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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Its bad when your (then) 20 month can tie you up … and with Christmas lights, no less! Please note the words on the trailer just above Amanda’s head. Yes, this location was intentionally picked for Miss B’s exploits …

After I rescued Amanda, we attempted to wrangle Miss B into wearing the lights. She wasn’t too impressed with our idea … considering she ran away!

… and with that, its a wrap (sorry, couldn’t resist using the pun!) … more awesome session sneak peeks will resume in January!

Don’t forget to stop by starting tomorrow for the Stocking Stuffers Giveaway — I promise the goodies are worth it!

Btw, don’t forget about the Giving is Awesome Portraiture Giveaway! Deadline to nominate someone is December 31st!

And because I’m trying hard to get into & stay in the holiday spirit, just a sneak peek at what’s around the corner:

– Stocking Stuffers! Looking for a last minute gift and low on cash? CMP will be giving away a few treats between Sunday the 20th and Christmas Eve … if you win, you can keep it for yourself or gift it to someone else!

– Saturday: The last of Miss B’s sneak peeks, including a holiday themed image … or two!

– Sunday & Tuesday – Thursday: More holiday images … from years past.

– Monday: My holiday wish list …

– Christmas Day: A reveal of my holiday cards for those who were not on the CMP (snail) mail list …

– And, if I find the time, I’ll even search my archives and share the images I captured from my Christmas trip to Vienna, Austria six years ago next week (boy am I overdue for another overseas trip!)

To wrap up the week … a previously posted image with a different edit this time around …

Have a great weekend!

The plan: Miss B on the blanket. The Reality: Miss B anywhere but on the blanket. I’ll spare you the shot I captured of her pointing and giggling at her mom when we pled for her to come over and sit down

This is all Miss B. I’m kinda sad her momma didn’t choose it for the Christmas card … she looks all grown up here!

Full of wonder … one of the ‘outtakes’ I adore …

Miss B wasn’t fond of this location … we gave up and moved on … but I still love this image …

Love this image. Love her expression. Really love the bokeh. Love the vintage edit I used on it. Love the location. If you’d like a session here, book sooner than later before the owner comes along and mows it all down.

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

… and if you heart Miss B’s outfit, her momma found it at Gymboree …

I love the expression on her face!

… As typical Miss B style, she dictated how the session was gonna proceed … after the first few captures, she wasn’t gonna stay seated very long!

… or wear the hat for very long either!

Yes, there are plenty more adorable sneak peeks to come from this session later this week …

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

I first heard about Wild Olive Tees over at The Pioneer Woman in the spring and took advantage of a discount code for the first tee I purchased. The second I gave in and purchased a couple months ago …

What’s even better is that 10% of Wild Olive Tees profits are donated to charity (read more here) — Love Without Boundaries.

Right now they offer regular and fitted tees for women as well as children’s tees — and if you order before tomorrow (December 15th) at midnight, shipping is a flat $1.99 per order. They have a number of designs currently on sale, so if you’re looking for a Christmas gift (or for any occasion) that’s under $20, check Wild Olive Tees first!

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

You know someone. You know someone who’s experienced a tragedy, is struggling to stay afloat, is raising kids while holding down more than one job, or is volunteering selflessly despite extenuating personal circumstances. You know someone who can’t afford custom photography, but who would cherish it this holiday season. You know someone who deserves a year-round reminder of their family’s spirit, love, and beauty.

You know someone. I guarantee it.

I want to know who they are, and I want to give them the chance to experience complimentary custom photography — $1200 worth, to be exact.  A 90 minute to two hour customized portrait session and a cd of the digital negatives with a print release will be awarded to the deserving winner.

Oh, and the best part? The person who nominates the winner receives a $250 print credit. What better reason to show some love could there possibly be, people?

The rules:

* You cannot nominate yourself, and the person nominated must sincerely and honestly be incapable of purchasing my services. (Being unable to make mortgage payments for a two-million-dollar-vacation-home in Paris does not qualify as sincere financial need.)

* The nominee must reside in Henderson, Kaufman, Smith, or Van Zandt Counties in East Texas. Tell me who you know, what they’re experiencing, and why they deserve my artwork. Please include a way to contact both your nominee and yourself as well.

* You must e-mail me the full story no later than December 31st at midnight : christina@christinamccall.com.  

The winner will be announced on Sunday, January 3, 2010 — get nominating! I can’t wait to read all of your entries!

Open your heart to someone this holiday season — and thanks for giving me the opportunity to open mine.

XOXO,
Christina (and the Elves)

If you know of someone deserving that’s not local to east Texas, visit the Giving is Awesome website to see if a photographer local to them is also hosting a Giving is Awesome giveaway.

Look closely at the top center and bottom photos, you might just spot my reflection!

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

Would love to do a session with some of these as a backdrop sometime …

Love the bokeh in this one … the fact there’s some string and something else caught on it, not so much!

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