Pinup Dolls Photography!!! I want to talk about editing, what's considered minor editing verses advanced. 1st, I'll repeat this again. Every single photographer I've ever worked with has a different camera, a different lens, different lighting ,different equipment, different level of knowledge on pinup, different style, different personal taste, and different software and editing skills. Never had a photographer with the same exact anything, equipment, ability, skills, etc. When I say something is minor and standard, as far as flaws and editing, I'm referring to what most photographers consider minor, common and very much standard. Editing tiny but visible flaws, can literally take mere seconds or a minute total, per image. Not hours of advanced editing, using expensive software. Here's my list of what most photographers, and pretty much all professional photographers, no matter what style they shoot or who their model is, consider minor flaws that do NOT require advanced editing. 1. Shiny skin, uneven skin tone 2. Harsh shadows under the eyes due to poor lighting or things like long eye lashes, hats, props, etc. 3. Blemishes, bruises, veins, scars 4. Fly away hairs 5. Clothing tags 6. Loose threads, run in stockings 7. Wrinkles in clothes Now, it's no secret the 1st important thing needed to take a clear, in focus shot is excellent lighting. Less harsh shadows, tiny flaws are less visible and skin can appear more even and less shiny, with proper lighting. Less editing is needed more often, if the lighting was great. Now, let's talk about advanced editing. These are things most photographers do not necessarily consider minor, but would need advanced editing skills. 1st must always begin with a clear shot. But advanced editing are things like these 1. Changing the models skin color 2. Making body parts bigger or smaller 3. Creating a curve in hip, waist or back area 4. Changing hair or eye color 5. Extracting the model, then placing her on a, realistic looking background 6. Adding special effects, adding props, removing props If you enlarge, increase the size by zooming in, or view unedited images on a laptop screen, you will see every single flaw, minor or major, if the image is crystal clear. If an image is unedited and out of focus, not clear and sharp, NO AMOUNT OF EDITING CAN MAKE IT APPEAR TO BE CLEAR, or make that image high quality by definition!!!!!!! Magazine owners are not looking at submissions via a cellphone screen, when selecting images they will publish. They are looking at them on a laptop or pc screen, that is obviously much bigger than a cell phone screen. They are also increasing the size, to the size the issue will be, about 8 x 11. So, once again, every flaw will show, and out of focus images even if edited, will look awful in print! Social media quality images. The day has arrived people, and I honestly don't see it ever going away. Expensive cellphones have some pretty good cameras and great lenses these days. Clear shots, in high resolution that can be edited well. Maybe not publication quality, but neither are out of focus, unedited with visible flaws left, images either! If a model or actress say, has the ability to take a clear shot, it's in high resolution, and she has the ability and app to edit it minorly, why would she book a photographer? Why would she pay for the same quality a friend can take, or she can produce using her cell, a timer and tripod? The point of shooting with a photographer, or professional photographer is to receive edited images that are high quality, and a visibly higher quality than you can take on your own! This is why I say, get used to social media quality images serving a purpose, as well as amateur photographers being replaced by cellphones users. I'm a clothing model and social media influencer, for a clothing company. I have 2 goals in mind for any shoot where I'm modeling in wardrobe they sent. High quality, clear, edited images, to use for advertising on social media and to gain publication in pinup magazines. Without high quality I can't get them published. Without extremely high quality I can't get them published in the top pinup magazines. Without high quality edits, that are virtually flawless, I can't land a magazine cover! So if the edits are just ok, or good, that eliminates any possibility of publication. No magazine big or small will publish fuzzy, out of focus images! No big pinup magazine will feature low quality images, even if clear, if there are visible flaws are left. No top pinup magazine will ever place a low quality pic, that has several flaws, on their cover! Communication is so key, BEFORE you even book a date with a photographer. I show examples of my work, I give links to my work, I show examples of what style and quality I'm looking to produce, before we ever shoot. I've NEVER expected advanced editing, super high quality, flawless edits from any photographer I'm just shooting with for the first time. But out of focus images, tiny but visible flaws left, is unacceptable. Even social media quality images should at least be in focus and clear. I just don't feel style and personal taste have much to do with actual quality. Why provide unedited images that do need editing, unless that was agreed upon ahead of time? Why edit but leave flaws, and leave it up to the model to additionally edit for you, unless that was also agreed upon ahead of time?! I seriously, seriously care about my career, my brand I've been building all these years, the goals I've set, the companies I represent, and EVERY SINGLE SHOOT WITH EVERY SINGLE PHOTOGRAPHER! They alllll matter a lot! I don't invest less, spend less time planning and preparing, less level of quality styling. Every shoot I bring all my knowledge, experience, skills and positive energy. Every shoot I have brand new wardrobe. My skills don't vary depending on the style, concept, theme, location, or photographer. I bring MY A game to every single shoot, period! Models have ABSOLUTELY no control over a photographers anything, their knowledge, experience, equipment, or skill level. It's usually not the responsibility of the photographer to do a models hair and makeup right? And most photographers who don't have a studio, also don't have wardrobe to offer. This means it's totally up to the model. Ok, well models shouldn't be responsible, required nor expected to worry about proper lighting, about what capabilities a photographer has or doesn't have. Shouldn't be left up to the model to give advice on editing or edit images taken of her, by a photographer. If you reseach someone and see high quality and lots of awesome success, keep in mind 2 things. #1, that's what they'll bring on their end, and #2 that's the standard quality of which they are used to. If you can realistically evaluate your work, and don't feel you're capable of achieving the level of quality you see upon researching someone, simply don't agree to a shoot! If one of my models shows me a picture of a hairdo I know I'm unable to do high quality, I will automatically, right away tell her no. They see styles I've done and see them as high quality hairdos, so why would I agree to a style I can't bring that same level of quality and skills to achieve? It's really been such a mental and emotional challenge to accept social media quality images, into my career. Not high enough quality to gain publication, too many flaws left to get accepted into a top pinup magazine, no way can ever land a cover. For my fans and for advertising purposes only? Hard to get used to, yes. But like I keep telling myself, social media quality images serve a purpose for social media influencers. I just don't see the point, if that's the quality I'll receive, in booking a photographer! It's similar to styling myself verses paying someone who can only achieve the exact level of quality as me! Sure to be pampered and styled is relaxing and fun, but why would I spend my money hiring someone who can't produce a higher quality than I can, on my own? Equal trade involves two or more people bringing equal value to the table, aka shoot. I bring a high quality level of styling, fabulous brand new wardrobe each shoot, and bring experienced facial expressions and poses, I do my own styling and don't need guidance posing. Turn down shoots of you're unable to produce the quality your client or model requires and communicates. Reseach and study the exact publications your models will submit to, before a shoot, not after! If minor editing, that is considered common, and standard, is too difficult or maybe your flat out against any form of editing, either don't book shoots with professional models, or inform them BEFORE THE SHOOT. If minor editing is too difficult, I'd rather take my own images. If I can't gain publication AND get images for social media, then the shoot ends up being a loss. ( On a side note, that's completely based upon sheer emotions, based upon the facts listed above. I'm seriously burned out on a few things with working with a new photographer. Taking time out of my busy day to explain the definition of high quality, to show examples of high quality photography, and to give tips and advice on producing a high quality image! I'm not the photographer taking the images of me, and the photographer isn't responsible for my styling skills, and giving me tips or advice. There must be skills involved in the equipment and tools anyone is using to produce high quality. I just don't feel, key word, " feel ", it's up to the model or talent to be fully knowledgeable on photography techniques, equipment, or editing software. This is exactly why I say, amateur photographers are being replaced by cellphone users! Anyone can take a picture, even a child. Anyone can take an out of focus image, and many people can take a clear shot. Even if trade based, is it really the actual definition of trade, if the model is a professional, experienced, accomplished and highly skilled, and her photographer is not? One of my photographers said 2 key things I happen to be able to relate to and agree on. Lots of models, usually amateurs have no clue what high quality even is, so therefore they don't see flaws and are happy with low quality images. And 2, when I've vented about gals acting unprofessional, he said that, most of my clients aren't professional models to begin with, so I should expect the unprofessionalism. I may agree and be able to relate, doesn't mean I'm thrilled about it! A photographer I adore who happens to also be the owner of the biggest pinup magazine in the world, just made a statement recently to me. He said over the years my styling had been consistent in quality. He said flat out, I need to get, " better ", photographers. He also said that, my brand is Dianna Prince and it was built on high quality. ) Pinup Talk host Dianna Prince Sophia Loren
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