St. Louis Photographer » A Journal by Holly McCaig

I decided to cave in and let someone use my photo on the Schmapp site – showing the Old Courthouse in downtown St. Louis. It’s kinda neat to see it there.

Click here to see.

This was before I was saving my photos larger – and when I was using the hollymccaigphotography.com domain.

Big honkin’ balls!

The drama started four days ago and I really wasn’t prepared. I know my last post pretty much summed up the B.S. I am dealing with. And, if you have read that post, please note that TODAY, finally, yes, on Sunday, I got a reply back from my host apologizing for the delay.

It’s too late. I spent a while going back and forth with a different host, one recommended by X-cart and we went over my stats and he’s trying me out on a Virtual Private Server. We’ll monitor it and then decide if we need to go full dedicated. When you have large files – many nearly 100 MB big, you have that issue of bandwidth. The larger we get, the more traffic, etc. It will happen. It’s okay. I’m okay with that. What I’m not okay with is when your host doesn’t communicate a need to you. So far, this company has been great with communication and I’m pleased so far. We’ll see. The are starting the process today to transfer our files. It will take a long time, but it will be worth it.

So, Pink Ink Studios store is closed for a few more days while this occurs. Figured it was best to stay down now. I can’t wait until I have Lunar Pages GONE!

The stress really did get the best of me, as I’ve had headaches, restless nights, and worry. I worry because I’ve dealt with some major douche bags over it all. Customers. Yes, I’m saying that out loud. One jerk-off actually thought it was all about an antiquated software system we used, and claimed that his “blind brother” could do a better job. Funny how the asshole didn’t bother to be a subscriber to our email newsletter, nor read our blog, or he would realize that his cocky email to me was completely off topic and out of line.

It got me to realizing that I’ve been fooled by the photography industry…really not much different from the nasty digital scrapbook world I’ve experienced in the past. Quick to pass judgement without any knowledge first. But, frankly, most of the nasty photography world tends to be of the male persuasion. I’m assuming it’s overcompensating for something lesser in their lives. Ahem!

Which really brings me to another thing that has happened that has me pretty much irritated. You have to read Andie’s post on her blog today. I usually stay out of other people’s issues, leaving them a comment or talking to them privately about it, but because I too am a photographer, I felt it was important that people know this. You can read Andie’s post here. I won’t link to the asshole’s blog that ripped her apart, why give him that satisfaction of reader hits, right?

Some people don’t realize that taking a photo without permission isn’t right. You should ask. Andie is right…what if someone took a photo of one of her buildings and posted it on a site all about tearing down buildings. She donates to building preservation. It would be wrong. There are just so many reasons for it being wrong. First it was disgusting perverts taking pictures off Flickr of people’s kids. Then, others feel the entitlement of just using your photos how they want. Love the excuse he made of “her watermark is on it” – yeah, true…which puts her at risk if it’s used in a wrong matter. The problem was that the guy didn’t ask permission and was slimy about it. Since then he has managed to slander her reputation because she said “NO” to him.

What sucks about this – the dude is also a photographer! He should just GET IT! What a jerk.

It’s a pretty kick-ass photo, right?

Posted with written permission from Andie Smith – how hard was that?

P.S. if you love Andie’s work as much as mine – ah, c’mon! – know that Andie will be in St. Louis with me at the end of September, we’re available for photo sessions. Then, we’re heading down Route 66 through Springfield and through Oklahoma to Dallas. We can make arrangements to do sessions along the way if you contact us now. Then, we’ll be in Dallas, heading down to Houston after that. The sad part, I have to drive all the way back by myself…anyone want to ride back with me? LOL

I got asked the other day on my web/save process for my images on thee ol’ bloggy. Here’s the simple fact…

I have created two actions (one for horizontal images and one for vertical). The action basically resizes to 900 x 600 pixels because my blog is set up to accept those sizes perfectly. Then, it doe a sharpen.

I have two Photoshop templates for my horizontal and vertical images with my watermark placed as their own layers at the top and bottoms (one is always turned off depending on where I want that layer to show on my image). I drag my websaved onto the template and do a “Save for Web” – I save at about a 70 quality. Saving for web means your photo colors will look nice online.

Then, I upload those images to my Flickr account and link them on my blog. This way, I’m not double-uploading them. They just are hosted over on Flickr and linked/embedded here.

It works for me and might for you too. Just find the best process for you that makes your workflow go smoothly!

I get asked this a lot. Like, which programs I use and which actions I use.

Here’s what I can tell you.

I have worked for a few years now on perfecting something that works for me. I always encourage people to do the same. What I do may not work for you.

First off, I believe in investing in GOOD GLASS! I used to just buy the more inexpensive lenses, but really once you shoot with good glass you notice the difference. It’s worth the investment. So, I tend to shoot with the L Series of glass from Canon with my 5D.

I do shoot in RAW format, but have started moving over to JPEG because I shoot manual and tend to do a pretty good job with my exposure. Raw is great if you’re not getting spot on and have to do some major adjustments. However, RAW does take up a lot more room!

So, here’s my process for getting images to my computer. I work off a MAC, and use a Memory Card reader. I insert my Compact Flash Card and create a new client folder under a month folder. So, all my June photos are in that folder. Each client has a folder. And that folder has their name with a date the images were shot. Just makes it easier for me.

Inside that folder I create a “Downloads” – this is ALL of my images straight from the card and off my camera. Then, I make a DVD backup of that. Hey, it just takes one crash!

Next up, I open up Adobe Lightroom. I do an import to a NEW location in that folder called “Lightroom Imports”. I always import a copy so my originals are never touched. Call me paranoid, but it’s hard to get those memories back! In Lightroom, I use the “STAR” rating system. I keep one hand on my arrow keys and the other with my fingers on the numbers 1 & 2 keys. As I scroll though my images good ones get a 1 and bad ones a 2. This allows me to quickly sort through my images and narrow them down. Yes, I continuous shoot (especially with dogs) so I can come home with 300-400 images. But, I just need 15-25 good ones. If I have more, that’s okay too! The idea is to pick the best! I can do this pretty quick now!

Then, while still in Lightroom, I sort to show JUST my 1 Star images. I go to the Develop tab and look at each one. If I’m in the same “area” in a shot – like say we’re in the backyard and the lighting, etc. is all consistent. I will usually edit one image and adjust the exposure, blacks, vibrance and vignetting. Just basic enhancements. Giving them a slight contrast. Sometimes I can see up closer now and will find more to rate as a 2 Star – so I do. If the next 10 are similar in exposure, then I just paste my “Previously applied” to those too. Tweaking as needed. This speeds me up A LOT!

When I’m done in Lightroom, I then do an export to a NEW folder in the client folder called, “Color” – these are now my color images. I open them in Photoshop and here’s where I may use some actions:

Because I shoot in natural light, sometimes I need a fill light. I have an action from Kubota called “Digital Fill” and it allows me to paint a little light into faces. I enhance eyes via my own action found at Pink Ink Studios called “Eye Sparkle”. This gives the eye a little more “life” and I even use it on dogs. I’ve created an action for myself called “Apply Lab Color” and I have talked about Lab Color in the past. It is just changing the color mode to Lab/Soft light and then adjusting opacity.

These actions above are pretty much must haves for me. The ones I tend to use to finish my images. I also use one from Itty Bitty called Subject Light in Glow – which blurs the edges slightly for me. Sometimes, I will duplicate my layer and change the blend mode to “Soft Light” to give it more contrast.

Then, I save. I may clean up skin, and whatever else is in the way.

I duplicate this folder and call it Black & White. In Photoshop – yes, I use it for converting – I have an action from Kubota called Warm & Snappy that I like to use. It has a bit of warmth to it that I prefer in my B&W images. Save!

Now, in Bridge, since I may be done getting rid of any last minute ones that just didn’t look good enough, I do a batch rename for both folders of images inside.

Voila!

I don’t use a lot of “fancy” actions for overprocessing my images. I am just not into them! I may play with some of my own “artsy” shots with some that I have, but I don’t really do that for my client images. It’s simple. It’s a fast process for me! And, I prefer it that way. Oh, and the client likes them too. That’s what matters most! Don’t spend hundreds of dollars because some photographer tells you that you need “their” actions to make your images better. It’s your artistic eye that makes your shots great!

When I am done my folders look like this:

June/JohnDoe061508/Downloads, Lightroom Imports, Color, BnW, Slideshow (where I put the slide images and show files).
Thanks!

Can you believe this? They used to be THIS SIZE:

Now look at them: