I am researching the idea of starting a photo editing, post-processing service as a small business in a small town. I am proficient with Photoshop being very comfortable among the layers, channels, masks, and color spaces for many years. I have been in the rat-race for a very long time and I’m thinking of leaving the race, but I can’t quite leave the rats yet. I have looked at photography as a business, and I may do that too,(I have read many of your opinons and suggestions over the years on that subject), but I like Photoshop and I feel I can make a small business with that.

This group is an across-the-board sample of photographers as anyone could assemble. For those of you who do this for a living, would you consider outsourcing your post processing to a local service? I am thinking of a rate of $25 per hour for computer time, and a complete satisfaction guarantee. I am thinking of the shops that are too small to have a full time post person, but busy enough with shooting jobs to be weighed down by the post processing work; not to mention the time and efforts to keep up-to-date with the technology.

Who else has done it? Would anyone be interested in using a service? What are your thoughts?

Sunset over the Gulf of Mexico, Manasota Key, FL

Thank you CJ, I seem to loose something in the uploads. The colors are way more vibrant on my monitor. I have to figure out the formula to upload.

Try two off-camera lights with polarizing filters over the lights.

a walk around the zoo this morning.

Tone mapped is right. Green's are tough colors to like, but you did a good job here. Have you been down to Gasparilla Island and the town of Boca Grande. Lots of old Florida there, a light house, small churches and banyan trees.

Sunrise over Jax Beach

I was shooting the city fountain a few weeks ago. I was in place and the sun was moving into position. The fountain cycles through a variety of patterns. Patiently, I waited for the sun and the fountain to work together. The fountain started to raise the middle jets as the sun lowered in the sky. I took many shots as the fountain was continiually changing.


Canon EOS 5D Mark II on a tripod w remote release -- RAW
EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM
16mm iso 100 1/60s f/22
Lee 4x4 graduated ND glass filter

waiting and watching as the water rose


Then the wind shifted and the spray hit the filter. I thought I was going blind until I figured out what happened...but in makes an interesting image.

a Florida year 'round resident.

What da ya mean Pretty in Pink!

This is a good argument for visible watermarks. You may lose the picture but you get credit on its way out.

Excellent work. Great idea to get the water in the shot. Very creative.

I was looking at the flamingos and a turtle walked by...

Middle Beach, Englewood, Fl.

Excellent work, lad.