One customer may like 2:1 ratio lighting while others like more drama, but it is your style that you are selling, not the quality.

Just don't use the word, period, but rather use what the service is that separates you from the pack.  If you have not created some, then create one.  

Always try to direct the thought of the customer to "what's in it for them" and that I am the only one that can give it to you.  Sell the sizzle, not the bacon.

  

The top photographic customers of today are ery sensitive to digital photography, cause they can do it.  They feel very smart that they too can create images.  How and what you create will make the difference if they are to be your life long customer or not. They will expect intelligence in your service, apparel, and the conditions around your business as well as your product.

Fall short in any of their minds ideas, and you will not gain a customer.  These are just some of the legs in the Marketing Of Your Business.  

Marketing as a whole is the  "Creating an Image or Feeling in the MIND of a potential customer of your business".  

Everything must go together to provide this impression.

Enjoy your Christmas Season, and be ready to start organizing and planning your business presentations for the next year.

Happy Holidays,

Bruce

Photographic Pricing in a real world for 2012

FIRST OF ALL ....please use this link and read the article on pricing as the author makes some very good points.  There are some points that I feel need rearranging, but it is a good read.

http://www.mcpactions.com/blog/2009/10/12/how-should-i-price-my-photography-words-of-advice-from-jodie-otte/

Now that you have read those views, I would like to offer mine.

I teach photography business from a slightly different perspective.  It is my belief the the first thing one needs to know prior to going into business is "what am I worth per hour"?  So how do you figure out what you are worth per hour.  If you become a greeter at Wal Mart you can expect $12.00 and hour part time with no benefits.
If you go into business, there you are gambling with your investment in equipment, advertising, support equipment such as backgrounds, reflectors, and props.  These items are purchased out of "future profits".  Said another way, you are starting out in the hole.

But, back to what your worth per hour and how it applies to your pricing.

I have a spreadsheet that I have developed over the years that lists ALL monthly expenses by type and what they are.  The total of all these "FIXED EXPENSES" are divided down to the Week, Day, and Hour.
There is also a feature that can be set up for the days and hours that you are open, but is not required to figure hour hourly fixed overhead.

So let say that your total monthly expenses are 2000.00.  This is low but easy to figure.
There are normally four weeks in a month, so 2000/4= 500 per week fixed cost.
Let's say you are open to do photography 5 days a week.  Yes..that is correct, it cost you 100.00 per day
Most jobs call for 8 hrs work, except photography, but we will use 8.  100. / 8 =around 12.50 per hour.
Use your own figures and you will see that it is much more that 12.50 an hour.

Now, if we want to work at poverty level, which is 36,000 a year for a family of four, that is 3,000 a month
750 a week, and 150 a day, or 21.00 per hour.  Adding the two together we are up to 33.50 per hour.
I would consider this to break even point.  Now add 5 and hour for new equipment. We are at 38.50 per hour
every hour, for 6 days a week.

The purpose of this exercise is to get new photographers to understand that your major costs today are not your camera, and your printing, but everyday living.  We have all seen the raise in milk prices, gas prices, bread prices, clothing prices, even utilities are up.

So how can you price your products if you don't know what you have to have per hour, per day, per week, and per month ? You are simply flying blind into a mountain.  A mountain of debt, burnout, and family disappointment.

However, once you know your FIXED HOURLY OVERHEAD, all you do is keep track of the hours you spend with or FOR a client / customer times your hourly fixed overhead, add the cost of the prints, an packaging, then add your profit to the total.  Remember that profit is not a dirty word..as that is what you will use to reinvest in better, or back up equipment, add to a savings account, and use to live daily.

Using the figures we played with here of 38.50 an hour, let's play act a job.  I will list the functions and the time.
Phone call.........15 min to book session
Prep time.......... 15 min getting ready for session
Session............. 1 hour..(60 min)..(cheap client)
Download time...15 min
Depending on your proofing presentation...downsizing, and spot retouch 20 images = another hour  60 min.
Taking the order.  .....one hour
Preparing and ordering from lab............30 min.
Order returns/prep for delivery.............30 min
Book keeping and banking...................30 min

So all of this adds up to 5 hrs and 15 minutes if I counted right.  So 5 x 38.50 - Your cost without buying prints is $192.50 as a break even starting point.  So your lab bill for this order is 30.00, you are now at $222..00 COST.  What are you going to charge?  Remember, there is no profit in the $222.

Another version:

So it takes 5000 a month.  That is 2000 fixed expenses, and 3000 poverty level income.
Let's just say you do 4 sessions a week. time 52 weeks in a year...is ...208 sessions.
5 k a month times 12 = is 60,000.000.
60,000 divided by 208 = 288.46 sale from each and every customer.
Using your figures, it is easy to figure what "Average Sale" is needed to meet your goal.

Your figures are going to be different and most likely much higher but these are just a couple of ways to look at the business side of photography.

But using your figures, it should not be that difficult to set up a price list for your average sale to equal the amount of your calculations.  So we have a 40 dollar session fee for one hour photography.  That leaves about 280.
Most times the average order will be 5 units.  1-810, 2-57, 16 wallets...5 units...and that is $56.00 per unit.
No matter how you slice the pie..this practice studio needs 56.00 per 810 unit if purchasing 5 units.
If only one unit is purchased it has to be $280 dollars for you to stay in business.  Of course you are not going to say your 8x10's are $280. each!   But you have to market your product and arrange your prices in such a way to realize that  level of income from every customer.

Yes, it takes time and effort to figure these things out using your own numbers, but here are two of the ways to make the decision of what your product is going to cost.  These are your numbers, it makes no difference what the guy down the street charges..  Do not use someone else's prices!  That will not work.  It don't matter..only your numbers matter

I am the B in B&J Consultants and I am available for business consultations just about anytime.  Contact me if you want to go further into this type of managing your business.  For a small investment into your future you can avoid the pitfalls of winging it on your own.

This was just thinking about a portrait session.  Work out the hours reqired to deliver a quality wedding album and you be greatly surprised.  I can promise that if you are spending 8 hrs on the wedding, you have 32 hours of back room work.  So using this practice studio  32 hours at 38.50....your break even point with no product purchased is $1232.00 as a cost.  I can all but promise that if your charging less than $2000. you are paying the bride to take her pictures.  Not actually, but there is no way anyone can spend 8 hours on a wedding, do the computer work, and all the details for less than that amount.

So put some think time in about your cost factors.  I know it will help you to be a happier photographer.
That is what January is for.  Set aside 3 hrs every day the second and third weeks on January and you will have the numbers to place your business on a profitable track for 2012.

BD Roberts, M. Photog. CPP, EICPP
B&J Consulting

Gettin Ready...Christmas time at the Mall

Here we go again.  29 days of 8 hours a day, 7 days a week in the Santa Booth taking photographs and printing on site with our new dye sub printer that is just beautiful to say the least.
Today has been super slow....but weekdays always are.  It should pick up in a little bit after folks have supper and come to the mall.

Multiple lighting not only in front, but in the back also..8 lights being used.  Fill is a ft white umbrella in "shoot through" position for total softness, and a small soft box to the left at 2/3rds stop brighter than the fill.  A good ratio for soft definition and light direction.  The rest of the lighting are small ac plug in flash units to light trees and background.  Have added another light on left in the back to act as separation and hair light.

We enjoy doing this type of photography although, not artisticly exciting, it is a good profit generator.  Just long hours and a daily grind though all of December until Christmas Eve...
This schedule does not leave any time for teaching and consultations, but keeps me out of trouble too.

I hope all have a great holiday season, and look forward to posting again in January.

Bruce

Getting ready for December

December is a wonderful month.  First cause it gets you ready for Christmas.  Then there is the fact that we have had a hard freeze and so we can say goodbye to most allergies.  But the best part if December is doing our, what Judy and I call our Christmas Gig.  And Gig is right.  After 10 hour days, 7 days a week for 27 days you feel like a frog that has just been gigged and all they wanted was your legs.

With our wonderful new dye sublimation printer tested and ready to rock and roll, we are set for Santa's arrival at the Mall.  This new printer just blows my mind.  The photographic quality is better than most chemical processed prints.  The color, contrast and saturation are dead on without a bunch of fiddling around.

We are even providing the convertible for him to arrive in.   Sure hope it don't rain..

Judy has added more and varied add on products this year.  Here are just a few of them.

 Frames and trains, snow globes big and small, some are musical, and everything is of good quality.

So this is were we will be from now until December 24th .  But just look at the fun we have.

Bringing out the smiles on the faces of those that believe is the greatest reward for this type of work.  It sure ain't glamorous, but Lord it sure is a reality check!.
So if your within driving distance of Elkhart, and the Concord Mall, drop by and say hello to Judy and I , and of course to Santa who is everyone's main man during this time of year.  And just so you know, this is the Real Santa. Come sit on his lap and if your a PPA member I will make your picture free of charge and even post it on Facebook for ya  *wink.

ya know, a good photographer would have more than a cell phone around when he needed it!!!

To all of our family and friends,

Best wishes to all in this holiday season.  Happy Thanksgiving,  May we all be thankful for where we live and what our families have done in the past year.
And of course Merry Christmas, please remember who's birthday it is, and send him best wishes too.


Bruce and Judy Roberts
Elkhart, Indiana

The First Week of November 2011

Today, Judy I are in Iowa visiting her mother, Mary Stoll,  who had her 89th birthday yesterday.  She still lives on her own, takes care of her yard, and plants a small garden. She is a true pioneer lady.  Living in North Dakota until a few years ago, she is as country smart as anyone.  Couldn't say street smart, cause where she started out I don't think they had streets.  30 miles from the Canadian boarder in the middle of the state, I am sure in the early days, survival was the number one thing in Winter. But she has agreed to take on the task of quilting some found, embroiderer  squares into a large quilt.  One of the block is shown below.

 Not only are we here for her birthday, but to start a quilt that MY Mother made blocks for when she was in High School.and the fact that Judy's mom is a master quilter, we ask if she would assist in putting the blocks into a finished quilt for posterity.  Here are a couple of images of the work in progress.

 this is the entire quilt with blocks, Judy's sister Elsie working on the far corner. Judy in in the front left corner.  But the most important people in this story are my Mother, and Judy's mother Mary.

  some of the embroidered birds.

Mary Stoll at 89 still makes a tight stitch

.

So for the last few days they have been at the quilting boards putting this family treasure together.  While very appreciative of the work,  my large hands were not meant for quilting, so I have enjoyed the quietness of the days and trying to recover from some sort of chest congestion stuff.  But, here we are, having the  time to at last make and new entry in the blog.I thought I would share something that I love to do and it is not that hard in Photoshop.  At least it is not as messy as working with oil paint.  .

Hand Coloring Black and White Photographs in the Digital Age

The following came about sort of by accident.  I had been scanning the family slides and in the box was this contact print image from a 120 negative from about 1943 of  mom, dad and me at about age two just prior to dad leaving for Europe in WWII.  Once scanned into the digital world, I was clear this was a true family memory that had to be preserved in a larger version.  I now have an 8x10 over my desk that I can view every day to keep life in perspective.  In my words, we are, from where we came.

Just a little time in Photoshop allows one to do a hand color on a black and white old original.

Each color is applied on a blank layer over the top of the background layer, varying the color hue as needed while painting, then adjusting opacity of that color layer to provide the intensity wanted..

An added effect can be achieved by changing you B&W to a brown tone or Sepia prior to starting your painting. This process can be applied to any photograph.  A landscape, or candid, it just takes time and patience.

If the original is in color, it might be interesting to made a duplicate layer (ctrl j), then reduce the opacity of that layer, shut of the bottom layer, then use the light version as a guide for color and apply on separate layers.

Up Late

Hey all,


I guess eating a bunch of dry roasted peanuts is not the thing to do when you have had gall bladder surgery...   So, since it after 1 A. M. and  to make time and other things pass, I thought I would share a couple of images I made, and put on canvas this afternoon.  It all took place very quickly, but it made the day complete for me,

I had just finished cutting the grass and was relaxin with a glass of grape cool aid when I realizes the white and pink tulips out in the photo-garden were about gone and I had not make any images of them this year.

So, into the house and to my office.   Grabbed the Nikon 700 with the 60 macro.  Then, out to the storage garage to pick up the 5x5 foot , white shower curtain on PVC frame to use as a background.

Five minutes later I was back in the house at the computer downloading the 6 images.

From start to finish.  Printed wall size on canvas, it took less than 40 minutes until is was done with both images that I will share.

It is truly strange how creativity strikes.  One minute your bouncing on a lawn tractor doing everyday life things, and then BAM, the next thing you are looking at someting that did not exist in the world.
That is what I love about photography in any form.  I know it sounds over simplified, but once you have internalized the functions of your craft, creation becomes easy and the best part, it is just plain fun..

I hope you enjoy these two images, and if interested how the PS manipulation was done, let me know..I will be happy to hold class here at the ranch.

"Hey Guys, Wait Up!"

=====================================

Not sure what to title this one.........

"Pink Three"

or

"I Just Don't Feel ALL Here !"

I like the second title, and after eating all those the peanuts, I sure don't either.....LOL

Now where did I put the Pepto-Bismol?

Have a great day tomorrow or today,
whatever time it is now.....CU

Bruce

Water, water everywhere

Now I know how Noah felt.

We came to Southern Indiana on Saturday night and it has not stopped raining here since.

 

This is not the flood waters, but many of the places I saw today  looked like this.

We went to Brown County State Park today to check on things and plans for Winona School.  It was like traveling the Inter Coastal waterway.  And, it is still raining as I write this.  I can hear it hitting the corrugated covering on the garage port. 

The real bad part is that in looking at the radar map, it is raining from here to Arkansas, so that means it will rain all day tomorrow and tomorrow night which will make things well over flood stage from here to the Ohio River.  Farm fields are under several feet of water, not only inches but feet.  It will be June before they will be able to work and plant those fields. They have no control over - rain, and flooding of the fields .

As photographers, we still have some controls even when as we are flooded, as we are now with untrained and incompetent people thinking they are photographers because they can make an image.
You can't hold them back any better than the farmer can keep the water inside the banks of the stream or river.  But, you can continue to present professional images outwardly to the public in every opportunity you can create. Even if you have to pay a location to put up images for "your potential customers to see".  Don't put them up just for the sake of  hanging some images someplace.  Make sure it is a venue that is visited by folks that ARE YOUR POSSIBLE CLIENTS.
That is not in fast food locations, or any place that is visited by average Americana.  Your customer is now the UPPER, UPPER middle class and beyond.  Think of some places.  

 Along with the professional images, an accompanied  promo sheet stating WHY these are professional images.

They are not.....FLAT, flash on camera which adds 5 lbs to every face but made with controlled lighting that flatters the subject.  It is composed in an artistic way by varying the heads proper composition by using placement of  triangles and not in a totem pole fashion.  YOU CAN Keep listing all the reasons why "This Is Portrait Done in the Proper manner.  It is called educating your customer base.

It is time we start attempting to educate our customers, and our customers friends as to WHY a professional photographer is of a High Value.  If we don't, then what John Q or Betty Q creates with the help of the modern digital technology will become even more acceptable in their minds.  Because, THEY DID IT, and pride takes over and they will become satisfied with average.

It is NOT the time to stay dorment. Speak out when you see bad photography.

It will come around.  I have seen it happening is small ways.  As they try and fail to make images as we can, they will come to learn and appeciate more what can be achieved by the true artistic photographer.

To those that can't, then they need to get the education.  And with the fact that there is many more things to learn with digital photography than with conventional film photography, we should win out in the end.  But, only if we don't throw in the towel and set back and watch the flood waters overflow our crops.

The farmer can replant, or get some crop insurance.  There is no crop insurance for our floods.

Stay dry, and keep to the higher ground,

Bruce

April 22

I see I have been hacked on my Yahoo accnt..  Just got an Email from myself selling some sort of business enhancement..

This did not come from me.

I have changed password and added second level security to that account.

Sorry if this has caused any inconvenience, but this should take care of it.  I hope.

BDR

April 19th

Man!  Will it ever warm up?  Judy and I are off to do Easter Bunny pixs with a 6 ft rabbit.  I almost wish I could fit in the suit.  It is cuddly and warm.

More about this gig later.   Just wanted to get something out on this gray looking day.

BDR

Back Home Again In Indiana

Man oh Man!   

Good to be home, but it is cool and rainy which after two months of sunshine 80 degree temps and only three days of rain the whole time, this is the pits.  

We have been working in the Photo garden yard area since we got here.
The pond needed much clean up and I think the fish survived the winter.

There were two trips to the dump to get rid of the 30 some big bags of leaves.  And, yesterday I picked up a trailer load of top soil to fill in the ruts made by the new well installation last fall.  

Judy of on the Easter Bunny shoot, and today I am working on the new web site for me.  When done I will post a link and hope you all will give me a critique or suggestions.  

Hope this finds everyone's buisness picking up after the winter slow months.  If you have never figured your fixed overhead, I am now selling the spreadsheet I created for $10 bucks.  It is easy to use, and the results it provides can be staggering when it comes to what it costs you per hour without even doing photography.  Soon PayPal will be in effect, that still is to be done, so just contact me and we can work out arrangements.

Once you determine your TV, (Time Value), your pricing of services and product will become much clearer.  This can be a real enlightening project for those thinking or just starting a photography business.

It is Monday

Well it started raining buckets about 4:00 A. M...and the awning on the RV was banging up and down so out we went to take off the screen and then roll up the side awning.  It has rained ever since and it is now 3:40 PM.
Since there had been no rain for four weeks everyone seemed to welcome the rain.  We went to Orlando to an outlet mall and it was packed.  We also picked up an inflatable mattress for when we have visitors.  That starts in two days.  Went to a flea market while there, bought nothing..a new record.  Stopped a Wally World for some milk, and wound up spending 30 bucks.  Man!  you just cannot get out of there with out spontaneousness purchases.  Don't we wish we could sell photography like that?

Sure Glad I got Herb's car photographed on Saturday night.  It was perfect conditions to do automobiles.
I had a cloud cover above and behind me at the camera, and a clear sky behind the trees behind the car.

There were a lot of exposures make from various angles while I waited for the light to balance between what was coming from the West and the bounce fill from the clouds from the East.  That finally arrived about 30 to 40 minutes AFTER sun set when the direct rays no longer are there, but the soft light is still in the sky for reflections into the car shapes.

Finding the exact, correct angle so the chrome would show and the upper curves showed their shapes.
My final exposure was 4 seconds at F 5.6 with the 70-300 set at ab out 105mm.

Once in Photoshop there was some burning and dodging using Layer Adjustment Masks both on the car and the back ground to add separation and leading visual lines.  If I would have had lights available there could have been a lot more done, but I am happy with the shot, and I know the owner will be too.

A few little points for you to see and think about.  Notice the placement of the antenna.  Also, the highlight on the curve of the rear fender?  That was the reflection of the white house on the corner.  I did work the chrome on the windshield with a layer adjustment mask to lighten and make even as possible.
The drivers side, where the scoop is, was lightened slightly to capture the shape better.  Again with a layer adjustment mask.
Burning and dodging in the foliage behind the car creates the light drawing you from .upper left to the car.and the dark tree stops you visually.

And here is a collage that I also put together using this shot and some CU details of this vintage and "very cherry" corvette.

One of these days, I am going to hang a big muslin from the awning of the RV and see if I can get a car in a 3/4 front view on a plain background.  That is what I see for my future,, maybe.

You all play nice now, and let me hear from some of you out there.  Judy and I will be back in Indiana by the second week in April, and that is no April Fool's joke.  We have a cpl of gigs plus several high school seniors booked to do in the garden when we get there.   So turn up the Spring!

B&J

Layer Adjustment masking 2 Spot color Correction

Happy Friday to all you busy Photographers.  Don't forget to set your clock up one hour on Saturday Night...It is time to Spring Forward.  It is Time to Spring Anything....tired of the cold damp nasties.....

Last issue on the Blog,  I did a burning and dodging with Layer Adjustment Masking layers.

Today I am going to show the advantages of using LAM in Color Balance mode to spot correct balance in an image.

When would I want to do this?

Maybe an outdoor portrait that has green in the shadows, or a sunny day snow picture that has blue shadows?
  Or  any other time you have a stray or color that is wrong, bad, yucky, distracting, or you just want to change for the sake of change.

Let's learn how to fix things like that very quickly with just a few clicks and strokes of a brush.


Here we have a duck swimming in some pretty green water that does not look good, and we want to change.

In the Layers Pallet, select the Layer Adjustment Mask symbol...the black and white circle to get the menu.

Select Color Balance and slide the magenta / green slider to the magenta and the blue slider as shown below.

Next...Select a soft edge Brush.

Make sure Black and White are your colors with Black on top.

Click  Edit> Fill> Forground Color.

Now your image looks just like the first image here.  The mask has been removed.  ON the layer, the mask is now black and you can see though to the layer below.

But here is the fun part.  Change the foreground color to White,

With your soft edge brush at 100%, start painting at the bottom of the water, and work your way up painting in better looking water.

Around the bird, you may switch back and forth from white to black and back again as you paint around the bird.  To look like this.....

I over did the magenta abit here so I went back with another LAM and added some green and did the same thing again.

Then I added a new thing I learned from Michael Barton last weekend to get the final image.

this is Pencil Sketch Sharpening.

Cool huh?  I will pass this along next week.....

remember the original

Learn how to use the many other tools in Layer Adjustment Masks...They sure can come in handy.

PS.. On my monitor I still see a bit to much magenta and/or blue  in the low densities..so I should have lowered the opacity of the LAYER MASK....

That is another total control options that this technique gives you.

Thanks for hangin around, and have a great weekend.  I will sign on again from Florida on Monday.

Remember too, I do work in your studio, one on one as a studio consultant, not only in Photoshop, but in many other areas too.  If interested, contact me in your best way...

bdroberts@bdroberts.com 

Have a great day!

Bruce

Layer Adjustment masking

Here is a subject that does not get talked about enough.  Layer Adjustment Masks.

They work just like Layer Masks but cover a wider spectrum of adjustments.

Here is the tool bar drop down for using LAM. To find, click black and white circle in Layers Pallet.

 the main ones I use are curves, levels, Hue and Sat., and maybe sometimes color balance.  As you play and learn these functions you will soon realize the benefits

What it does

First of all it allows changing the output without changing the file until you are positive this is what you want to do, as the feature is done in a Mask, not to the file.

To refresh on Masking.

When you create a function mask remember that Black takes off the mask, and White adds to the mask.

So if I make a mask change, then fill the mask with black, I have taken the change away.  

Now, if I use a brush at 50% opacity, with White on top, I can put back the "change" exactly where I want it.

I will do one using a Curves LAM to create a burning and also a dodging tool that will not change color.

By having these two LAMs I can paint in shadows and add highlights to an image.

Here is the original image straight from the camera.

To create these two masks:

In the layers pallet, click the black and white circle to get the menu above and select Curves.

In the Curves control box, click the center and drag down.  Don't worry about how it looks.

Below are the two masking layer that I created.  You can have as many masking layers as you want

   Here is the Dark.

Now we will remove the entire Dark Mask by going to EDIT > FILL.

Fill mask with Black which, removes the mask.

Change the color to white by hitting the X key.

Select a Brush of a large, SOFT Edge, and paint in the edges to darken.

You can also enlarge image, and with a small brush, build contrast in the shadow areas of the image.

But the best part is, as a mask, you can take it away if it is too much.

By changing back to Black I can take off the mask at the rate of the opacity.

Look at the white areas lighten up in the image below.  The color was changed to Black and the mask eliminated in just those control areas.

Now, create a Highlight mask by doing the same thing, only raising the center of the Curves control.

With black on top, EDIT > Fill the mask with black to eliminate.  Switch to White on top, use brush at 30
% to start, and add highlights or lighten areas more than in original.

Using both darkening, and lighter masks, you can burn and dodge the image to your liking and your style.

Also, since the adjustment is on a layer, if you over do, you can change the opacity of the layer to suite.

You have total control of the image this way.

The next issue will talk about using LAM and color balance to change color in a specific area.

As always, if you have questions...sing out and I will be sure and answer asap.

Have a great day,

B

.

Back Home Again In Indiana

Monday, March ?

What a crazy few days!

The Professional Photographers of Indiana convention  and print competition is now over, and was a great experience for everyone but me.  For the first time in 50 years I spent most of the time in a motel room with a nasty, nasty head cold,,,Blahhhh!  Of which now on Monday I am still suffering from,  but trying to make some positive effort from being horizontal in bed....cough, cough !

It all started last Friday.

We flew back on Friday and when I awoke, there was the  scratchy throat.  By Saturday it was horizontal time.  Sunday a bit better, so was able to sit in on one program late Sunday, but still there today after getting back to Elkhart last night.

As to the print competition, the Four entries got me three 79's and one 82 for the prints sent.
And I agree with the judge's scores.  In each of the "close but no award" prints there was a detail missed, or a mishandling of files.  Either over sharpening, or missed artifact that was just enough to keep the score under the magic 80 mark.

The one print that did make the award list and got me a Silver Award in the Commercial category, was a photo of some crystal glassware shot at a flea market.

Yup..just sittin there on a board in front of a tent at a flea market. 

Of course there was more to it than that, but the basic image was captured, hand held, at a flea market under clear BLUE sky, and bright, direct sunlight.

Here is the "Rest of the Story"

After capture, it was brought into PS, and a second layer made.  Then,  the background area was selected by "color selection" which fortunately ALSO selected the color of the background that showed though the glass.  

A few "shift +" to add to the selection was needed to get all of the background features selected.

The selection was saved for future use.

On that layer, the selection was cleared by clicking on Edit > Clear.

The selection was then brought back and a Gradient Tool of two shades of gray was used to paint in a new background.

The glass layer was enhanced by layer adjustment masks and blending modes to increase contrast and sparkle.

There was also some vertical distortion in the image which caused the verticals to be narrower at the top.  This was corrected with Free Transform Perspective.

The matting is done by using Canvas Size and adding to the canvas size by changing the measurement to percentage and adding .1 in light gray, then changing foreground color to black and adding .25 to the canvas size.  The light gray was kept darker that the lightest in the glass as to not distract from the image.

Then, with the same layer active, using the magic wand, selected the gray line.  

Right click and saved as a new layer.

Opening Layer Styles and then using emboss to give the gray matting shape. then,

Flatten.

Closing Thoughts

Too apply manipulation for the sake of manipulation, is like an elephant painting a canvas.  Yes some may call it art, but I call it an accident.  But to learn all that can be done, sometimes you have to be that elephant.  Just keep trying things and learn what they do.  Record your efforts, and document what it did, cause there is a lot out there to try and to do.

Learn the tools in PhotoShop. ( I still am after 12 years). 

Learn layer Masking. 

Learn layer Adjustment Masking tools.  

Learn the Blending Mode tools in PhotoShop, then you have most of the brushes to create from your mind.

Learn the tools and how they can enhance your product that has a market value.  

That is the most important tool of all.

This Image  became  a very nice rendition of glassware, but the final image came from a combination of, first knowing HOW clear glassware is lit and photographed in a studio, Plus the use of PhotoShop to enhance the detail and contrast and make the final presentation.  It was a combination of  two experience and knowledge levels.  That does not make me better, just older and more experienced.

More importantly,  please understand that there is no real market for this image.  As it stands, it is just another pretty picture that won a ribbon, awarded by a panel of individuals that liked my results and presentation.

It only illustrates my knowledge of photography, and of PhotoShop, nothing more.  It takes both to succeed in photography today, along with several additional skill levels.

My point here is to illustrate the fact that manipulation in PS is at its best if one knows what the effects and results you are wanting to achieve. Pointless manipulation is useless and not effective.  Manipulation by knowing the effects of the tools, or in combination of the tools, to achieve a specific, known result is what you are after  The more you learn the various tools, and effects, the more you are able to take what is in your mind and apply it to the image as an expression of your mind. 

There are some great on line teaching aids, and of course,  study with someone who is more advanced are just a couple of ways to increase this knowledge.  Remember though, it is just another technique or brush stoke that you are learning.  It is the combination of all learned experiences that will show you to be the artist that resides within.

Man!  I hope this cold is gone by the time I get back to Florida...this just sucks!!

You all be good and play nice.

B

.

Sunday Feb 27, 2011

What a wonderful day!
Daughter Tina, Granddaughters April, and Amber along with Great grandson Keekan are here in Floriday visiting.  They got in yesterday afternoon, and we went to Pass A Grill and St. Pete Beach area to soak up some sun.  Left the beach and drove back to Winter Haven, after dark.  Got to Pasquales Pizza and had some great pizza. Today we drove to the Produce Market/ Flee Market to show them the sights.  Tons of people there.  Hard to walk though the isles there were so many there. Everyone is not at the pool soaking up sun, and it is quiet here on the deck by RV...Tempted to take a nap...

Being the only guy except Keegan age "almost one", it is interesting living in a motorhome with that many females.  I got the bathroom at 10 AM I think...but it is all good.

My younger sister Cindy, her husband Scott, and son Joe will be here later today for a cpl of weeks of warmth. They rented the apartment here in the park, so we will have to get them oriented in the next few days prior to Judy and I flying back to Indiana for the PPI convention.  We will have to leave the sunshine for a week, then fly back down until late March when the other daughter and two granddaugters come down.
Looking forward to deep sea fishing with the GD's and going on a Swamp Walk to explore the Everglades again.  They both have lists a mile long of things they want to do when here.  Guess I will have to take them on a canoe ride and show them the gators close up...

So time for thoughts other that family has not been available the past few days, but will get back on track soon.

All I want to do now is take a nap, but they just texted me that they would like some ice tea up at the pool.

Just hollar "OH POOL BOY",,and I will be right there to provide service.

Hope you all have had a great weekend, I know it is sure great here.  82 and sunny....gotta love Florida in February..

A Comment Only about portrait photographers

I just made a comment on a FB notification this morning that I think bears repeating.
Sometimes what comes out of my brain is like water down a well, then other times things spring forth from places in my brain that I know not where they come.

Here is the comment made this morning by a former customer about my portrait photographer father.  Now remember, he has been out of the business for over 30 years, and gone for almost 10..
but this is how his customers remember him., it is simpler now.
She wrote, "He made us all feel really beautiful and special".

And, here is what I said to that comment she made about my father as a portrait photographer.

I replied to this person that yes my father was a good photographer.but.......

"That is what good portrait photographers do...and you don't learn that part from a book."

I continued, "Making any image was the easy part then, and even more so now.
One must learn the HOW and WHAT of your subjects personality. This can be learned by study,observation, and internship, but the basic personality of the photographer is the catalyst.
And, Make the image FOR your client, not OF your client.  You either have the personality, or you don't, period!"

So many portrait photographers feel that if they get a person properly lit with the RIGHT lighting equipment, properly exposed on the latest camera and lenses, and posed. or unposed is some contemporary fashion,  that  their images will sell.  Sorry to disappoint you. 

Nothing more, nothing less.  Understand your subject, get inside the personality, and now be to able to evoke that person's personality, then you will sell images.  Making images is simple with today's technology, and you must still possess the ability to see light quality and direction, but it is the final expression that will tug at the heart strings and move dollars from your customers pocket to yours.
This expose my wife did last year says volumes about what I feel about portrait photography.

Expression and the Experience sells portraits. 

Dad's expression sells this image.  If the pride, and love did not show, it is just another picture of a fella holding a baby.

Learn and focus on capturing personality, not just the image before you.  If it takes a clown, be a clown.  If it takes a teacher, be that teacher, but what ever the subject of your camera and lens requires of you, you must provide.

Have a wonderful weekend, and of course...

Think Spring

B

Spring is in the air

Saturday Feb 19th

Yes!  The warm weather has arrived.  Got the top down and rolling.

Even took the canoe out yesterday on a small lake with Judy.  I sure wished that I had not forgotten to bring a camera along. 

We had taken lunch and ate it lake side, then fished from the bank with no results, so we decided to put the boat in and see what was around the bend of the pond.

It was beautifull.  Mirror lake with various greens and whites from the moss reflecting in the water against an solid deep blue sky. 

We drifed around the corner, and found that the lake went deeper into the country side.  As we drifted in closer to the far shore, I watched "a log" slowly dissapear under the surface. 

Looking further, I saw three more logs with just their eyes and snout sticking above the surface.

Yes!  They were not logs, but small 5 ft gators.  And yes, the breaks went on!

Doing a 180, I scanned the bank further to the West. 

There, shining like a long, green emerald, was at least an 8 ft, momma gator sunning herself.

We waisted no time in letting them have their lake property to themselves, but thanked them mentaly for the visit.  It is one thing to see gators on tv, behind a fence, and quite another to STUMBLE on a young family in the wild, while being on the water for only the second time in a brand new canoe.  You can well imagine the use of the term, Wide Birth.

I have since asked them mentally, that since I now know that they are there, would be ok to pay a return visit with my camera and maybe do a family group photograph..

Momma gave me a wide open smile and said,

                            "U'all come back real soon now, ya hear"

                                     

Time will tell with the visit of family if I can make that happen. 

Spring is on the way.  Get out and see what you can find....just don't forget your camera's.

CUL

B

Wen Feb 16th

HOWDY!!

Just thinking about how it would be nice just to sail all around the seas and not have to worry about money.   Wow! how great would that be?  St. Pete today, Boston  and New York in a day or two, and then back to Jamaica for a month.  Dream on,,,, Dream on... 

But, ya know a lot of folks run their business the same way, on a wish and a prayer with no thought of what it really takes to get where they want to go.

Here is the formula for success in business.  NET Income = A+M+B+CS- OH + COS

                     

What those quantities stand for in any business is for advertising, marketing, branding, and customer service, minus the cost of monthly expenses added to the cost of producing what you are selling.

 Take away any part of that equation and you are doomed to just sit on the bank and watch the ships sail by.

I recently was asked by someone wanting going into professional photography and opening a brick and mortar studio, to look at their business plan.

This thing was 27 pages long, and on the surface was impressive until the figures were looked at closely and then cking out the web page for the photographer.  Not much understanding of lighting, posing, or composition.  Not that one has to be well accomplished to start, but just because you can make images, does not mean you should be in the business of charging others for your services.

On paper he had it figured out and quoted statistics from PMA, that in 2010 studio photographers saw a 23 % increase in business.  REALLY!!!   What planet are you from?

 By his information and those standards in his market area, he could spend $1600 a month for his studio space, and at the same time he had signed a two year contract for radio ads to the tune of 800 a month. 

Now even a blind man can see that with average utilities of maybe another $200 a month, he is looking at $2600 a month in FIXED OVERHEAD.   So let's look at that with logical spectacles.

In a month a business might open 6 days a week and is open 8 hours a day which gives 48 hours to produce any income. But we all know there is much after hours work..but we won't even look there right now.

It is simple math.  Divide 2600 by 48, which is 54.16 per hour, every hour, every day, and every week.

That is just the inhaling and exhaling of the business.  No profit, no new equipment, no advertising, no repairs.

My experience shows that most studios operate on 20-30% profit.  With that understanding, to come up with just a 20% profit on sales to cover just the cost of  54.16 and hour, the business needs to be turning 243.72 per hour to give the business that 20% profit..Now add on the owners salary.  What are you worth an hour?  A janitor makes 12-15 and hour.    So what is your time and talent, and experience worth.  I will just grab a figure of $30 and hour, so now we are up to $273 and change per hour.

 

This still leaves no room for repairs, updating of equipment, new furnishings, new backgrounds, marketing costs and any additional advertising.

The photography business can be very gratifying.

The photography business can be very gratifying,  but it is also hard work if your going to make a living for you and your family by selling it. 

Know your costs.  Know your market.  Know your clients.  And, above all know your market place AND WHAT IT CONTAINS.

This same individual is opening in a population of 70,000 house holds with an  average income of $42,000.

HMMMMMMMMMM  NICE SIZE POPULATION, BUT..........................

Now, knowing that the poverty level in the U.S., by government standards, IS at $36,000 a year, and that means that out of those 70,000 households only about 1/6th of those could even afford his services.  Now introduce the 79 other studios marketing in the same geographic area. That divides the pie pretty thin.

You must anticipate Market Share.

He is spending over 2 grand a month for a potential market of 6000 households, divided between 80 studios or a starting market share of a possible 75 families for the year, and that is starting out with NO reputation. 

 I really hated to break the news to this individual that he is about to loose his shirt.

 

Now, I love the photography business, and I know what it takes, but even with that knowledge, to open a new studio, one must be prepared for the the fact that for first 5 years of a studio business,  in today's world,  it will loose money, or at best break even. 

To operate a profitable photography business it is more than making good pictures. 

What B&J Consulting is all about is to look at a business and its potential, and make suggestions to make it profitable, if possible.

If you can't figure out where you are, and make a plan out for your business, then give me a shout, and we can set up an on site visit to see where your going, and at best get a direction. Let me help you find the compass so you know where your going.  The cost is an investment into your buisness.

Now..everyone say SPRING, SPRING, SPRING...I think I can hear it headed this way.

Have a great day,

B



Of course that sounds like fun to sail of looking for a rainbow, but very few of us are in that shape financially, so we must figure out a way to take the money from a customer's account and put it in our account,... legally.