Before/After: When I do any shoot, paid or not, I always scrub up the faces of the people in the pictures. My wife thinks that it would be good to show people a before and an after...

PNagy Loc: Missouri City, Texas

When I do any shoot, paid or not, I always scrub up the faces of the people in the pictures. My wife thinks that it would be good to show people a before and an after version to make them appreciate the service more. I am leery of such a strategy. What do you think?

mdorn Loc: Portland, OR

PNagy wrote:

When I do any shoot, paid or not, I always scrub up the faces of the people in the pictures. My wife thinks that it would be good to show people a before and an after version to make them appreciate the service more. I am leery of such a strategy. What do you think?

No. Your wife would be wrong. If they don't appreciate your service now, then let them go to someone who doesn't scrub the faces and compare. If you are great, there's no reason to prove it! The proof is in the pudding, so to speak. Who's the photographer, you or your wife? :-)

PNagy Loc: Missouri City, Texas

mdorn wrote:

quote=PNagy When I do any shoot, paid or not, I a... (show quote)

Thanks. Your comments are valuable and appreciated.

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

PNagy wrote:

quote=mdorn quote=PNagy When I do any shoot, pai... (show quote)

I have a feeling that PNagy is about to have some intense fellowship with his wife......

PNagy Loc: Missouri City, Texas

Jay Pat wrote:

quote=PNagy quote=mdorn quote=PNagy When I do a... (show quote)

Intense fellowship is right. She just got an interest in shooting scenery and has initiated a number of shoots with me at various parks, wildlife preserves, and historical landmarks. She likes to shoot topography, whether created by man or natural. Now if only she could dredge up a slew of paying clients.

Soccershooter Loc: Indiana

PNagy, I'm not familiar with the term "scrub up the faces".
Maybe it is something I do sometimes but not know the term you use.
Could you explain ?

PNagy Loc: Missouri City, Texas

Soccershooter wrote:

PNagy, I'm not familiar with the term "scrub up the faces".
Maybe it is something I do sometimes but not know the term you use.
Could you explain ?

I am being very conversational, but I mean anything that is done to improve the complexion of a face. Some of this is blurring for a smoother appearance, cloning out or healing topography, such as warts, pimples, etc, fixing hot spots, widening an eye, adding a catch light, reducing or straitening a nose, whitening teeth, replacing missing teeth, eliminating or reducing wrinkles, killing crows' feet, reducing or eliminating three triple chins, attenuating ugly jowls...

Some photographers in a club to which I belong have recently suggested the acquisition of Portrait Professional. Apparently it automates what can be done in Photoshop only through tedious and skilled effort.

randymoe

I have been using Portrait Professional and it can be used fairly subtlety. You may like it. I even do it for men.

PNagy wrote:

quote=Soccershooter PNagy, I'm not familiar wit... (show quote)

Soccershooter Loc: Indiana

Ahhh Okay, I understand. Do the same when necessary. But I have never had to "replacing missing teeth", yet.

Thanks, good night.

Horseart Loc: Alabama

PNagy wrote:

When I do any shoot, paid or not, I always scrub up the faces of the people in the pictures. My wife thinks that it would be good to show people a before and an after version to make them appreciate the service more. I am leery of such a strategy. What do you think?

If a pro photog did a portrait of me and did NOT scrub me up, I'd hate him, and if he SHOWED my photo UNSCRUBBED, I'd have to kill him! :lol:

PNagy Loc: Missouri City, Texas

Horseart wrote:

PNagy wrote:

When I do any shoot, paid or not, I always scrub up the faces of the people in the pictures. My wife thinks that it would be good to show people a before and an after version to make them appreciate the service more. I am leery of such a strategy. What do you think?

If a pro photog did a portrait of me and did NOT scrub me up, I'd hate him, and if he SHOWED my photo UNSCRUBBED, I'd have to kill him! :lol:

Horseart:

Thanks for the warning. I would like to live a few more years. My wife normally has good business sense, but I did not think she was right about this one. Still, I wanted to see the views of photographers I respect. I will be extra sure not to display an unscrubbed shot of you to anyone anywhere anytime.

Coker Loc: Havana, IL

Do you want them to smile or pay you... I wold not tell them how I do it.. it is the magic of marketing.. good luck.

Horseart Loc: Alabama

PNagy wrote:

quote=Horseart quote=PNagy When I do any shoot, ... (show quote)

Oh, thank you so much. You are safe!!!
:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Ann B Loc: Northeast Indiana

I don't do professional photos, but ones of the family. When I first learned to "fix" photos I did one of my grandson who has a scar on his cheek (from a dog bite)-- he was upset that the scar was gone! Guess that was a kid thing, I don't think he'd mind today, although the scar has gotten less & less through the years.
Just throwing this in for another viewpoint.

kristinelogan Loc: Indiana

I can add another perspective that I have seen, but not practiced. There are a number of photogs I follow on Facebook who routinely post comparison shots of their work SOOC with their uniquely edited image after post. All of these photogs have developed unique styles that in addition to correcting skin issues, and other assorted bothers, they colorize, run actions and add textures to the photo. The difference can be quite dramatic.

One photog that I mentored with said she does this to show her clients that it isn't as "easy" as it looks when viewing the finished product. With the entry into the market just a "DSLR purchase away from going pro" she shows them that there is not only skill in shooting but a skill in post that completes an artistic perspective. I find this interesting for sure.

That being said, at this time, I prefer my customers to enjoy whatever "magic and mystery" I performed in post to make them look as good as possible and anything I do that is uniquely my own remains with me for now. I'm not interesting in giving away my process.