Post-processing

Do you use Lightroom or Aperture to load and organize your photos? I've been using iphoto, but was able to get a copy of photoshop and am worried that iphoto does something to the color profile. Also... do you do much with "actions" in photoshop. I really am new at the editing process and am not really even sure what that is, but am curious about how much editing you often do with your photos.

Yes. I use Aperture. It's great for organizing...but I don't honestly use it for much else. I have a good friend, Noemi Photography, who uses Lightroom for most of her post-processing! It must just depend on your preference and experience with your programs.

I LOVE actions, but they can be somewhat debilitating. When you don't NEED to learn how to do it yourself, you can fake it pretty well, it doesn't make for great photography. Does that make sense? I started using PS and just used actions. Then, I took a class at MN Center for Photography (no longer exists) and learned SO MUCH! Being educated about PS makes a huge difference, even though I still use the actions (for time sake).

PC or Mac?

When you edit your photos do you work with PC or Apple? Which do you prefer?

Also, have you ever thought about teaching and photography classes?

I'm a Mac girl. Typically, artists use Mac and the business world uses PC. It's hard to honestly tell someone to go one way or the other.

When I was in college, we used Macs and I learned Photoshop on them. But, I know a friend of mine, Noemi (Noemi Photography), who decided to buy a computer more often and get PCs because they aren't as expensive as Macs.



Have I ever thought about teaching again?
Sure. I am actually planning to do a workshop, I just don't know when it will be. I'd love to hear what you all think about that and if you'd come. Also, is there a price limit on what you'd be able to afford? How long would you want it to be (a whole weekend? just one day?) and what you'd like to focus on.

I have my thoughts, but I'd LOVE your feedback!

Pictures in my head

When I take pictures, I see the kind of quality of your pics in my head, but my camera never produces such quality. Do you have any advise or direction I could follow to learn?

My best advice is...

Take lots of photos.
Critique them with trusted peers.
Print out ideas and try to simulate them - look at lighting, location, cropping

I always told my Art students "Artists Copy! The biggest complement one can receive is to be copied." It's really hard to see an image you shot copied, but I remind myself to take it as a complement. This means that people love what you do.

Feel free to send me images and I'll try to give some constructive criticism.