A Lesson in post processing - Wedding photographer Maryville, MO

Today's lesson will be about post-processing. Post processing (or PP), is the things you do to the image after you download it from your camera to enhance or add to it to make it more dramatic (or subtle, soft, vibrant, etc. Insert your own adjective here).

We're going to start with a recent photo from Kirstin and Jake's shoot.

This photo was pretty darn good straight out of the camera (SOOC). There's about 14 trillion options, but I'm just going to share with you 6.

First we start with the basic black and white. It's a simple process and I do this for select images that have a beautiful contrast in them that will look good in black and white tones. On the right, is a sepia tone (pronounced: See-pee-uh - sorry, that's a pet peeve of mine lol). Now, for the majority of customers, I drag my feet hard on sepia processing for an average photo. In fact, usually "never" comes to mind. BUT - once in a while, a photo is appropriate for the sepia finish. Like, a great cowboy pic. Pics I don't think are good for sepia are kids, babies, family, maternity, most wedding photos, etc. Basically almost everything. LOL.



Next we have a texture. This one is a rough leather texture. The photo on the left, the texture is much more opaque. You can really see the lines of the hide. The photo on the right the texture is very dark, almost completely losing the details around their feet. I actually like this effect and think that this texture takes this from just a photo of Jake and Kirsten on a haybale, to a piece of artwork that anyone could hang in their home.

Lastly, we have couple of nice brights. Kristin and Jake become silhouettes against an orange sky, which is borderline sepia and could have been pushed even brighter. The photo on the right would be awesome in even pink (Jake takes no guff over wearing pink btw). I think these would be lovely on the cover of a wedding invitation or your thank you cards.

If you have an upcoming wedding, senior photos, family shoot, etc please contact me and we'll set up a time to create some beautiful pieces of art to display in your home!

Kristin+Jake, Missouri wedding photographer

Meet Kristin and Jake.

I had the pleasure of photographing them about a week ago. Kristin suggested the rodeo arena and after editing these shots, I tend to agree.



You see, Jake is a cowboy. Ain't it obvious? He drives a truck during the week, but in his free time, he does the rodeo scene. Kristin admitted to me, that she went to rodeos to catch boys, and well, caught one. Otherwise known as a buckle bunny (which I said, not Kristin, although she did have to tell me the term.... buckle bunny just sounds cute, I wanna say it just cuz it's cute. Buckle Bunny, Buckle Bunny, Buckle Bunny!).

Now Kristin, she's giggler. Which there might be a little bit of uncomfortable at behind in front of the lens, but you know, it's easier to just run with it and get great shots.

Jake is definitely one of those guys. You know.. "I love my girl, I just wanna get married. I'm doing this to make her happy." We like those guys because there's less training to put into them because they just want to make their girl happy. Don't mistake that for whipped. Look at him, he's a man's man. And wiry. I bet he could take ya.

If you look at this photo very carefully, you'll see a horse sticking his nose out of his stall on the very left. So badly I would have loved for it to show up more

Isn't it neat how the same picture can have 2 entirely different looks? A rotation and change of color and you have a new piece of artwork. Wouldn't this be beautiful as a large canvas? Get bored with it, just rotate the way it hangs and you have new art.

I love how her hair falls just perfectly, and Jake has this blissful look on his face.

One of my very favs from the whole shoot. I want some kiss arse boots like that.

Don't see engagement pics on a horse trailer just every day do you?

One of my very favs from the group. Watch for some new takes on this photo this week!

Thanks to Kristin and Jake for letting me take their pics. They are having a "cowboy weddin'" as my mother in law would say.

Funny story, when Gene and I were getting married, Carol brought up the Cowboy Weddin' story, and well, we decided to run with it. We decided that we were having a Mexican cowboy wedding with a mariachi band and all kinds of tall tales. Really helped downplay the flag dress. LOL.

PS. Jake, thanks for wearing your hat! I was all kinds of happy when I saw it. Prolly because I have a soft spot for cowboys. LOL.

Networking with alternative sources

I have really gotten into marketing again. Years ago when I had my shop uptown, I loved reading marketing books and finding cool ways to advertise for little money. Mainly because I didn't have a lot of money to work with. I had even started working on a small booklet of my own on "100 ways to advertise for free or almost free." I think I still have all my notes!

Pretty good considering I was only 23 years old at the time.

One thing I never really delved deeply into, was networking, which is a shame because it's one of the easiest ways to gain customers. Find someone that already services your customers, and work together to share them!

A few months ago, I was sitting in the nail salon, getting my nails done, and my mind is running a million miles an hour *like always*. I realized a few things:
-A customer sits there for 1/2 hour to 45 minutes looking around, waiting for a place for your eyes to rest
-We have the same basic customer demographic - 18 to 45 females.
-Females in our area still like to get their nails done, especially for events like proms and weddings.

I decided to sit down and write a proposal up to the owners, sent it out a few days later, then gave them a call about it. They were awesome and said it would be ok for me to hang a display in their shop.

So Saturday, we went in to hang the display and I'm quite proud of it. I think it looks really good. I took what I felt was a really good cross section of my photos. I probably could have hung 20 but had to narrow it to 6!

As you can see, I used thick acrylic frames and used my own paper to cover the edges. No, I don't mean paper from my stash (well technically it is), but my own paper that I designed a couple years ago for design originals. The love theme set matches my color branding. (paper on the 16 x 20 was not from me - It's from Autumn leaves I believe).

Now a little about T & S Nail Salon and Spa. (Used to be Kevin's Nails). If you have not had your nails done for a while, even a simple manicure, or a nice pedicure (I still have never had one!) you should go visit these guys, but make an appointment because they can get really busy, especially on Saturdays! (I learned the hard way!).

They are always so friendly, and do an excellent job. I've been happy with my nails and have been going every 2-3 weeks for about 1.5 years now. Sam remembered Torrie right off the bat, and he's probably not seen her in several years.

Also, they have alterations there. I have not needed anything altered - I usually do that myself, but I know they do a brisk business because there's someone coming in for alterations almost every time I'm there.

You should visit them!

T & S Nail Spa and Alterations

521 S. Main

Maryville, MO 64468

Phone: 660-582-2263

Tell them Lana sent you!

A personal share - tips for momtographers

{peek-a-boo}

My niece Tayen turned one last week and we went to her bday party on Sunday. We had fun, got to see my sisters and mom, got to love on Tayen a little bit. Ate some cake and some kick ass ice cream (You forget how good the real stuff is when you buy fat free frozen yogurt - the cheap crap - all the time lol)

I wanted to share with you some of the photos that I took, as tips for some of you moms and dads out there that want better photos for yourself.

My #1 tip is to turn off your flash. I'd rather compromise a little, and slow down my shutter speed or get some grainy images than get that flashy red-eye look! Plus, you get the bonus of capturing the actual motions of the day. (motion, not emotions.. well that too!)

Tayen is moments away from learning to walk. Literally


An excellent example by what mean by "motion". Letting the light from the window light the scene alone caused my shutter speed to slow down to the point where you could see her "ripping" up her birthday presents.

We bought her a piggy bank, complete with some change - yes grandma suggested it get passed and then *did it*. sheesh mom. LOL. Leave it to Aunt Lana/Uncle Gene to give the nice practical gift. At least I didn't give her Dave Ramsey for kids book (seriously, we have to save something for her SECOND birthday don't we??)

Amber and Cole bought Tayen a kitchen. Amber was hell bent on getting it put together before she went home. There was only one tiny minor breakdown when we couldn't find the screws. LOL

It was a hit.

Uncle Gene has this girl tribe thing kicked.

Happy Bday Tayen from crazy Aunt Lana (the cool aunt)

Btw, that's me. ;) See those cool dots in my eyes that give the photo "life"? That's called a catchlight. There just so happened to be a big window right in front of me with a blind, that softened the light and caused a reflection of the window to be in my eyes. It's a good thing.

Your assignment is to walk around your house and see what windows in your home let in soft light. Get out your camera, turn off your flash and experiment. It's only digital (or a little film).

If you need photos of your family, newborns, maternity or any event, just give me a call and let's set up a time!

St. Francis Hospital Gala - Maryville, Missouri Event Photographer

I am lucky to have a friend that has an event and wedding decorating business. She was contracted to do all the decorating for the annual St. Francis Hospital Gala event. The theme this year was "Roaring 20's", complete with feather centerpieces and Model T's displayed!

I promised her that I would stop in and take some shots for her for her upcoming website, and to get a little practice with my detail shots.

Peek a boo! Can you see a photographer in this shot? LOL

And here is the lovely Ms. Hayes. I'm sure she'd be annoyed if she knew I included her pink britches, but I want you to know who you're talking to when you call her to decorate for your event!

Spectacular Settings
Teresa Hayes
660-582-0791