How do they get such great pictures?

[rememberme]

Hey there, Everyone,

I'm no where near a seasoned professional but I know what I like and I want my work to look this good. What do I need to do to get my pictures to look this great sooner than later? This is definitely not what I'm seeing when I capture my pictures. Are they shooting film? Using some special techniques in PS? Is there some special PS or shooters workshop I should take? Sorry for asking such a broad question but I'm a woman of little patience and want perfection NOW ... and I'm just waiting for you all to give me the answers!! Hee, hee!

I really like Jill Greenberg's stuff but how does she get that "plastic" look?
http://www.manipulator.com

These photographers have great senior shots and I want that color and contrast too!
http://www.timschooler.com/main.htm
http://www.jwportraitlife.com/index2.html
(I've seen Jeff & Julia using a video light for effect - should I invest in one? If so, what kind do I need?)

I'm using a Canon 1DS Mark II, 70-200mm L, 16-35mm L, PS CS2, Mac Pro.

Thanks for any advice!

[brad]

Light

Its all about the light.

[Jake]

Originally Posted by brad

Light

Its all about the light.

.......and a lot of post processing.

There are plenty of workshops out there that help a bunch if you want to learn fast.
I would go to a few and learn from the pros if I were you. You have the gear to shoot like that.
This site has a great section just for that.
Video lights do give a very cool look and let you do some creative stuff.




P.S. - Jill Greenberg is a %@&#

[rememberme]

Thanks Brad. I've learned everything is all about the light and it is my biggest struggle. Any ideas on learning great workshops, DVD's or books on learning more about lighting skills? I have a book called "Mastering the Light" that is really good and gives great diagrams for setup but I guess I am looking for something a little more advanced ... especially on subtracting light.

[rememberme]

Thanks, Jake. Any model, make, specs I should consider in a video light? I don't know anything about them.

What does that mean about Jill Greenberg ... other than I think it's not good? Is she not so nice?

I appreciate your help! :)

[brad]

Originally Posted by rememberme

Thanks Brad. I've learned everything is all about the light and it is my biggest struggle. Any ideas on learning great workshops, DVD's or books on learning more about lighting skills? I have a book called "Mastering the Light" that is really good and gives great diagrams for setup but I guess I am looking for something a little more advanced ... especially on subtracting light.

Join us at Fran's next workshop.. the reviews from the one this last weekend have me wishing I'd gone.


... and that's from someone who's never been interested in a workshop ...


Everything I know about light has been learned from trial and error experimentation... and a lot of luck.

[Jake]

Originally Posted by rememberme

Thanks, Jake. Any model, make, specs I should consider in a video light? I don't know anything about them.

What does that mean about Jill Greenberg ... other than I think it's not good? Is she not so nice?

I appreciate your help! :)

As for video lights, these are pretty good. I don't really know to much about all the different kinds but I'm sure someone on this from does.



This gallery here is the reason I don't like Jill.
Some of the ways she got the kids to cry was taking candy from them, taking off there clothes and having the parents leave the room.
I think stripping a kids clothes off and having the parents leave the room is not the best thing for a kid...........

[Jake]

And I agree with what Brad said about Fran's next workshop. I missed the last one and I really want to go to the next one.

There is this workshop here that will be great. It coming up soon.
http://www.texasphotoforum.com/forum...ad.php?t=28313

[KJ Smith]

Jodi,
First off, let me say that you are underestimating how good your work is.
I think your baby pics are as good as any, and I liked several of your senior and family pics.
Its tough to say, and I mean no harm to anyone, but look at the people they are shooting. It is much easier to make beautiful photo's when you are starting out with beautiful people.
I like the lay out of your website, the one suggestion that I have is to cull your shots down in each category. Show only the best of the best. 6-7 shots a category is plenty.
That is the first and easiest step to becoming a better photographer, only show your very best work.
Think of how long and often these people have been shooting, and about how little they are showing.

Here is what I see.

1. You do not have the equipment or the staff to compete with "The Manipulator"
She is using Medium, and Large format equipment. that is why her photos have the amount of detail that they have,
Remember that a person on her level will have a couple of assistants and a make-up artist with them. I would bet that she also has a person that strictly does PS work.

2.The second Guy looked like he was also using meduim Format equipment. again look at the amount of detail in the pics. I would think that he also has at least one assistant, and a make-up artist.

3. The third group is probably using 35mm equipment. Some of their work is to "stylized" for my taste. The work of theirs that I do like is very comparable to yours.

This is just My humble opinion.
I have no inside info on these people, this is just my opinion from looking at their websites, and my past experience.

[Jake]

Originally Posted by KJ Smith

.........2.The second Guy looked like he was also using meduim Format equipment. again look at the amount of detail in the pics. I would think that he also has at least one assistant, and a make-up artist..............

Acording to Rangefinder magazine:
"Schooler’s cameras of choice are a Canon EOS 1D Mark II and a Canon EOS 20D as a backup. The Canon 135mm f/2 L and the 70–200mm f/2.8 L are his two primary portrait lenses."

He use to shoot MF so some of the shots on his site are probably MF.

[jeffkohn]

These photographers have great senior shots and I want that color and contrast too!
http://www.timschooler.com/main.htm
http://www.jwportraitlife.com/index2.html
(I've seen Jeff & Julia using a video light for effect - should I invest in one? If so, what kind do I need?)

First site has some really nice stuff on it. Second site many of the images are over-processed. But in both cases I think there's a lot of PS work involved, like Jake said. I don't care how good you are at seeing the light, I don't think you can get those results straight out of the camera unless maybe you have a world-class make-up artist working for you.

[Bill]

Which books have you read and seminars attended on the camera, PS, and portraiture? How much practicing do you do with camera and PS?

Check out this thread on retouchpro.com, which is about your Greenberg question: http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13168

And: http://www.phototakers.com/forum/fto...babc06d84f5106

And: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/re...5914594&page=1

Also, for the plastic look: http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-...id=00Do2J&tag=

[d2creative]

Start with beautiful people, add a cup of good lighting, and simmer for an hour in Photoshop.

[beetleman]

Originally Posted by rememberme

Hey there, Everyone,

I'm no where near a seasoned professional but I know what I like and I want my work to look this good. What do I need to do to get my pictures to look this great sooner than later?

You're pretty funny. Looking at your galleries I'm asking the same questions about some of your work!!! I think they look great as they are.

[MyKey]

Jodi I know most of these artists personally and I can tell you from watching them work, or talking to them directly it is a combo of many things.

For example Tim's work is always very warm and contrasty that is not post processing work as I thought it was, it is truely how he shoots the subject. How he lights the subject how he controls the settings in his camera. His RAW files look darn near to what his final images look like. He is truely one of the best out there in the Senior business.

Jeff and Julia, well what can I say they are one of the best team of wedding photographers I know in this country. Jeff is simply AMAZING at capturing and seeing things most of us never would and his wife Julia is a master at seeing beyond the image to what the final product will look like. They are amazing people, great family based down to earth artists which comes out in their work. Jeff is simply one of the most naturally talented photographers I have ever seen. Since they seperated their wedding from Senior websites their Senior business has skyrocketed also. They are also both masters at marketing and getting published (note I did not say buying advertisments in the large magazines but getting published, there is a huge difference)

I personally do not know Jill so I can not say much on her but I respect her work.

Tim and Jeff and Julia are examples of pure talent with a camera and a higher knowledge than most of us will ever have which took years to learn. These guys lead the way and make the trends not follow them, again simply some of the best out there.

If you want to know more direct information on Tim check out www.photographyallstars.com some of the best of the best out there, while pricy these guys will show you directly their "secrets" with one on one help. KJ is one of the best editoral fashion wedding photographers out there, Huy, well Huy is king in the US for PJ style, Ally (Alycia) is an amazing friend and simply one of the best in the family and children portrait world, Mystique just rocks, and of couse Tim. Also coming soon will be an addtion to the site, a great artist in the Family and Senior portrait world who I can not meantion right now but trust me she is worth every penny of your fee. Not trying to sale this site, I dont get anything from it, but if you want to learn from some of the best out there this is truely one of the best places to do it. 24/7 help on any subject.