It's really crazy what we can do with our images in this day and age! If you can dream it up then it can be done. It takes practice learning the various tricks and it also requires developing a sense for when to keep going and when to stop. We've all seen the picture where the digital artist just went way to far. When you overdo digital retouching, you end up with people that look like mannequins. "Too far" is a matter of taste too and not something that everyone agrees on. Some people disagree with retouching as a whole.

Like everyone else, I have my own ideas about how much is too much. My goal is to make you look just like you, but on a really great day. I would never want someone to see the image and make a comment about it. It needs to look natural.

Today, I thought I would show you a pretty typical example of the kinds of things we do to my images. Here is an image straight out of the camera with NO retouching or cropping.

Overall it's fine but there are a few issues that we need to address.

The biggest issue was how the woman's earring looks like it is attached to the man's nose. That had to be fixed for sure! I removed the earring completely. Next, I removed some of the stray hairs along the man's neck above his collar. I also removed some stray hairs on the woman's face between her hairline and eyebrow. I also cleaned up the stray hairs right where the tops of their heads met. I removed the doorknob hole on the doors in the background as well as another dark spot. Then I removed the second catch light in the little girl's eyes and brightened the irises very slightly to show off their pretty brown color. I used a filter to smooth the skin tones overall. Lastly, I finished it off by adjusting the crop. Here is the final version:

I know that some of these issues were small and I could have let them go but I definitely think the details matter. I think it is part of what people are looking for when they hire me to create photos for them. I like how the little bit of polish makes the message stronger and allows your eyes to move around the image without hanging on little distractions.

What about you guys? Do you have any opinions on how much is too much? Do you have any before and after images that you would like to share? If so, please leave your thoughts and links in the comments sections below. You can also add your images to my Monday Lesson Flickr Pool. We'd love to see them!

My studio is pretty dreamy, I have to say. I've spent a lot of time tweaking this and that and making it comfortable. I love it there. There is, however, one thing I wish I had...a big north facing window for shooting natural light portraits. I do have two huge doors that open to the outside so I decided to try that out for some natural light experimentation. It's super hot here at the moment and my experiment made all the grown ups in the room sweat but Miss Blakeley didn't have a problem with it at all!

An open letter to the driver of the pick up truck in the line at Whataburger whose bumper sticker read, "How's that "hope" and "change" working for you?"

You know, I will never forget that historic election night. My husband thought it was in the bag and that Obama would win for sure. I was hopeful but definitely not sure. In fact, I was so hopeful and optimistic on the inside that I was simultaneously terrified. Terrified that the election would be like every other year. I would pick the lesser of two evils and sit and watch as the one I didn't choose won. In that moment I would feel like I have always felt when it comes to politics, defeated.

Obama put that feeling into words that are much more graceful than my own when (in his victory speech) he said, "It's the answer that led those who have been told for so long by so many to be cynical, and fearful, and doubtful of what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day."

In this election, I dared to dream. I wanted to believe that we could do something amazing as a group and make history by electing our first African American president. How incredible that we also had a woman in the race for a while too?! I was giddy with the idea that we could show the world that we aren't just the "ugly Americans" and that there are many of us, millions in fact, who feel differently.

It was so exciting to see the huge crowd gathered in Chicago awaiting the news. People had traveled there from all over. I knew a few people who traveled all the way there from Houston fueled by hope and excitement, banking on the idea that they would be there at that moment when history was made.

I voted for Obama because I wanted to see a different face in the White House. I wanted America to take that step. I voted for him because I hoped that he could make good on a few of those promises. I never expected him to do it all. Sadly, no matter what he may be capable of, I knew politics would get in the way. I voted for him because I was willing to take the risk. The risk of believing in someone and truly hoping that they would live up (even just a little) to what they promised. Hope is vulnerable like that.

So, to answer your question, Mr. bumper sticker man, if it really is a real question after all, my hope is working just fine for me. I continue to hope that we can do great things in our country and in our politics. As for change, it's happening everywhere. It happens in fits and starts and here and there. I'm proud that I was a part of change that day.

I'm thinking of you though, as you peeled back the paper on that sticker and put it on your car. Were you hoping to make me feel silly? Did you hope that I regretted my vote? Do you want to be proven right? If so, how is that "hope" working for you? I don't want to enter into some big political debate with you about the efficacy of President Obama's policies to date. What I would like to say to you, however, is that I will continue to hope and dream of better days for all of us, including you.

Again, I think Obama put it best when he said:  "This victory alone is not the change we seek - it is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It cannot happen without you."

We're back from our summer trip. The kids are getting used to being back in school and I'm getting used to being back at work. My first 2 weeks back after vacation are always packed with maternity and newborn sessions. This little girl was my first session of the week. Isn't she sweet? Photographing her was a nice welcome back.

What about you? Any favorite shots this Friday? Submit links to your images in the comments section or submit them to my Favorite Shot Friday Flickr pool. Please don't be shy about posting pictures. Perfection is not required. We just want to see the images that make your heart beat a little bit faster and make you smile.

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Many thanks to the SF local who told us about "The Pirate Store" also known as 826 Valencia. I had no idea what to expect and this crazy little wonder of a place just blew me away. 826 Valencia, the store, exists to support 826 Valencia the writing project. I may not be getting it right but the way I was told was that, for some reason, the 826 Valencia writing project folks have to keep a storefront (or get some benefit from a storefront) so they came up with the pirate supply store. I love the fact that, although they could have some sort of regular store selling books, they came up with this, far more interesting concept. They sell a few things- some books, t-shirts, dice, flags, prints and so on but most of the store is like an art installation. There are all these drawers lining one wall with weird little trinkets in them. One drawer had clay marbles, another had nets and one even had cloth fake limbs. It's funny and interesting and the boys loved it!

To the right of the entrance, they have a little corner that looks like a movie theater but with an aquarium instead of a screen. In the center of the room they have a large vat of sand where you "dig for treasure". When you find treasure (glass beads in the boys' case) you have to barter in order to keep them. They had to either perform for the people in the store or draw in a special book. They drew in the book.

I loved the bulletin board, especially the part about taking the notes out of the bottle before posting it. By the cash register they have a big vat of lard. Sayer was totally intrigued. He asked the lady how much is was and she said for each scoop of lard he had to give them a chunk of his hair. It was hilarious to see the look on his face. He thought about it though, I have to say. I told him we couldn't take lard on the plane. That and the part about the hair convinced him to pass it up.

The shop is all about the little details. I personally loved the employee of the month illustrations- amazing!

So, if you find yourself and your little pirates in the SF area, make a stop at 826 Valencia. While you're there, buy something and support a great cause. Sayer and Finn are the proud owners of some 826 Valencia pirate t-shirts!