Capturing a stunning pro looking photograph requires more than just a keen eye for composition. Here we have an exclusive on how a pro employs a range of secret techniques to create eye-candy imagery that leaves a lasting impression. In this article, we unveil some of these trade secrets, allowing you to elevate your photography skills and create visual feasts for your audience.
Hi, my name is Rudy I am a photographer and producer this is a bit of what I do.
My experience as a producer has led me to work on projects and to shoot for all kinds of media outlets like movies and lifestyle and arquitecture shoots for mega-resorts. I’m grateful to have been blessed to work with top production companies like 3StarProductions in Los Angeles and media companies like Amazon, Netflix, and Televisa with amazing photographers like Joao Canziani and Kurt Iswarienko. During this time I also produced shots for hotels in Riviera Maya like Barcelo and Xcaret photographed by Ro del Rio while I was also involved with Televisa one of the largest TV companies in Latin America. Being involved in photography for so long made me know a few secrets that professionals use and can help you get a better shot right away:
Mastering Light:
The Key to Magical Shots Understanding and manipulating light. This is the cornerstone of captivating great photography. Pro photographers harness natural and artificial light sources to add depth, drama, and mood to their images. Experiment with different lighting setups, such as backlighting or side lighting, to create striking effects. Feel the shadows give depth to your subject and remember that more light doesn’t mean better photos, too much light flattens your subject like stickers.
Pro photography Composition:
The rule of thirds is a classic composition technique that makes a photo feel harmonious and balanced. Experiment with alternative framing options like leading lines, symmetry, and negative space to add visual interest and draw the viewer’s eye to the focal point. Try to focus on your subject from different angles to find a photo that feels right.
Color Palette a must for pro photography:
Harmonizing Hues Choosing the right color palette can make or break a photograph. Consider the emotions you want to evoke and select colors that complement each other. Experiment with complementary or analogous color schemes to create a visually pleasing and cohesive image. A color palette will make the overall look of your photo feel as if it all belongs together.
Depth of Field:
Creating a Sense of Dimension Controlling the depth of field can add dimension to your photographs. Use a wide aperture (f 1.2 f1.8) to create a shallow depth of field, isolating the subject from the background. Alternatively, a narrow aperture can bring the entire scene into focus, highlighting the details and textures. This is a great way to bring attention to your subject and make it pop. Also lights in the back will blur into bokeh which makes it an amazing and fun shot.
THE PRO COOKBOOK: Post-Processing Magic:
Here is where it gets personal, enhancing the Wow Factor Post-processing is where the true magic happens. Professional photographers use editing software to refine their images, adjusting brightness, contrast, saturation, and sharpness to enhance the visual impact. Experiment with different editing techniques to achieve the desired effect. Imagine post-production like your own take on photography. Here you modify highlights, saturation, hue, lightness, etc… and give the overall look of your final image.
SOFTWARE
There are so many options out there currently that it´s hard to know what to use. There are many apps that will do the job but if you are looking to do it like the pro´s I suggest to know the software.
I’m going to give a brief description of the software used most by pros everywhere to help you choose the right package for what you need:
Capture One Pro
This software provides exceptional control over image enhancement, color grading, and retouching. It’s intuitive interface and customizable workflow make it a preferred choice for pro photographers seeking precision and efficiency in their editing process.
My experience with this software is that it´s simply mesmerizing and has a beautiful workflow, especially with large digital format cameras or older cameras with digital backs that work like magic. It has a way of giving incredible accuracy at the time of your edits. I feel Capture One is mostly used by high-end photographers that need to have a customizable workflow that fits their immediate customer´s project needs.
Capture One Pro Pricing:
$269 a month for Capture One Pro on desktop subscription
- Full access to Capture One Pro and all its powerful features and tools
- All new features and updates as soon as they’re released
- Simple image sharing with Capture One Live (free version)
$329.64 All In One for Capture One Pro
- Capture One Pro
- Capture One mobile
- Capture One Live Unlimited
- All future feature updates
- Priority support from our Customer Support team
$5400 Perpetual licence
- One-time payment to own the latest version of Capture One Pro
- Save on every new license purchase
- Simple image sharing with Capture One Live (free version)
- New feature updates not included
Adobe Lightroom:
Lightroom is the most recognized and highly versatile software designed specifically for photo editing and file organization. It offers a comprehensive suite of editing tools and features that allow photographers to transform their images with precision and creativity. It is mostly used by photographers I work with.
Lightroom’s non-destructive editing workflow enables users to experiment with different adjustments without altering the original image data. This makes it amazing to work from beginner to advanced due to the fact that your image is intact and can be brought back to its original state without permanently damaging it.
Lightroom makes it easy with its intuitive interface and seamless integration with Adobe’s Creative Suite like Photoshop. Lightroom allows for efficient organization and synchronization of photos across multiple devices with Lightroom storage on the cloud.
Recommended AdobePhotography pricing includes Lightroom and Photoshop: which includes Lightroom Classic, Lightroom CC, and Photoshop, US $19.99 per month.
Overall, Adobe Lightroom continues to be a preferred choice for photographers due to its robust editing capabilities and seamless integration within Adobe’s creative suite.
Adobe Photoshop
This is the leading software in the realm of digital image editing and manipulation. It has become synonymous with professional graphic design and is widely used by photographers, artists, and designers worldwide.
Photoshop offers a vast array of powerful tools and features that allow users to enhance, retouch, and manipulate images with exceptional precision and creativity. You must get into Photoshop to manipulate even further than Lightroom. The tools and capabilities give you endless possibilities that only your imagination can limit. In the beginning, it can look complicated and a bit overwhelming but the more you use it the more friendly it becomes. The integration with Lightroom is great, my suggestion would be to start using Lightroom get familiar with it and then get into Photoshop.
Recomended AdobePhotography pricing includes Lightroom and Photoshop: which includes Lightroom Classic, Lightroom CC, and Photoshop, $19.99 per month.
Those seeking only Photoshop, the Single App Plan is available at $20.99 per month.
Adobe also is offering a Student and Teacher Edition at a discounted price: Save over 60% on the Creative Cloud All Apps plan if you’re a student. *A must when applies*
US$19.99/mo US$54.99/mo
SKYLUM LUMINAR X
Luminar is a AI powered and software designed for photo enhancement that can be used stand-alone or as a plug in for Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. It has gained popularity among pro photographers and creative professionals for its intuitive interface and powerful editing power. Luminar offers a wide range of tools and presets that enable users to transform their images with ease and precision. In my personal use, I’ve found that using Luminar after my edits just gives it a little Kick in the right direction.
From basic adjustments like exposure and color correction to advanced features such as AI-powered sky replacement and portrait retouching, Luminar offers an extensive set of tools to bring out the best in every photo. I have done re-edits on Luminar that made me put it on this list and highlight its amazing AI capabilities.
In terms of pricing in 2023, Luminar offers different options to suit different user needs.
Skylum Luminar AI -the latest version, is available for a one-time purchase price of $149. For those who prefer a subscription model, Luminar X offers a subscription plan starting at $9.95 per month, And a pro version for $11.51 a month providing access to regular updates, new features, and exclusive content. Luminar continues to evolve and innovate, offering photographers and artists a powerful and user-friendly solution for their photo editing needs.
- AI-Powered Photo Editing
- Award-winning application
- 4.8 TrustPilot Reviews
- An application & plugin for MacOS & Windows
Experimentation:
Breaking the Rules While mastering the fundamentals is essential, don’t be afraid to break the rules and embrace experimentation. Explore unconventional angles, perspectives, and techniques to push the boundaries of creativity and create unique visuals that stand out from the crowd.
I hope to have sparked your interest to go out and create your shots with better and more thought-out planning for better results. Photography is an amazing way to look at the world as you are looking for the perfect angle on everything… even the ordinary becomes extraordinary. So enjoy life and connect with photography as Im sure it´s going to take you on an amazing ride.
Thank You
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Cheers!!
