Do you shoot in the raw?

A potential client asked me that once and I couldn't help but smile. Thank goodness I don't shoot IN the raw...no one would hire me. But I knew what he meant and yes, usually I do shoot RAW format. I spend WAY too much time editing images anyway, so I try to get it "right" in camera or as close as possible to minimize my editing time. However, there are always images I love that I technically screw up and RAW format gives me the best chance of saving them. Here's what I am talking about.

Um, can you say overexposed? When you blowout the highlights in digital files, you risk having no data there with which to work. With children, I often don't get a chance to chimp (check my LCD to make sure I got what I want) and reshoot if I didn't.

Adobe Camera Raw is where I start with my images. I was able to recover some of the highlights, warm up the image and add some blacks to deepen the image. Not bad, still would have kept it because I like the image, but the hot spots still really bothered me on the right side of her face. Plus the recovery adjustment made the skin look a little flat but adding contrast just made the hot spots hotter.

I am a Photoshop novice so I tried a few things with layers and burning and the healing tool and clone tool, but just couldn't get anything I liked better, so I was going to leave it like this, not thrilled technically, but pretty sure her mom would still like the image.

A few of my normal adjustments in Photoshop, but I also tried a new technique for the highlights I found in an online tutorial and it made me feel a little bit better about presenting it from a technical standpoint.

I thought I would post the link in case it helps anyone else. I actually viewed a few of this guy's tutorials and found them simple and effective enough that I might try them again sometime....and spend even more time in front of the computer ;-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9CdEBlJ1PI

Me lil' Leprechaun!

We enjoyed the warm weather this evening.

I am not alone.

I have always had a special place in my heart for the first couple who hired me to photograph their wedding. Well, the bride is now a mommy-to-be and I couldn't be more excited for her and her husband. Elizabeth is a blogger too and after reading her post below, that place in my heart I hold for her grew by leaps and bounds. Her post made me realize...I am normal and I am not alone.

http://yankeebelle.wordpress.com/2009/03/12/i-think-i-walked-into-a-seinfeld-episode/

Rachel

Rachel is the youngest daughter of my dear friend from gradeschool. She was such a good girl showing me all of her princess dresses, serving me a delicious cup of pretend tea and even braving the freezing cold for a few shots.

This is my favorite from the session. Technically I "blew" it but I couldn't toss it.

Bjorn and Freddie

It was so much fun to see these two again. Cold, gloomy, windy Michigan weather didn't stop us today thanks to Bjorn's bedroom which had some great window light.

Freddie was very serious about my big black camera pointing at him but I snuck one smile out of him.

Bjorn played a song for me on his quitar...quite well, I might add.

Hey Lady! If you keep pointing that thing at me, I am going to throw this car at you!

Check out those eyelashes! Such a handsome little guy!

Despite my best efforts, I don't think these two are ever going to let me get a nice portrait of the two of them together. This is my favorite kind of picture though. It just makes me smile for some reason.

Bjorn also read me a few books.

Not technically a great shot but I saved it the best I could. I hope you can see why.

A favorite of Bjorn.

And one more of Freddie.

Thanks for having me back guys! Hope you enjoyed your sneak peek!

Chicago

The boy who was afraid of swimming learned to float, kick, jump and blow bubbles. Thanks to his dad.

We stood in the rain for 30+ minutes outside the aquarium in line to find out the line was just as long inside...and the conveniently placed sign stating the dolphins, penguins, sharks and seals were not available that day.

Thank goodness for the non-fish displays.

The Lego Discovery Center was a big hit.

The prize winning elephant.

and of course the fact that they had Cheetos didn't hurt either.

...and Batman.

So Proud

...of his first trophy. If I knew how much joy it would have brought him, I would have gone out and bought one myself for him. Dad took him bowling and he was so proud to show this to me.

(the picture is from a cell phone so please pardon the quality)