Photographers were not meant to spend all hours of the day and night in front of their computers clicking away their lives. Because of the advent of digital photography and Photoshop, this is exactly what’s happened for far too many of us. But there’s good news! You don’t have to go through your life with the crushing weight of sessions waiting to get edited. It’s time to take back your life and Free Yourself From Photoshop.

No, I’m not talking about outsourcing your editing and retouching work, although that is a viable solution. What this class is going to show you is my methods for getting your work done efficiently, and without losing quality.

Here’s a few of the things I’m going to cover:
-Setting yourself up for success
-My basic image retouching
-Creating Actions
-Batching Actions
-Droplets
-Lots of shortcuts
-Photoshop Tricks
-Adding logos and watermarks
-How to proof a session in 20 minutes or less

This is an advanced Photoshop class. You’ve probably got your own way of doing your workflow, and that’s great. My hope is that you take away a few tricks and ideas to apply to what you’re already doing to make it better for you. I want you to breeze through your work so you have more time for shooting, or simple more time with your family.

Feel free to bring your laptops, questions, and an open mind.

Miranda Green

Alison Terpsma

Thanks!

Angela Lawson CPP

“I am the entrepreneur and photographic artist at Onsight Photography located in the
suburbs of Chicago. I started my studio in 2000 and in those twelve years have seen many
adaptations in how I’ve developed and managed significant growth of my business,
determining “what clients want”, as well as my personal growth and maturity as a
photographic artist.

I started out for the better half of these years as a wedding photographer. It was not until
I joined my local and state PPA affiliate that my eyes became “wide open” to the broader
view of the photographic world and deeper understanding and appreciation of the
“photography as art” perspective.

As my expansive view of the photographic world continued to mature by getting involved
in my local and state affiliates I continue to learn that photography is not just the images
taken at weddings or during a portrait sessions itself. It is about capturing “life on life”
moments on film [or in the digital age “the sensor”] and creating masterful storytelling
images that will ultimately be displayed in our client’s homes. It is about giving meaning
to a family, a person, or even nature through our ‘lens’ and perspective. It is the perfect
balance of both the technical aspects, as well as the artistic expression of an image that
perfectly portrays our clients. Technical competence in lighting, posing, and composition,
as well as other elements, provides power and impact of an image while the artistic license
of capturing the emotion, mood, and “license to be themselves” sets the foundation to the
client’s story.

My program “Taking the Road Less Traveled” is about making intentional decisions in our
marketing, business, client relationships, as well as setting yourself apart by
incorporating various technical and artistic expressions to ‘perfectly’ capture each client’s
story. When we have accomplished this task of capturing their story learn how to “closing
the deal” to increase sales.

As we delve into what these decisions are and how to make them you will undoubtedly be
developing your own ‘style’ which will attract clients to your studio. We will also explore
what it takes to increase your top line sales as well as how to increase your margins to
greater profitability.”

Since joining the local and state PPA affiliates in 2009 Peter Yu has achieved great
success including completing the M.Photog. degree in only 3 years, acceptance of images
into the International Photographic Competition Loan Collection, receiving the
Photographer of the Year award in 2011 and 2012 at the International Photographic
Competition, Illinois Top Ten photographer for the past three consecutive years, receiving
the APPI President’s Award for 2011 and numerous print awards and merits including
2012 North Central District Top Ten Photographer of the Year.

Nicole Graham – Kentwood
Applying for an associate membership – Kari Douma Photography

Corinne Derengowski – Epic Edge Photography www.epicedgephotography.com

“As Greg mentioned during his presentation last night – It is not always wise (if ever) to practice a new technique during an actual session or wedding. Get out there and practice, practice, practice. That is exactly what I was doing when I created this image.

Me and my flash (Canon 580EXII) have yet to come to some sort of ‘happily ever after’ working relationship. It is pretty much just along for the ride, tucked into my bag, going wherever I go with my camera. Doesn’t see much action at all because of our lack of communication.

“Just set it on TTL” is an answer I’ve heard often when I’ve asked about how to master that piece of equipment. I’m old school. Couldn’t EVEN tell you what the heck TTL is or how to use it.
Hand me a flash meter and I’ll work at it from that angel.

On this day, I was hanging out with my model waiting to get into the studio that I share with two other photographers. We wandered to the unfinished side of the building and thought we’d shoot around with whatever was available until the studio became available. We had window light from the left and the ‘just along for the ride EXII’ from the right.

Add the flash, take a reading, drag the shutter, adjust settings, try again. Looks too ‘flashy’, change the settings, drop the power, change the angel, try again and again and again until we got what we wanted/liked. Practice, practice, practice.

Post production included a little NIK NIK here and a NIK NIK there and a couple of la-de-da’s.

I’m certainly not going to brag about my ‘working relationship’ with my off camera flash yet. I still have a long way to go before I think I’ll feel fairly confident with that gizmo.

I’m thrilled that my image was “The Chosen One” last night and I am thankful that my niece is a very patient model when she gets those calls asking, “Hey, want to come hang out and pose for me while I try out something new?” Thank you Leah!

Thank you PPWM & speaker/judge Greg Schrader”