There's always room for improvement

I have been playing around with some new editing software this week.   I found one of my favorite photos from a session over a year ago.  First off, a little disclaimer. 

"I do not condone smoking,  I think it's a bit of a nasty habit, but....this vintage pin-up photo lends itself nicely to the old cigarette.  So we went with it."

The "Old Version" looked great, everyone loved it.  The client was happy and at the time, I didn't know how to improve on it.  Even when I pulled it up this morning I thought, "It's not THAT bad"  Until I decided to redo the old fav and see what this new software could do.  I started from scratch.  I applied all of my "new steps" and was astonished at the outcome.

I do believe you must start out with a great base, in photography that means a good eye.  You need creativity, know how and you must know composition.  A great camera and the right equipment are also part of the equation.  But editing tools, the RIGHT editing tools, can take your so-so photos and turn them into something wonderful.  


For all of us out there, professionals and enthusiasts alike, go back, pick some of your oldies out and redo them.  I am amazed at the how far I have come in a year.  There's always room for improvement, which is great so none of us get burnt out.  Im excited to see where I am in another year.  How much more I have learned, new techniques, if the style has changed. 

I am a constant evolution, in certain ways always reinventing myself, and that's Ok with me.  There is always room for improvement, in every aspect of our lives.

{ Experience } painting

This will be the second time I have collaborated with face/body painter Willow Durant.   She is always a pleasure, professional and very talented.  Along with our model of the day, they both must have an abundance of patience.  This last model took nearly 13 hours to paint.

For those of us who can appreciate the beauty of the human form and respect this type of art, Willow's paintings are beautiful and imaginative.  To watch her in her element is something else.

I have the easy piece of the project.  After so many hours of constant stillness, our model is finally ready to be photographed.  After all of the build up, we are done in such a short amount of time, but captured for eternity.

I just want to show you a few of the photographs from last nights shoot.  Thank you Willow and Meg for a fun creative day!