Good at editing?

[gerardo2068]

I'm new to photography. I know you need skills to take a photograph from the camera. My question is how much important is to have photoshop skill to camera skills to make a photo look good for a client? After all you can get good sharp and well exposed Then you can do so many thing on the computer.

 

[davisphotos]

Just remember, a lousy photo will still be a lousy photo regardless of how much photoshop you apply, and don't ruin a good photo with heavy handed photoshop work.

 

[The_Traveler]

I'm new to photography. I know you need skills to take a photograph from the camera. My question is how much important is to have photoshop skill to camera skills to make a photo look good for a client? After all you can get good sharp and well exposed Then you can do so many thing on the computer.

IMO, unless you are incredibly patient and wait for the right light or good enough with lights to provide the perfect light .AND. the subject/content presents perfectly then an image that is finished in some editing program will always be better than a SOOC image.

I do a fair amount of judging and I rarely see a picture made with slide film (no PPing) that comes close to the average good digital image.

 

[gerardo2068]

I know a lousy photo will always be a lousy photo. But lousy aside and more about the photos popping out in the screen. I see so many photos that even when they don't have obvious photoshop colors to it they look so clear with great contract. No fade or like when you move the brightness up. The colors are so accurate. I wonder how long takes to the average persons to improve like that.

 

[MLeeK]

I do little to no photoshop work on probably 90% of my photographs. I process in raw to get the look I want out of it. With portraits I have an action I have made that I run them thru, but that's about it most of the time.
That POP is done through the curves/levels. It's not rocket science and is easily achieved just in developing/raw processing.

 

[gerardo2068]

Wow thanks for the info, I think i'm starting to understand that POP, i will spend some more time reading about the curves/level setting

 

[The_Traveler]

It also comes from using the equipment to its ultimate, sufficient shutter speed to get clean edges where wanted, shooting at the best apertures for the lenses and having enough knowledge to pick the times when the light is best and then know how to expose correctly.

Some comes from having good equipment but a good photographer can make do with much less good equipment.

And there is no single magic post-processing technique.

 

[Edsport]

My question is how much important is to have photoshop skill to camera skills to make a photo look good for a client?

It really depends on what you, and the client, are aiming for and will be happy with. In my experience, almost every photo can be improved in post-processing, most can be significantly improved, and quite a few can be greatly improved. I think most photographers, even very good ones, underestimate the importance of post-processing skills.

Check the portfolio page at my site for some before-and-after samples to get an idea what's possible.

Those are awesome before and afters on your site...

 

[The_Traveler]

Something I should have said before.

The end point of any photo is what you see in your mind's eye; post-processing is not just correcting what you didn't do in camera but doing what you could not do in the camera. Post-processing is why Ansel Adams spent many more hours in the darkroom than he did taking pictures.

 

[Robin Usagani]

I dont know.. I have had 3 people told me I turned crap photo into masterpiece after I heavy edit it on photoshop. LMAO.

Just remember, a lousy photo will still be a lousy photo regardless of how much photoshop you apply, and don't ruin a good photo with heavy handed photoshop work.

 

[The_Traveler]

I dont know.. I have had 3 people told me I turned crap photo into masterpiece after I heavy edit it on photoshop. LMAO.

Three people were either relatives or people who owe you money.

(ho,ho,ho)

 

[Robin Usagani]

Here is what I edit for a member here long long time ago.

 

[The_Traveler]

Sorry, that picture you got was not the original

I started with this

and ended with this.

 

[molested_cow]

You can fasten two pieces of wood with a screw and it will hold well, but it will be much better if you apply glue between the pieces first.

The camera is a tool. Software is a tool as well. Use whatever that you can to convey your message they way you want.

 

[MReid]

Take a photo in good light, get a proper exposure.
Do a levels adjustment to get your black and white points, contrast adjust.
That is what gives you vibrant, correct color.

Yes processing skills are important, on the other hand if you get your jpeg settings correct in the camera and know how to take a good photograph, you can get away with not doing much....this only works for very good photographers.

The most important thing is to take good photos in the first place, not the processing.