Working my butt off

[Vinam]

Here's two I am working on from the wedding... they are almost done. I took a ride today to Manhattan and went to the mecca of all Photography stores B&H photo and bought a Wacom Bamboo tablet to help with with the post production and I really like it, thanks veveryone who made the suggesion ( my wrist thanks you more )

Mom and Dad of the groom, BG needs some blending, still a few spots to touch up and it still needs cropping.
new

original




totally rebuilt from the raw file, new background leaves her hair more natural * which I had lost in the first few attempts.
new


old


My total lack of experiance with protrait and people is making me work 10 times longer on the shots then I should be, but I can not give my very first customers anything but the best I can do... so the work continues.

I've been working on one, leaving it for a while and then going back so I don't burn out, these are close.. still a few spots I need to clean up, but I like the BG's and the overall feel of them.

As always thanks for a taking a look ,

Vin

[FDCPR]

You are doing great, I am certain that when you finish you will please your customer immensely. All this PP practice on these wedding shots means that when you get back to the birds you'll be more prepared!

[leonaashlee]

These are going to be awesome....it's amazing the changes you've made. Great work.

[Chip]

You're doing post work that I can only dream of, Vin. The way you re-did the second one is remarkable. You should have very happy clients/friends when they see all your work.

[Hayward Taylor]

Hi Vin -even the skin tone improved a lot ... all your hard is paying off .. excellent

[pjflan7]

Vin, I know it is hard to do this pp stuff......I hope to delve a little more into it during the winter months.....you're doing fine and it is a huge learning curve. Looking forward to your finished product

[fstopMike]

Vin, all the hard work is paying off, because these are looking very good and you're learning a ton! Well done.

[lindyannajones]

Vin, hey, it's Lin. You're doing a GREAT job. Can we put aside the PP for a minute. Look at those great expressions! You've got catch lights in the eyes and nice smiling crinkles. As Hayward mentioned, your skin tones are becoming warmer, too. As for PP, it is so labor intensive but hopefully really rewarding. I get lost in the process. Do you? Let me close with a great secret to life. You should problably not say something like "I don't do portraits" because next thing you know, life could be handing you a surprise. Surprise! Hugs, Lin

[Fred flyfisher]

Looks good Vin, keep up the good work buddy. It's paying off.

[Vinam]

Originally Posted by FDCPR

You are doing great, I am certain that when you finish you will please your customer immensely. All this PP practice on these wedding shots means that when you get back to the birds you'll be more prepared!

thanks Fred, I am really itching to get away from the computer and back behind the lense and outside., I'm off this weekend and hopefully it won't rain. I seem to be learning a few things every night, so if anything else editing nature shots will be quicker.

Originally Posted by leonaashlee

These are going to be awesome....it's amazing the changes you've made. Great work.

thank you Leona, a whole different set of skills and practicing.. but I'm making progress.

Originally Posted by Chip

You're doing post work that I can only dream of, Vin. The way you re-did the second one is remarkable. You should have very happy clients/friends when they see all your work.

Thanks much Chip, I'm still learning alot about masking and layering, there's so much to know. I'm sure if you spent some time, you could do what I'm doing and probably better since you crop in the viewfinder alot better then I do . that's really all I'm trying to do,, make the bride and Groom happy with a few " WoW's " and we know how hard wows can be.. thanks for your encouragement !

Originally Posted by Hayward Taylor

Hi Vin -even the skin tone improved a lot ... all your hard is paying off .. excellent

Thanks Haywood ! .. yep, add skin tone to yet another element that I have to deal with. Biggest lesson I've learned from this experiance is do a better job of positioning myself with better backgrounds and I really need a better understanding of flash lighting. But it's a start.. glad you like them so far

Originally Posted by pjflan7

Vin, I know it is hard to do this pp stuff......I hope to delve a little more into it during the winter months.....you're doing fine and it is a huge learning curve. Looking forward to your finished product

thanks Patrick..I am trying really hard to avoid a cheap hacked up looking background replacement and I struggle with picking the right colors. the other thing that's difficult is the edges around the subjects, not too soft and feathered and not too hard and fake looking.. it's such a narrow margin, I guess it just takes experiance to get the feel.

Originally Posted by fstopMike

Vin, all the hard work is paying off, because these are looking very good and you're learning a ton! Well done.

Thanks Mike.. I'm trying to put together some wall hangers for the bride and groom.. things the Pro won't be doing.. that being said, they need to really be good and although I do some things pretty good, i'm such a rookie with all this fancy stuff.

Originally Posted by lindyannajones

Vin, hey, it's Lin. You're doing a GREAT job. Can we put aside the PP for a minute. Look at those great expressions! You've got catch lights in the eyes and nice smiling crinkles. As Hayward mentioned, your skin tones are becoming warmer, too. As for PP, it is so labor intensive but hopefully really rewarding. I get lost in the process. Do you? Let me close with a great secret to life. You should problably not say something like "I don't do portraits" because next thing you know, life could be handing you a surprise. Surprise! Hugs, Lin

Thank you Linda, letting me know I'm doing good means alot.. Oh you are soooo right about expressions/smiles , not looking away from the camera.. having eyes open, it's everything. I think my ratio on this shoot is going to be around 12 keepers ( maybe ) and 200+ in the bin and mostly because I wasn't forward enough directing the people to " face me, and smile ".

And I am sure there will be a next time, probably not a wedding, but I really want to to shoot some people and control more.. it's one thing I just didn't realize. Controlling them more affects focus and lighting too .. man did I miss a Biggy but what a great lesson !

So I'm game for the next time I'm asked and no longer feel like I don't shoot people, I just don't shoot people very well yet ( atleast with a camera ) !! lol.

I always look forward to your insight and again thank you for being so supportive

/BigHug

Originally Posted by Fred flyfisher

Looks good Vin, keep up the good work buddy. It's paying off.

thanks much Fred, getting there, I can't wait to get back outside and shoot something standing still again lol ! .. always appreciate your kind words.

thanks everyone

Vin