“Why are wedding photographers so expensive?” “Photographers just exploit the fact that it’s a wedding and overcharge to make a profit!” “They’re only there for a few hours! It’s a rip off to charge that much for a few photos!” “How hard can it be to take photos?” “It’s not as if they have to...
Tag Archives: photoshop
22 Jun 2009 Posted in Wedding Photography
Posted in Wedding Photography
Tags: cheap, expensive, photographer, Photography, photoshop, Wedding, Wedding Photography
Gary Roebuck - 22 June, 2009 - 15:09
Excellent article (all very true – and one of the best of the is type that I have read). Well done!
Jay - 22 June, 2009 - 18:46
Thanks Gary,
I’m glad you agree.
I was in the middle of writing another tutorial, but felt I had to stop and post this after overhearing some colleagues at work arguing about the “extortionate” fees wedding photographers charge.
It frustrates me that a photographers work is so overlooked.
selvam - 22 February, 2010 - 16:27
Hi Jay, just found you’re website when I was looking for smoke photography for food shots. I have to say, that this article is so excellent, I had always been trying to explain to people the same reasons!!! Well only those who value the memories would agree the cost!
Great reading bro! and great shots… Cheers 
Shital Gohil - 12 May, 2010 - 10:55
Hi Jay,
Just came across this article – you’ve hit the nail on the head! This article should be put in be put in front of every client that comes through the door as it will be the only way they will realise! As a full time professional photographer I’ve had to explain this day in day out…
Well said!
rahul - 12 May, 2010 - 11:45
i think i might just print this out and hand it to every prospective client! make some sort of a check sheet for them! really well said!!!!
Niraj Popat - 12 May, 2010 - 14:32
Jay. This was a fascinating read. I’ve just jumped through 3 websites and stopped here when I started to read this. I can’t believe you wrote this back in June last year, and i’m only just seeing it now. I definitely agree with everything you’ve written! I’m not sure how many soon-to-be bride or grooms will ever get to read this, but as already mentioned by others, it would be a dream to give every client a chance to understand the inner workings of wedding photography as they walk through the door.
Jay - 12 May, 2010 - 15:22
Thank you all for your comments. I’m glad everyone agrees with it all, because I wrote this last year, long before I actually started doing weddings myself.
Now I’ve learnt a lot more about wedding photography, Asian wedding photography in particular, and will be updating this post.
Its just amazing how many people, including some photographers, dismiss or ignore the real value of photography.
Amar - 12 May, 2010 - 18:46
Jay,
Well said! This is a great article to educate people on what we do and what we charge.
Thanks, Amar
Sachin Khona - 17 May, 2010 - 14:49
Some great points and a good debate. and very well written!
However, you said you started shooting only weddings within the last year. So how does someone who is new to wedding photography and wanting to enter this field get experience without charging lower fees? how did you break into this already competitive industry? what advice do you have to newcomers?
Thanks for sparking this debate
[SK]
8 Jun 2009 Posted in Tutorials
Photoshop Tutorial: Processing Smoke Photographs
In this tutorial, I will show you how to process your smoke photographs using Photoshop. This is a follow up to the tutorial on “How to photograph Smoke – Step-by-Step Tutorial”
Posted in Tutorials
Tags: how to, how to edit smoke photos, how to photograph smoke, photograph, photoshop, photoshop tutorial, Smoke photography, tips, tutorial, Tutorials
show hide 7 comments
jayne - 30 August, 2009 - 03:45
thanks for breaking down how you work with photoshop
excellent and easy to follow
Jay - 5 September, 2009 - 21:17
Thanks for the comment Jayne.
I wrote it with the total novice in mind. At first I thought maybe it was too simple, but glad it came across how I intended.
matt haines - 10 June, 2010 - 23:15
Nicely done! Although quite frankly I would have been happy with the original image without touch ups, as it was pretty phenomenal right out of the camera.
Jay - 11 June, 2010 - 00:09
Thanks Matt.. Appreciate the compliment.. I’m a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to my images, so had to get rid of the few bits I didn’t like..
On some monitors it would’ve shown up, and that would’ve taken away the magic of the overall picture..
wedding invitations - 11 June, 2010 - 19:07
Neat tutorial. Who knew that smoke could look so beautiful. I’ll have to come back and study this more carefully. I enjoy working in Photoshop but just haven’t had the time to do much in it lately. Do you have any recommendations on camera equipment and are you using digital equipment mostly? I don’t think smoke would photograph so well with my little camera, somehow. I’ll check out your Youtube videos too because I bet those are great. Great site.
Accounting Outsourcing - 29 June, 2010 - 13:36
Appreciate your help.. I am an amateur photographer. I work in a company to make ends meet.. Photography is my passion but I am not a professional. This photoshop stuff is cool. I have been using film, which is very expensive but i like working on film. In this era we need to constantly update ourselves and I want to thank you for the photoshop tips on your blog…
cheers mate!
Getting Lost In: Mikee Showbiz's Flickr photostream | Linden's Photoblog - 23 August, 2009 - 21:28
[...] and I bookmarked the tutorial on photographing smoke that he linked to, and also the tutorial on editing smoke I came across later. Now I have yet another photography goal: play around with shooting smoke! I [...]
5 May 2009 Posted in Tutorials
A step-by-step tutorial on How to Photograph Smoke Smoke photography can be extremely frustrating yet fulfilling at the same time. It all depends on how you approach the subject. If you have spare time and/or stuck indoors on a rainy day, then it’s the perfect opportunity to try this technique. There is no need for expensive...
Posted in Tutorials
Tags: Creative, Flash Photography, how to, how to photograph smoke, Nikon, Nikon D300, photo art, photograph, photoshop, SB-900, Smoke, Smoke photography, tutorial, Tutorials
show hide 9 comments
xgravity23 - 23 August, 2009 - 21:24
LOVE this tutorial! I’ve linked to in on my photoblog, including describing the sorta roundabout way I found it.
Jay - 5 September, 2009 - 21:21
Glad you like it and thanks for linking to it. Let me know how you get on when you try this technique.
martin - 5 October, 2009 - 15:33
Thank you, very nice tutorial with hands on tipps. I wanted to do a photo for a friend who just commited suicide and had some ideas but didn’t know how to solve the smoke. Now I do, nice work!
Jay - 5 October, 2009 - 17:52
Sorry to hear about your friend.
I’m glad my tutorial came in useful. Hope you achieve the results you want.
John Render - 29 November, 2009 - 11:55
Great tutorial, how did you get the varies colors in your smoke shots?
Jay - 29 November, 2009 - 13:46
Hi John,
You can get the colours in various ways, you just need to experiment really..
Read my other tutorial ‘How to Edit Smoke Photographs in Photoshop’
You can also use the gradient tool for 2 different colours, or create new layers and brush over the areas you want to add colour to.. and then blend using overlay or any other blending modes of your choice.. this method is longer and need a lot of intricate work..
photography tips - 20 June, 2010 - 21:11
hmm i though it use bulb method but yours is using faster shutter speed.. i guess i’m wrong
Accounting Outsourcing - 29 June, 2010 - 13:37
Great stuff.. am falling in love with your tutorials..
Getting Lost In: Mikee Showbiz's Flickr photostream | Linden's Photoblog - 23 August, 2009 - 21:22
[...] first picture I landed on made my jaw drop. I love the smorkin labbits photos and I bookmarked the tutorial on photographing smoke that he linked to. Now I have yet another photography goal: play around with shooting smoke! I can [...]
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