In preparation for an upcoming newborn shoot (which I'm very excited about!) I decided to revisit the photos I took of my own little man when he was 5 days old. At this point I was a bit sleep deprived, inexperienced with babies, and lacking in a proper lighting setup. I used a blanket, a couch, and some window light and came up with some decent shots, considering the circumstances. Since then I've fixed everything but the sleep deprivation, and added some new photoshop skills to boot. Since the editing is such a drastic change, I thought I'd share my before and after:
The original photo was fine, but it looks like what it is- a baby sleeping on a blanket draped over a couch. It's a fine snapshot and gives a good idea of what my little boy looked like at five days old. But what a transformation a little editing can do! This is the difference between a professional photo and a snapshot.
I've been asked before why I edit every photo I reveal to the client. Many photographers deliver unedited products in favor of saving time. They often claim that they "get it right in the camera" and don't need to edit. If that is true, then great. But my goal with photography is about more than the snap of the photo. For me photography is art. I want to create something beautiful, something that you will want to hang on your wall, something that will be shared outside of a computer screen.
Yes, it is a lot of work. Sometimes I will spend an hour or more on just one photo. Certain types of photos require more, while others are quick. But the proof is in the pictures, and for me, it's worth it.
As a side note, look how little my boy was! Oh my gosh!
I have another fun share today- more baby photos! Recently I had one month old Elliott in my studio for some late newborn photos.