Professional Photography

  Good professional photography can make a bold or subtle impression for you and of you. The use of the internet and email has made this even a greater factor in today's market. Everything from product promotion, event recording, and real estate sales photography are being shot for use by small businesses and individuals. Understanding what a professional image can do for you starts with understanding some of the elements that professional photographers consider when creating a photograph par excellence. I am going to briefly discuss three of those elements: composition, color temperatures and final editing.

  Composition is a key factor which helps a viewer to relax when seeing a photograph. The photographer's use of the rule of thirds, classical placement or some other method to understand how the objects or subjects are placed in the photograph, can not be ignored. If you were to place one object in the direct center of a photograph, the viewer's attention span to the subject would be short lived, at best. Good composition creates a sense of harmony, invoking a positive reaction by the viewer.      

  Color temperatures set the tone of the photograph. Color temperatures, warm and cool, are used to create varied auras of interest, and should be considered. One of my favorite uses of this is the real estate shot of a house's twilight image - setting the scene with the evening cool blues and purples toning the structure while warm yellow lights shine out the windows of the interior. This creates an image that shows the beauty of the house while inviting the viewer into the comfort of its interior. Understanding this concept of color temperature management is a key to creating photos that are cool and inviting or warm, vibrant, and energetic for a wide variety of uses from portraits to commercial.

  Final editing is a case of knowing how far to go. One can easily go overboard with editing programs these days. Head shots and satisfying client expectations come to mind.

Dodging teeth whiteness should be approached with a light handed touch.  It is a good practice, but opacity and flow should be used wisely.  Here's one that isn't talked about to much - forehead wrinkles. Some people have them for a split second when they pose for a shot.  The use of the healing tool to remove them should be considered if they are a temporary event. Others have these wrinkles as a permanent element of their face. I think softening such elements is a good idea, but removing them completely may cause some identification confusion. Professionals practicing sound based editing techniques create top quality photographs. 

  Why use a professional photographer?  Obviously, they fulfill your need for the optimal images. The professional photographer applies experience, knowledge and advanced techniques to insure you the finest quality photograph. It sends a clear message to any client or future client; "I use a professional service to obtain images." As an added bonus, the ability of the professional photographer to consult with you in explaining the strength of images to a client should not be overlooked.