With digital, that is so much easier (sure, film can be scanned so you can edit the images). And clients wonder with digital why their images aren’t available for viewing almost immediately after the session (I’m right, admit it … its okay).

Well — because many of us photographers shoot in an image format known as RAW. And you just can’t download the images and upload them to an online gallery when they are in RAW format. That takes some conversion to a format that is probably a bit more familiar to you — JPEG/JPG. That’s the format your point and shoot uses …

Even still — you’ve hired me (or another photographer) to not only capture you but to make you look awesome. And if we just downloaded the images from our cameras, converted the images from RAW to JPG and uploaded them, we wouldn’t have begun to do the job you hired us for. That’s where lots of nitty gritty time is spent in what is dubbed the *digital darkroom.*

In my case, I use a couple photo editing programs – one to do basic edits and convert images to a recognizable format (aka JPG) and another to prettify them. And that takes a bit of time … I always provide a basic color edit for all images in your gallery. Then — with full length sessions – I convert everything to b/w, then pick my favorite five images or so and do at least one artistic edit to them. When I have an image that really inspires me, there may be more than one artistic edit of it available.

To give you an example of what I (and other photographers) do behind the scenes, I pulled one of the SOOC (straight out of camera) images from Hannah’s session that I still had on my computer and edited it five different ways: basic color, basic black & white, two artistic edits, and one black & white artistic edit. For that one image — no retouching, just an exposure tweak and my other post processing for each version — I spent about 15 minutes (with a couple  interruptions). Now times that by 15 to 40 (depending on your session type) and now you’ll understand why we photographers tell you its anywhere from a week up to three weeks before you see your galleries!

Now for the edits themselves …

For the fellow photo geeks out there, on this particular image — shot as the sun dipped below the horizon — I shot it at 1600 ISO, f/4, 1/250 at 50 mm. I was in a hurry to wrap up the session before all the light was gone, so I cranked up the ISO but forgot to bump down my aperture or shutter speed. It was a great image of Hannah, so I didn’t want to trash it. So … first step was to fix the underexposure, then I enhanced the colors and so on. And yes, the artistic b/w edit is a different style than the basic version.

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Solution: CMP’s Super Mini Special!

What do you get?
A 15 minute time slot — great for a really quick family/children’s/couples/maternity/teen/adult solo session and  seven day online gallery with 5 images to choose from PLUS a choice of one of two gift options: (1) 10×10 Mona Lisa Collection Mini Masterpiece OR (3) 3×3 Luxe Accordian Albums (containing all 5 images, 1 design per set).
Product a la carte value: $100

How much?
$100 (yes, this means the creative/session fee is waived!)

Date #1: Saturday, May 1st – there will be only five morning time slots beginning at 9 am, must be on time!
Location: Athens area (rural/park-like environment, location details upon session confirmation)

Date #2: Saturday, June 5th — there will be only five morning time slots beginning at 9 am, must be on time!
Location: Athens area (rural/park-like environment, location details upon session confirmation)

We’ll have samples of both boutique items with us — choose which boutique item you want on the spot, your online gallery will be available for ordering any additional items (and/or for choosing the image for the MLC Mini Masterpiece) within 36 hours. Please note: all galleries will expire after seven calendar days from launch!

These are just samples — the accordian albums with this special will not feature a 2010 calendars as these do! You will be able to view a sample of the special edition album design at your session.

Middle image is the 10×10 size Mona Lisa Collection Mini Masterpiece

To have your luxe boutique product in hand to gift on Mother’s Day, orders are due no later than Tuesday, May 4th at 5 pm! For Father’s Day, orders are due no later than Thursday, June 10th at 5 pm!

To book — contact us ASAP. Sessions will be booked in the order payment is received!

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These can be designed in vertical or horizontal orientation for any session type — maternity, newborn/infant, children, families, seniors, or engagement/couples.

They come with 15 mounted prints and an easel for display (not pictured). When purchased as a part of the top digital collection, the luxe photo box also doubles as your cd case!

As these are not only custom designed but also made (from start to finish) by hand, delivery does take about 5-6 weeks. Completely worth it when it’ll last for generations to come

To book a portraiture session with Christina, contact us via email at christina@christinamccall.com or call 903.477.9069 today.

Thanks to all that stopped by … and for those that joined the email newsletter list and were eligible for the ‘mini’ door prizes, you should have an email from me by tomorrow at the very latest! If not, you’re probably one of four people whose inbox was full or came back as a closed account … contact me at christina@christinamccall.com ASAP so I can send you your email!

And if you were the winner of the Scavenger Hunt Door Prize (hosted by the Chamber) of a full portrait session + the 10×20 storyboard, contact me to get that scheduled! Unfortunately the Chamber didn’t tell me who won … so call or email as soon as possible!

Yup, that was me — and yes, I have two Santa hats on. The elf refused to wear one and was grumpy when I took his picture, so I’ll be kind and not post it

… for those curious about the new bio pic at the top of the page — not the one of me just above this paragraph (click here if you’re reading this in Google Reader or another RSS reader to see) … I figured I’d go ahead and explain the smirk. That was an impromptu ‘mini headshot session’ at sunset — I had to wait for a certain elf to show up after he got out of class. Meanwhile, a certain cat saw the camera, and well, he just had to be in the thick of it. Camera ham. Pay close attention to the direction of my eyes and right hand … between shutter clicks, I was pushing him aside so Robby could get one good shot of me alone! Thus the smirk as he was giving me a “I thought you loved me look”. Course, about 30 seconds later, that facial expression changed to “Hurry up and get a good shot” as I was balancing my weight on that left leg since that trailer wasn’t attached to anything!

The box containing the cards (also pictured here — the ribbon isn’t ‘washed out’ on that image). Just for the record, I am never making another box band before I put the cards in! I won’t tell you what feats I had to go to get it back on there after I packaged the cards inside (which were wrapped in tissue paper). I’m sure Tiffany can tell you it wasn’t easy to put back on At least her’s was the first one I made!

… the cards themselves. These are 5×7 flat cards printed on our eco friendly stipple paper option. Not only do I love the texture of this paper but how vivid colors print on it. I only wish I’d ordered my Christmas cards on this paper now that I’ve ordered several orders of this paper type!

If you didn’t book a holiday collection special (that included the card option), it would have been too late to place a holiday card order by the originally posted deadline. However, for those who wish they had ordered cards when they placed their print/collection orders (only available for 2009 clients/sessions), I will take card orders — with a RUSH handling fee included — from now through November 24th. That’s SEVEN days to get your order in. If interested, email me for updated access to the card gallery & ordering page.

Thanks so much to Tiffany for allowing me to feature her holiday cards here — once I know the other clients who ordered holiday cards have mailed their’s out, I’ll get the okay to share their’s as well.

To book a portraiture session with Christina, contact us via email at christina@christinamccall.com or call 903.477.9069 today.

We’ll be there, complete with samples ranging from our premium and luxe prints to our albums and canvases. In addition to the full session + 10×20 storyboard collage  ($260 value) that we’re contributing to the door prizes for the scavenger hunt, stop by our booth, sign up for the email newsletter list and be entered to win a few other mini doorprizes!

Even if you’re already on the email mailing list, stop by anyway — only those that sign up in person are eligible for the mini door prizes … and the first 100 people to stop by the booth will also get a promo card with a limited time discount code good for $25 off the creative fee … as well as a sneak peek at some of our 2010 promotions.

To book a portraiture session with Christina, contact us via email at christina@christinamccall.com or call 903.477.9069 today.

Secondly — but more importantly …

Next Tuesday evening, November 17th, from 4 pm – 7 pm, come out to the Cain Center in Athens for the Home for the Holidays Expo hosted by the Athens Chamber of Commerce. We’ll be there, complete with samples ranging from our premium and luxe prints to our albums and canvases. In addition to the full session + 10×20 storyboard collage ($260 value) that we’re contributing to the door prizes for the scavenger hunt, stop by our booth, sign up for the email newsletter list and be entered to win a few other mini door prizes!

Even if you’re already on the email mailing list, stop by anyway — only those that sign up in person are eligible for the mini door prizes … and the first 100 people to stop by the booth will also get a promo card with a limited time discount code good for $25 off the creative fee … as well as a sneak peek at some of our 2010 promotions.

In addition to all of that, we’re also planning to set up a corner of the booth for Holiday Headshots!

– complete with a black & white damask backdrop, a wingback chair, and a skinny Christmas tree decked out in our booth colors. Digital files & prints from the holiday headshots will be available for purchase online within a week or two of the expo!

Look for the pink & green booth … that’ll be us!

To book a portraiture session with Christina, contact us via email at christina@christinamccall.com or call 903.477.9069 today.

Tiffany recently gave me the okay to share the custom luxe boutique items she ordered, including the 10×20 storyboard from their family session:

Storyboards are available in a variety of sizes, are mounted for durability, and come with an easel for displaying them on tables, mantels, or credenzas. Or you can have them custom framed as well …

In a couple weeks, I’ll feature her gorgeous Christmas cards …

I know, I know, Halloween hasn’t even arrived and I’ve been talking about Christmas since July. You gotta start early for some things

Yesterday and today, several packages containing client orders arrived … as well as some accents I’m using for packaging holiday orders. So … for those of you who haven’t had your session yet … or who haven’t ordered yet, this is what you have to look forward to …

The tissue paper is actually teal, not green … and I typically alternate between chocolate brown and kraft brown gift sacks … tonight’s orders were all in kraft sacks since I don’t have time to dig out more chocolate sacks tonight!

This box pictured in the bottom left corner contains Christmas cards …  and you’re all in luck that the recipient has granted me the okay to feature them sometime in November rather than after she mails them out!

Just after packaging a small print order …

… and with the rest of the order — our digital collections come packaged in tin cases with our signature ribbon/button wrap.

The *great* part about the packaging materials I use is that they can all be recycled/reused. I rarely stamp my logo stamp on sacks, envelopes, or boxes so clients can reuse them, especially if part of their orders are intended to be gifted anyway. Although I love gorgeous packaging, I don’t want to contribute to the landfills any more than necessary!

Our Luxe photographic paper in black & white

… and in color … the saturation is unbelievable!

The top images are on the luxe photographic paper … the bottom three are on the premium paper option which is linen textured to give it a fine art look and feel.

Images pictured are some of our sample prints — with exception to bordered proofs in our digital collections, we don’t add borders to prints unless requested by a client.

However, you don’t have to be a painter to create a fine art canvas print or worth millions to afford one … just check out the two newest samples that have been hand delivered in the past few weeks:

The canvas of Savannah is 20×30; the canvas of Tracy & Lexi is 20×24. If you’re gonna splurge on canvas — I highly recommend to go big!

Check out the detail — love! I might just have to order a canvas of my lil ole Brownie now!

These come stretched on a 1.5″ wooden frame and ready to hang — either with a wire hanger or brackets pre-attached — and include a how to care for your canvas ‘guide’.

I took these outside too — easels not included (only used to keep from sitting these on the concrete!)

For perspective, I also photographed these in front of a fireplace — unfortunately the area above the mantel is already occupied with another canvas and it was a bit too much trouble to try and swap these out by myself!

The CMP Luxe Boutique offers these Luxe Canvas Art Prints from 16×20 all the way up to 24×36; they’re listed immediately under the Premium and Luxe Wall Print option in your proofing gallery. Want to go larger? We can custom order just about any image to be printed all the way up to 48×72! We also provide the option to have our 20×20 storyboard collages printed to canvas as well.

Our travel and fine art images (via 5 foot 4 Productions) are also available for purchase on canvas!

First up, our 10×20 and 10×10 storyboard collages … several other layouts and background colors/prints are available for selection.

Side-by-side for comparison

10×20 up close — this size storyboard collage comes mounted on double weight matboard and is ready for framing.

10×10 up close — this size storyboard collage comes mounted on single weight matboard and is ready for framing or displaying on a desktop with an easel

Next up, our Mona Lisa Collection Mini Masterpieces … who said you have to always go large with a great image, especially if you lack the wall space? These are perfect for displaying on coffee/end tables, credenzas, bookshelves, on your desk at work, or to gift to the grandparents. Mini Masterpieces are printed on our textured Luxe photographic paper, have gold or silver mounting, and come with a coordinating easel for display. These are available for purchase in 4×5, 5×7, 8×8, and 10×10 … these two are the 4×5 and 5×7 options that are available with the holiday specials: 

With the Sugar and Spice Holiday Collection, you can choose between the 10×10 storyboard collage or 24 5×7 custom Christmas Cards and a 4×5 Mini Masterpiece … or, with the T’was the Night Before Holiday Collection, if you choose the digital image route, a 5×7 Mini Masterpiece is included (along with both the Christmas Cards and a 10×20 storyboard collage) …

Here’s a close up of the silver mounting option and the texture … look at the tree and the back of the trailer on the left edge to see it.

A side by side comparison of the silver vs. gold mounting options

The 8×8 and 10×10 options … left has silver mounting, middle and right MM’s have gold mounting. I actually recommend gold mounting for warmer toned images and silver mounting for cooler toned images as well as black & white images.

Here’s another close up of the gold mounting …

If you’re interested in seeing these luxe boutique items — or any others available for purchase, let me know and I’ll load up the samples to bring to your session date. In two weeks, I’ll feature another custom item that FedEx just delivered last week …

Tomorrow night I’ll feature the next round of sneak peeks from half of Saturday’s double session — which included skateboards, railroads, vintage cameras, home appliances, and haybales to name a few of the props/backdrops that were utilized for Savannah’s portraits!