Many people don’t realize all the work and effort that goes into a finished photo. Taking the picture is one thing but with the help of technology and photoshop photographers are able to elevated their work to some extraordinary levels. Now, the extent to which photographs use photo editing software varies but I can assure you that 90% of (good) professional photographers do some form of post production on their images (whether it is a little or a lot). By all means, I don’t think photoshop or any other photo editing program should replace taking a good picture in the first place. However, in my opinion, I see these programs as tools to help me create my special brand of art. I’m still honing my style but I’m an artist. I create art; my photographs are my art.

So… I thought I would do something that frankly scares me a little: show a few before and after pictures. All the before pictures are SOOC (straight out of camera). That means there hasn’t been any adjustments made to the picture. They are exactly the way they appear right out of my camera. I’m doing these before and after pictures because I want to educate people on what they are getting when they pay for a finished product from a professional photographer.

All these images are from a wedding I did recently

So when you pay someone to take pictures for you, whether it’s for your wedding or some other reason, you are paying for a lot more than the photographer simply snapping the pictures. (This is contingent on whether or not you are dealing with someone who values their craft.) Now nothing is inherently wrong with the SOOC images but, personally, I prefer the extra touch from the post produced photos. So the next time, you look at a photographer’s prices try to remember that you are not just getting a picture but you are getting a piece of that person’s art. They are in essence creating a piece of art especially for you. Until next time.

~Saadia Me*Chel