Next up we have what we call our “Proof Image” which is our basic edit. Depending on the package selected, this is typically what clients will see in their online gallery and also what is received as a high resolution image on disc. Each proof image is adjusted for white balance and exposure.

Next up we have our premium “TLC” edit. This is where we go to town in Photoshop and also where we spend most of our time in applying various things such as artistic edits like vignettes, skin retouching, removal of any blemishes or laugh lines/wrinkles, and any textures (if the client wishes) to really make the image shine and stand out from the rest. Most of our packages will include a number of these “premium” edits. All prints or fine art products such as canvases or albums purchased from us receive a premium TLC edit before printing.

Straight out of camera:

Proof” image with white balance and exposure corrections:

Premium TLC retouched image with sharpening, contrast, saturation, and addition of a texture layer:

Straight out of camera: Proof image with white balance and exposure corrections:Premium TLC retouched image with sharpening, saturation, contrast and vignette enhancements:

Hopefully this helps some of you understand a bit more about what goes on behind the scenes for the processing of our photos. As much as I do try and respond directly with each of you that ask me a question here and there, you can imagine these days as things have picked up a lot, that I just don’t have the time to address each individual question anymore.

~Jason

First off, as many people wonder, the camera gear itself does lend a hand to getting great images. Canon’s “L” class lenses are top notch ensuring the sharpest possible quality images. The 50mm f1.2 lens allows us to get that “magical” blurred background very easily! These top quality lenses coupled with a professional grade body such as the Canon 5D Mark II allow us to capture clean and relatively noise free images.

We shoot all our images in RAW format. This essentially stores all the “raw” data that the camera’s sensor captures into a file. The reason for shooting RAW is that it allows us a lot more flexibility when working with the image afterwards compared to if we were shooting JPG (which is a compressed format and as such loses some quality due to the compression).

So here are some “before” and “after” shots showing what we get “straight out of camera” compared to the processed image after receiving some very special tender loving care!

Here we have an image “straight out of the camera”. You will notice it looks somewhat flat, and slightly underexposed.

The image then receives some adjustments to correct the white balance, and exposure levels. All proof images that we provide in our client proofing gallery receive these adjustments in order to ensure a consistency for our clients.

Finally, once a proof image is selected to be printed or used for an album or other product (ie canvas gallery wrap!) it then goes under the full knife of photoshop to soften skin, remove minor blemishes, selective sharpen (to really make the eyes pop!), and additional dodging and burning. This is where the bulk of our time goes into with regards to processing and is where we really put our “TLC” into each and every image that we produce.