Holly McCaig Designs & Photography

Holly McCaig Blog | St. Louis Photographer

5.17.12

My Senior Portrait Editing Method

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I promised on my FB page this morning that I’d do a video of how I do my edits for a senior portrait session. It’s really no secret. The best thing you can do as a professional photographer is come up with a consistent method that will reflect your style. This can take years for some photographers. But, once you establish the method to your madness, you just work to improve the speed and then editing isn’t such a hassle!

So, here is a video that I posed on Vimeo today. Feel free to click and go over there to see it bigger, and better in HD.

Here are some notes for you!

1) I use a Lexar Firewire reader – with two piggy-backed. I don’t think they make these anymore. They download cards SUPER fast!

2) I always create a folder for my working clients with the date first, name second. Inside I make my: downloads, raw edits, finals, and blog folders. These all get backed up on my Drobo drive which is backed up automatically offsite through BackBlaze.

3) I use Photo Mechanic (thanks to Zack Arias showing us this at his workshop) to cull my images.

4) I only import my Raw Edits folder of images into Lightroom to save time.

5) In Lightroom, I use just a few of the Totally Rad presets, like Smack My Pix Up – but mostly just adjust the temperature with my arrow up and down keys. Then, the exposure or blacks get adjusted. That’s it!

6) I export my files into the FINALS folder for Photoshop work.

7) I created an action from a curves adjustment in Photoshop to be able to paint in a digital fill flash in the face

I use Michelle Kane’s: Flawless Face and Bland to Brilliant on almost all images found in the HeARTy Collection

9) I use Kevin Kubota’s Eye and Teeth Enhancement (sadly I have no idea which one this is in anymore it’s been so long!)

10) Then, I use Michelle Kane’s tones for warmth or hazes

That’s pretty much it!

If you have questions, please ask!

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5.14.12

Arizona Senior Desert Shoot

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When I was out in Phoenix a few weeks ago, Audra scheduled some high school girls to model for us. I have always dreamed of shooting in the desert. I had no idea it would be blazing hot – and it’s definitely more of a challenge. A challenge in a way that you have to think about lighting so differently. With not a lot of color popping around you, the brown textures from the sand, rock and plant life make you think outside the box for sure. It was a fun challenge, and we’re lucky we got it in the last night I was there. Wanted to share what we got in the short amount of time we could stand the heat!

Two of these young ladies are exchange students from Germany and China – they don’t get to do senior portraits, so what a treat! They were very excited!

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5.11.12

St. Louis Missouri | Senior Portraits | Sierra | Fort Zumwalt South

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Here we are in mid-May! The year is ending for a lot of these seniors. It’s all so fast! Time flies. I want to remind them all every time to enjoy and savor every moment!

I wanted to share a few images from Sierra’s senior portrait session. Sierra is one of my Class of ’12 models that waited ever-so patiently for her braces to come off before we did her session.She looks amazing, don’t ya think?

Thanks Sierra! CONGRATS! Graduating from Fort Zumwalt South High School!

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5.8.12

Balance

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In all of the years that I’ve been in business, I still haven’t figured this one out. I’m learning and struggling and doing a lot of picking myself up. Balance. It’s such a dirty word. How the heck do you find it?

I just turned 39 and I keep saying to myself that by age 40 I will have this all figured out. I know, I’m kidding myself. But, I am closer and closer to doing just that.

While I truly truly LOVE photographing, I know in my heart it’s not a way that I will ever be able to support myself just on it alone. Over the years I learned that I can’t do it all, but I want to do some of it all. I went from photographing all subjects, to just weddings and seniors, to just seniors. I know in my heart of hearts it’s my passion and what I can do best. But, one can’t financially live on that alone (at least not in my region). So, I turn to my design abilities.

Designing is my other passion. I experienced a lot of different types of designing over the years, and I figured out back in 2007 that creating for photographers was my only way to go. Now, I’m doing just that for Two Pear Designs and Millers Labs. But, I introduced the option of custom design work.

Little did I know that it would take off. Little did I know I would also have this much last minute senior portrait work to focus on at the same time. It’s one crazy time. It’s hard, I have excitement and regrets at the same time. I think that’s normal.

The really hard part is putting so much creativity on a schedule. I am learning that I can’t do that and in the future will have to space it out more, say the word “NO” more, and find ways to stay inspired.

Today, it was just a simple shower to clear my head. Sometimes, it’s stopping what I’m doing and getting on Pinterest…that’s a great part of my job. Other times, it’s watching some dumb tv show.

Welcome to the mind of a creative.

I still struggle with it…but I accept it and everything moves on.

My word for the year is “simplicity” – and I’m striving to leave some projects behind and simplify my career. I think I may achieve some more balance this way.

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May 8, 2012 - 11:34 am

Nicole - Holly, I’d love to talk to you about this. I work a full time job, am a new mommy to a 7 month old, and am doing photography on the side. I’m finding I can’t do it all…I’m missing out on my baby’s precious moments, getting stressed over sessions I don’t truly love doing. I’m contemplating the transition into doing just seniors…my true passion, what fuels me. I’d love to know how that all came about for you. Maybe you have a blog post and I’ll have to go searching. Anyway, thank you for this today. I needed it.

May 8, 2012 - 1:31 pm

Chelsey - ‘creativity on a schedule’ – I think that’s part of our problems! But really, I’ve found there is no “balance” and as long as we are ‘looking for balance’ we will feel off-balance (& possibly unhappy as a result).

Life ebbs and flows. Some seaons we are busier with personal things … other seaons with business things and still others with the health of our family & loved ones. There is no balance; if it’s not one thing, it’s the next! But there is choice. And how we choose to spend our time (doing the things we love & being with the people we can’t live without).

So maybe instead of balance we need to figure out how to choose our time wisely, because that’s really all we have.

5.8.12

Holly’s Birthday Win Your Pin Winner

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With all the whirlwind of my business lately, I did take some time to enjoy a nice dinner with my mama on Saturday for the birthday. On Sunday, we celebrated the May birthdays in the family with some cake. Quiet and low key. Just how I tend to like it.

But, we have to get to business with regards to the Win Your Pin contest I hosted for my birthday!

Congrats to: Rachel Mazzaferro

She pinned this item on Pinterest from the Two Pear Designs Store!

Here’s the cool part: She doesn’t just win this brochure, but a total of up to $100 items in the store that I designed. ROCK ON! It sure pays to play sometimes!

Thanks for all the amazing birthday wishes too! Next year, VEGAS! So, save your pennies. You’re all invited!

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