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Behind the Scenes | The Lightroom  Transformation

7/11/2016

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Those who have worked with me know that I love giving clients sneak previews of photos on site -- yes, during a session! Once I've captured something I'm certain they'll be happy with, I flip the camera around and show clients what's on the display screen.

Some photographers frown on this, but I do it because sneak peeks help get clients excited about the session. When clients are excited, I'm excited, and we're able to feed off of each other's energy. Sneak peeks also open the door for feedback so I know what clients like and don't like and can adjust accordingly.

There's just one catch. Because the images aren't edited, I make sure to let clients know that what they see isn't what they'll be getting. That's because post processing -- or the process where photos are uploaded onto a computer and adjusted for light, color and consistency -- is where the magic happens! It is through this process that photographers are able to take a good photograph and make it great, as well as insert their own unique style onto the image.

I wanted to demonstrate just how important post processing is, so for the first time EVER, I'm showing  a few completely unedited photos so you can see the transformation that takes place!

Lighting
On more than one occasion, Lightroom has saved photographs that would otherwise be unusable. Take, for example, this image from a maternity session. Time was running out and the sun was setting, but this adorable couple wanted a few photos with the river in the background. I had to shoot into the light in an already dim environment. As you can see, the RAW photo is dark. You can barely make out this husband's face and the gentle kiss he's giving his wife.

Lightroom changes all of that. By adjusting the exposure, shadows and dark areas in the photograph, I was able to turn it into a product I can stand by.

​Before:

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​After:

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Shadows
Shooting during the middle of the afternoon on a bright, sunny day can be a photographer's worst nightmare. Intense sunlight casts harsh shadows, as you can see with these fun, b-boyin' groomsmen below. By adjusting exposure and shadows in Lightroom, I'm able to turn a dark, flat photo into something much more whimsical. 

Before:

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​After:

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Color + crop
These photos were taken just seconds apart, but because of the change in light source, they almost look as if they aren't from the same session. The vertical image is very yellow, while the horizontal image is much bluer. Both could also stand to be cropped. By adjusting the temperature and choosing a more flattering crop, Lightroom allows me to give these images a much more uniform, sophisticated look.

Before:

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After:

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    Hey there! I'm Jonna! I'm a family photographer serving Silver Spring, Maryland and beyond. During the Covid-19 crisis, I'm using my free time to document the lives of friends and neighbors as we live through a pandemic. Learn more.

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Jonna Huseman | The Sligo Creek Photographer | jonna.michelle@gmail.com
Family photographer | Silver Spring, MD

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