Behind the Scenes with Shooting Star's Post Processing!

Before and After Post Processing Editing.

The secret is out of the bag South Jersey! Photographers aren't just great behind the camera these days, they are often magical wizards when it comes to the post-processing department (meaning editing your photographs)!  I'm spilling a little beans at what goes on in my editing process.I am a firm believer in getting my photographs correct in camera. In fact, that's what I always strive for.  

I never want to have to later rely on Lightroom or Photoshop to "fix" my issues or problems. I go into every shoot with direction.  I know how I want things to go, what poses we'll be doing, and if using props, utilizing them to their full potential (I'm not the biggest fan of props, fyi.)I am not bossy, but I know how to give great direction and how to pose people to show them in their best light.  I think some new photographers don't know how to take charge of the situation at times and that can be a new and difficult learning process, especially how to photograph toddlers. They can often-times be the most difficult. 

 I went a little off-track up there, but a lot of these editing programs can sometimes make photographers lazy because they always have that in the back of their minds... "Oh, well I can Photoshop that out."  That's all fine and dandy, but It takes up too much valuable time.  I don't know about you, but my time is highly valuable and I try to utilize it to the best of my ability.  I'm a multi-tasker and I'm fabulous at it!  If you get it right in camera, you will only have to do minimal editing. It makes you a better photographer overall. Good images make for the best and final products. Also, it makes you more aware of details and getting things right as you are doing the session.The point I'm trying to make is, there is a dividing line these days.  

Are we photographers or are we graphic artists?  I've even seen graphic artists turn to photography.  Some folks are both... Some photographers are shoot and burners where they upload and hand over the images to their clients. In a sense, they are like myself perfecting it right in camera and they don't want to spend time editing. I consider myself somewhat of both.  

My goal is getting it right artistically in camera and then I try to "enhance" and edit it in post processing. I feel that as photographers these days you have to put on two faces in a sense. You need to be up to date, improve and perfect your skills, and know at least the basic Photoshop functions.  Hopefully, you can later expand on those functions where it is second nature... but you at least need to know what everything is, and what they do, when it comes to your editing software.  It's expected nowadays.  

 If you do not stay on top of your game, in this ever-changing very saturated career field, you'll be dust in the wind.The photography field is one tough market and we need to be on top of our toes. This is why during downtime, that I partake in new editing classes.  I also will take standard photography camera classes to learn new techniques.  This is what I admire in when it comes to photography and why I've always had an interest in it. You could be a professional photographer for over 20 years and still not know everything there is to know.Photography is a challenge and I was born and bred for challenges. 

  I started professionally in October 2014.  I registered my LLC, purchased insurance, props, took classes, figured out my cost of doing business, painstakingly chose the best photo processing lab by printing samples of my work, and I purchased numerous books about different aspects on photography, and they are presently expanding and taking over my library. I've studied up on new gear and purchased this gear and have seen myself grow in such a short amount of time.  I love that! I see the end result of hard work. 

 I am still not where I want to be and NEVER will be.I will always strive to learn from each photo session and make the next one better.  

I'm 23 sessions in from when I started in October (and I keep booking) and from what I hear with the veterans, that have been in the game longer than myself,  I'm headed off to an excellent start.  However, I've been a serious hobbyist for many years and have years of experience. 

 Improving myself and challenging myself, is just who I am and I always strive for the best customer service, product and photographs!

Before.

After.

I figured I'd write this blog post to share a bit into my post-processing and what I can do.  I do firmly believe that you need to learn how to edit and edit well as part of being a photographer these days.  

 I was able to otherwise bring this almost dark and useless photo back to life!  I exposed for the sky which made the subject a bit dark. This is a common mistake. Some actually prefer to do this, others will expose for skin tones (and my current process this is what I do now), but when you do expose for skin tones, you can also commonly "blow out your sky." Also, the sun was shining behind them which made their faces darker. This was harsh mid-day sun. 

I shot directly into the sun. Now, I use a reflector and by using the reflector it would have made this a perfect photo in camera.. But I didn't use it here.  See learning process!!!However, I was able to use my editing skills to bring this photograph back to a viable, useable and fabulous photo! It turned out to be one of my favorites from this session!  It's also another great example of why you should shoot in RAW. If this was a JPEG, I'd probably just toss this photo and deem it as unusable. 

 Here's another before and after. I always shoot in RAW, so things look a little funny right out of camera. That's just what those RAW files do, but if you look... my focus and the overall composition is great in this shot.  However, with a RAW photo, you always have to make adjustments. 

Before.

After… the firefighter.

Hope you enjoyed seeing this and a what goes into my post-processing. Most photographers, are skilled at both taking photographs and are wizards in the editing department these days!  

The top photographers in the industry can sometimes edit up to 5-6 hours to produce just one image nowadays!  Editing is a skillset just in itself and it takes a lot of patience... trial and error!  We are practically magicians these days and it's expected!!! 

 Happy Shooting, my friends!   -Dee

A Tisket, A Tasket... A Strawberry Baby In A Basket

Baby wearing a strawberry hat and in a strawberry basket.

Such a little cutie!

She wants nothing to do with this.

I got a leaf mom.

She wants out…

Now… she definitely wants out.

Photographing Babies

We've been having some very odd spring weather... Well I guess "normal weather" in what we see this time of year in South Jersey. Some days it gets hot out and up to 60+ degrees and then other days call for snow.I took advantage of the warmer weather the other day and I found a "strawberry" growing in our garden at Shooting Star!  The baby girl I worked with is 11 months old and we put a strawberry cap on her with a green diaper cover... put her in an adorable basket and magic happened!  She was such a doll to work with!The Shooting Star garden grounds are starting to come alive! 

Snowdrops are blooming, crocuses and daffodils are just about to bloom.  It's a beautiful site! In fact, we are hosting a weather here tomorrow... and yes, the weather is calling for snow... This will get interesting, but I think it will be a blast!  I love naked babies!  I know a lot of kids and young adults don't appreciate seeing themselves naked when they're older, but I think it captures the innocence and sweetness of them! Plus, I just adore babies!  I have two of my own and they'll always be my little babies in my eyes, no matter how old they get!

I have my first wedding shoot this weekend and will most-likely be in the snow and then Easter mini's this Sunday!  It is looking to be a very busy weekend!  I have also just ordered a bunch of new props for this upcoming Spring/Summer and will probably be offering outdoor mini's at one of my beautiful scouted locations next month!  I am so excited for what this year is going to bring!

I am also excited about our garden! We planted over 1,000 new perennials last year and I can't wait to utilize it for photo sessions!  I love that I can offer my clients that privacy... rather than going to a park and to be disturbed!!! However, my scouted locations also offer that privacy as well!   Give us a call!  We would love to welcome you to our garden and create lasting memories for you!

Happy Shooting, my friends! -Dee

It's a Dog EAT Dog... Photography World

Playing in the snow in Salem County.

Photo edited to inspire Alice In Wonderland... As sometimes the photography field can look like!

Maternity sessions are awesome!

Breaking Into The Tough Business Of Photography

This is going out to any new photographer out there. The photography world is a dog eat dog, competitive field my friends. They will literally eat you up and spit you out alive and then double that! For anyone just getting into it, it's a whirlwind of information and a bizarre Alice In Wonderland experience.

I'll explain my reasoning. There are actually different levels one attains on this photographic journey. One is getting your new camera.  You get excited and start snapping away. Folks start to see your "snapping" and then want you to take pictures of them and their kids and then the ego slllllowly builds up and before you know it, you'll start to add special "effects@ with your new editing gear, buy some presets and actions.  You'll order business cards, open up a facebook page and website and voila you are a professional, but guess what you're so wrong!I understand we all start somewhere and yes, I am not perfect by any means (but at least my work is in focus and people don't look like Oompa Loompas, you know with orange over-saturated skin).

You need to learn your principals before you ever start to charge or call yourself a professional.With principals, I mean by your rule of thirds, composition, the exposure triangle, light and being able to read it. Plus, there are so many other factors and expenses that come into play.  Editing software, good quality lenses, registering your business, obtaining insurance, paying taxes, calibrating your monitor, SD Cards, filters, props, expodisc, learning how to edit and to do it properly...

All these items add up.  It soon becomes very overwhelming to a beginner.It's amazing that folks think they can take a picture and because they think they have great equipment and they are professionals, but have no clue about most of what I speak of above.Yes! We all start somewhere and I'm not knocking anyone down because they want to pursue their passion... But... If you don't know what I am talking about, when I listed all the items above... YOU SHOULD NOT BE IN BUSINESS. 

You should be gaining and learning these skills and at least understanding your basics as mentioned above.  When you learn them, yes... By all means open a business...But guess what? There are hundreds of others of professionals opening their doors every single day and you better have a plan... A business strategy and marketing plan (and guess what, you can't rely on facebook for your marketing anymore as they changed their algorithms when it pertains to businesses.)

You will soon find out that sometimes your work and what you produce doesn't matter and that 90% of this field requires a business plan to last. This is an extremely saturated field. What are you going to do to separate yourself? What's your plan? Because you sure do need one if you are going to last.

This is not an easy field and one must develop thick skin to keep going forward.You just really need to want this, if you decide this is the path for you. It requires getting your hands dirty with no acknowledgement sometimes or praise. It means hitting the pavement and sometimes knocking on doors to get your name out there.

Business cards and a website are just not going to cut it, in this field.You may get very busy and keep getting busy when you first start out, but eventually you end up hitting a road block.  From there and what you do from there, will determine your future success. 

There will be many times when you'll just want to throw in the towel and give up in these moments.What you need to do is sit down and develop a plan and strategy, follow it through and you just may have a chance as a successful photographer.  Getting started is not an easy feat and I wish you the most luck in your endeavor.

Happy Shooting, my friends!

Dee

Fall Family Photo Shoot- Woodstown, NJ Edition.

Woodstown, NJ family photo shoot.

The stunning kiddos!

Another great family moment!

Fun family shot! Kids being..kids with mom and dad!

Another great capture of mom and dad.. and the kids throwing leaves in the background!

The kiddos :)

I love getting single images of the kids too.

Mom with her little one.

What a handsome fella!

And we end with the cutest little pumpkin picker, ever!

Family Photography is Always so much fun!

I am attempting to get some of my work up on here.  I've been truly very busy! I'm writing two books and have been booking for this upcoming Spring and Summer for the photography business!  I'm truly glad that the weather is starting to get a little warmer because I love working outdoors!  I find that to be the most fun. Studio work is fine, but there is nothing like being outside! I just love most outdoor images. Am I wrong in feeling this way? Here's a family I did back in the fall!  We had so much fun!  Mom likes a little creativity so we tried to capture that!  Our session was done here at our studio in Salem County! 

The family is from the Pitman area. Here a few photographs from that session!By doing these posts, it's fun to see the progress I have made in such a short amount of time!  I really put in the hard work to learn and educate myself. A day doesn't go by that I'm a student and learning new things! I think this is why I love photography so much, it's a continuing process of love and learning. 

You could be a professional for twenty plus years, and still not know everything!  It truly is something really exciting to get into and boy, it's a challenge! The good thing is I love a challenge:)  I also love seeing how far I've come from when I first started this journey. I love growing! Anyway, enough of my ramblings... hope you enjoy some of these images! Many great things to come!  Just you wait!!  I am so passionate about photography and I love making people smile!  And Whew!  I have to get more work up on here, I have plenty more to share! 

Happy Shooting, my friends!

Dee       

Spring Easter Mini's at Shooting Star in South Jersey!

Capture the essence of Easter in South Jersey with Shooting Star Photography! Our Easter photography sessions offer a wonderful opportunity to create lasting memories in the beautiful backdrop of South Jersey. Whether you envision candid shots amidst blooming cherry blossoms or playful portraits with adorable bunnies, our skilled photographers are here to bring your creative visions to life. With our expertise in capturing the joy and warmth of this special holiday, we ensure that every precious moment with your loved ones is preserved in stunning, high-quality photographs. Book your Easter photography session with Shooting Star Photography today and let us transform your cherished moments into timeless treasures.

Shooting Star Photography is offering spring mini sessions, here in South Jersey, for March 22nd. A few folks have already booked... so make sure you book soon, if you are looking  to reserve a specific time!  Our garden is already showing signs of spring, there are so many bulbs popping up, it is going to be beautiful here. I always encourage my clients to peruse around our garden while they are waiting or if they just want to go for a little stroll around while they're here. It's always fun!

Happy little easter baby.

I think anyone would buy a bunny from this dapper young man. What do you think?

Another photograph of my little girl! She also took her first step today! Oh boy!

The kid is showing off his "merchandise" of bunnies!

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Our mini special is $49, this special includes a 25-30 minute session, 3 hi-resolution digitals to download from an online gallery and 1 8x10. You may order more items and all of our pricing is located on our price tab from the main page. I don't do these very often and am excited to announce that we will be doing spring mini's.  My mini's are very rare as they sometimes take a full preparative concept and then the entire planning of the set and even putting up and taking down can be a lot.Mini's are more than technically one session in an entire day, it could be 8-10 families or children that come to see you within that day, so one must have the energy to do them!  The equipment and my backup camera, batteries fully charged and memory sticks locked and loaded. In offering mini's, I like to welcome people to my home.

The setup is generally easier (I can walk right outside the door) and it's a matter of convenience.  Also, my garden acts as a beautiful backdrop and I love how private it is.  Privacy is what a lot of folks hold dear and folks feel relaxed and at ease here.I am not one for theme's.  I like more natural settings, but from time to time, they can be fun.  However, I do find the mini's beneficial to parents. 

Most kids, don't have the attention span to sit still for too long... after all they are kids, so instead of paying for a full-hour session in which parents know their kids and know some kids can't make it through an hour, that mini's are the most ideal.  They are quick and painless... plus, can be a ton of fun!

Yesterday, I took my kids out in the yard to take photographs of the potential setup we will be using.  I love my kids and they make the best models sometimes.  I also get their holiday sessions in... so it's a win-win on both sides. However, using my kids to model, it gives me a general feel in how I want the set to be designed. I also get to test out lighting in a particular location, or even test the overall design plan with general wear and tear. 

I will be fine-tuning this setup. I love some things, like the little stand and eggs scattered throughout, but there are a few other things I will be changing up to make this absolutely perfect for my clients.If the weather is going to be too cold, or it ends up raining that day, we will be doing studio shots indoors with a backdrop and this general setup, so either way, you will have a pleasant day!  BUT it is SPRING!  Outdoor photos would be most ideal to celebrate the season, don't you think? I guess we will see what Mother Nature has in store for us!  

Happy Shooting my friends!

Dee