A little editing magic.

Shhh… don’t tell my dress designer friends this, but I don’t have a gown in every color! Wait, what? Yep, while I love having options and do have a wide variety of gowns in a rainbow of colors, it is not financial practical to have every gown in multiple colors. So what is a photographer to do?

Change the Color!!!

Do you remember the scene in the Wizard of Oz at the Emerald City with the Horse of a Different Color? When the horse changes from red to green to purple? Well, I do the same thing! Through a bit of editing magic, changing the color of a gown is totally an option!

Which is the original color of the gown? The yellow gold on the left or the mauve pink on the right?

The original wine color of the gown is on the far left, but royal blue, dark green, and burgundy are also an option!

I love this gown but peach isn’t always a client favorite… but blue was her favorite!

This gown by @MissMadisonCouture is a favorite. I love the skirt!!! But when the client tells you while shooting that she is into all things pink and is expecting a baby girl… pink it is!

So… why is this a big deal? I love being able to give clients what they want! The first image with the gold and pink options? The gown is pink, and many love the style. But the mama had done family photos before her pregnancy with the family in navy and gold, she wanted to include a maternity photo on her family gallery wall. So we were able to make it blend into her existing décor. Gowns are also an investment, average around $200 each. While I love investing in options for clients, as much as I would love to have both the green and pink versions of the last gown, when I can make the adjustment digitally, I don’t have to have both in my closet.

During a client consultation, while we do discuss colors, I also ask clients to look at the silhouette and style of gowns. While I can’t guarantee a specific hue, and some colors change to others easier, we can plan for a color change before the session. It also adds variety in a gallery without having to put on yet another gown during the session itself.

The gist?

• Knowing the editing skills of your photographer is important! Not every photographer can do this.

• You can select gowns based on style and not color.

• Don’t be afraid of trying something new or asking for something different!

Yours behind the lens,

Sarah

A little bit about my basic photo editing process...

I have a confession to make - I love to edit! Some photographers choose to outsource their editing to other editors but I actually like the process of editing. Way back when I was a teenager using a darkroom to develop film and prints, I learned out to edit using tools - the old school dodge and burn method of blocking and focusing light with timers and cardboard cutouts. And it was fun to see that little bit of magic take place. But it was a lot of trial and error, as well as time consuming. I much prefer the current ways of digital editing - to me there is still that magic taking place but much more efficiently and creatively!

For the last several years, the majority of my editing takes place in Photoshop Elements. I do use other Adobe Photoshop programs but I just prefer the set-up and tools in Elements. I have taken a few online classes but am mostly self-taught. I began with actions - which are preprogrammed files that automate all of the steps you need to take, so that you can add the effect with just a few clicks. It helps with consistency and also speeds up the editing process. Over time however I have learned to modify those action files and have moved towards more hand editing where I control the individual steps. Both are good sets of skills for a photographer to have in their arsenal.

For my basic edits - I don’t usually have to do much. It is really me bringing to life what I saw when I looked through my lens. Adding light, softening harsh lines, fixing flyaway hair, and smoothing out the gowns.

Before on the left and final edited image on the right… don’t you just love this skirt?!?!?

Before on the left and final edited image on the right… I loved this light blue gown in the snow and she was just stunning!