Briefly
Complex artistic post processing of 100 selected photos — $1 000.
Time of delivering finished photos — 1 week.
Apart from these four photo sessions with complex post processing, you can see standard photo sessions here (opens in a new window).
In these sessions you can find “top images” (I’ll tell more about them later) and creative setups (Russian language).
In detail
Everything’s simple here. The service is focused on clients looking for beautiful and expensive photography with complex post processing. You just pay me for additional time I spend on sophisticated post processing for your session. That’s why I take 2 extra weeks to finish the material.
There’s a frequently asked question I get: “Can we order a standard photo session first, have a look on the results and then pay extra for additional work?” I would like to answer it right away.
Sure you can. But all photos from this kind of package (complex post production) are edited in a special way starting from the early stages of working with RAW files. These first steps of editing are unique for each photo. So all post production will be redone from scratch.
All photos with standard post processing are handed out ready and finished. Trying to make something new out of them would be a blasphemy and a sloppy work. I don’t do that. Each photo is finished in its entirety. It’s a big part of the job. I take 2 weeks to edit a standard package for a good reason although making already “finished” photos during the session which I proudly demonstrate to my clients.
That means you should be certain of what you want to see in the end. Basically there are two options: standard photography package or a “sophisticated” package with additional post processing. I’m going to write about the second one below.
As I already mentioned none of these packages are better or worse. The only difference is in the amount of time I put into work and therefore the amount of payment for this time. The more I paint your photos in Photoshop the more they cost. Whether you need it or not, it’s only up to you. I’m always happy with both package options.
On the contrary, when you order exclusive top photos you can get the standard package first and then order top images. These photos are edited all over again from the primary RAW file. Therefore it doesn’t matter at what stage you would like to place an order.
What’s the difference between the standard package and the complex post processing package? And after all, what do you actually pay for? (in case if you pay of course :))
Throughout additional post processing I literally embellish your photos. I build additional space, depth and extensionality in the shot. I create so called aerial perspective. I add more volume both to the overall image and objects displayed on it. I enhance textures and make delicate color adjustment as well as fine-tuning color relations and white balance between different objects in the image. Hope I didn’t complicate you.
Let’s see Daria and Sergey’s wedding as an example.
I use different methods of outline drawing, adding different sorts of hotspots and tonal painting to create a certain atmosphere. I do several types of painting for different groups of photos within one photo session most of the times.
Everything is done in strict accordance with the chosen theme and location where shooting takes place. For instance, photos from mutually appealed Dusit Dhewa would have more subtle and vintage tones while beach shots would be more bright and cheerful. As I already mentioned, color tones should always fit the situation.
Even if there’s no sunshine in the sky I would still shoot with open diaphragm. I would then multiply the effect during post production and add more brightness and plasticity to the image. Same things apply to standard photo sessions. But with additional editing these effects are enhanced and subject to accurate manual painting with a special graphic tablet. But sometimes I do exactly the opposite. With the help of an assistant and additional lighting I make contrast and atmospheric shots breaking all the rules of photography. And then I amplify the effect to reach the top of its aesthetic potential. Yes, I mean this exact style which is heavily wanted in fashion industry and advertising. This is an extremely delicate job and it takes deep knowledge of both shooting process and post processing.
Of course this is not dogmatic and every shooting has different weather, sun, rain, location, clothing and newlyweds’ attitude. All this affects the end result. All photo sessions vary from one another. There’s no ideal algorithm for all walks of life. But still those algorithms exist. I apply them to each specific case.
Let’s get back to what is included into the additional post processing. First of all, particular emphasis is made on editing human skin especially for women. There are complex and exxxtremely diligent action sequences which help to align the skin tone without loosing its texture. See an example of this technique here.
The principles of correcting male skin are way different. A man’s face has another light and dark graphics. I also paint men’s portraits with more moderate, masculine tones which are usually cold. But everything is done in adequate proportion and strictly according to the situation.
Sometimes, but not always I integrate parts of photos to achieve the desired effect. Or for instance, imagine you’re having a sunset shooting but there is no visible sunset at all. What would you do? The weather is unpredictable. But we can recreate it if we really want to. Have a look at the examples below.
The first photo is a RAW file without any editing. It is a template made during the shooting. Then we edit it in Photoshop and get the second photo. It’s a finished picture which is handed out to the client. But if we spend one or two additional hours on it we get the photo number three. It looks beautiful and it has a romantic, pleasant atmosphere. This sun sets only for this sweet couple. And the whole world is beautiful as well as their feelings.
Now getting back from heaven to earth. If you’re putting a beautiful sunset on the sky, then you have to manually paint color hotspots on the newlyweds, sea and sand. You’ve got to be an artist to do so. I mean a really good artist. For instance, you’ve got to consider that the setting sun color temperature is about 3100 kelvins, which is yellowish-red to be short.
Along with that, shadow temperature will be about 12 000 kelvins (bluish). Color temperature is expressing the intensity of lighting sources. That’s why I paint hotspots on water splashes with “yellow” from one side and “blue” from another (this photo is an example of it). I consider the newlyweds’ position towards the sun at the same time taking light, shadows and gradience into account. And of course the old rule of all artists: “the angle of reflection is equal to the angle of incidence.” Hotspots from the sun must be logical and realistic.
Here’s another sunset example. Look at these three photos.
Once again the first shot is a RAW file made during the session.
This is a finished photo handed out to the client.
And here’s the third shot. Pay attention to the sky and the clouds. They’re different. What should we do if there is no beautiful sunset on the shooting day?
The answer is to paint it the same way as the previous example. But this time we’ve got a more complicated task. We have to capture a beautiful sunset from the same spot on the other day and integrate it into the primary photo. The photo of the sunset should be made beforehand. Another option is visiting the shooting location in the evenings trying to capture the desired sky condition. Then the new skies are pasted into the primary shot.
As a result the photo becomes “golden” for the photographer. Several days are spent on one single shot and the client will never know about it.
It is also important to keep the same angle and shooting position as the original photo. Because all those hills, trees and colorful water hotspots in the distance must perfectly match with the original. All nearby color hotspots on water surface are painted manually the way I described above. Nature doesn’t produce two identical waves indeed. )
Now this photo entirely expresses calmness of the loving couple watching the beautiful sunset. And yes, now we have another brilliant photograph which is pleasant to look at and share with friends. But to achieve that I had to scrupulously edit the shot and maybe even come back to the shooting location for several times. Surely I don’t do that for each and every photo. This is more the exception rather than the rule. But the sum of this and many other exceptions make the entire photo session as a result. And that’s what you pay for.
Read about top photos here (I’ll write it later). This is a different topic for complex post production fans. These top images are my best and exclusive photos. They represent my professional limit as a photographer and post processor in one person.
P.S. “Elite” wedding packages already include 100 photos with complex post processing.
That’s all for now.
Book photoshoot:
✉️ morefoto@gmail.com
I’ll be glad to answer your questions and receive your comments as usual.
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Sincerely, Eduard Stelmakh.
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