February 11, 2013

A "Before and After" photo

Right before Brett deployed, we had some family pictures taken with Brett's family.  None of us were happy about the way they turned out, so that's why none of the photos have ever been posted anywhere. I don't know about you, but when paying someone to take family photos, I fully expect the photographer to try to bring out the best in not only the surroundings, but in a person's appearance as well.  In her defense, the weather was bitter cold and windy, but had we gone to someone with more experience, I believe any situation can turn out well.  Unfortunately, this experience did not turn out as well as we had hoped.  I won't go into detail about how many things just didn't seem right with this particular photographer, but I do wish she wouldn't have tried to come off as a professional the way that she did.  It only made her work that much more disappointing. As a result, I had to "play" with the photos to get them to be somewhat up to mine and my mother-in-law's standards.  For example, here is a "before and after" of the one photo this photographer took of Brett's grandparents.

IMG_3181

Lewis'

Now, there is definitely a time and place for Photoshop.  I am no expert, but I know enough to be able to make the best of a dire situation.  As you can see, I didn't alter anything to the point to where it altered who they really were, but I did bring out the best in them.  Also, the things I changed were things that my mother-in-law wished that the photographer would have fixed (or that she would have even paid attention to before even taking the photo).  Can you pick out the things that I changed?  I know for a fact that the photographer used Photoshop to "enhance" the photo, but none of us felt like it did anything to really make it better.  (I actually asked the photographer for the original photos, but she wouldn't give them to me on account of she "didn't want me to see what they looked like before she had made them the best that she could." It sure inspired a lot of confidence, let me tell you.)

So, a word to the wise... When paying someone to take photos for you, make sure you know what you are actually paying for, and make sure you see some of their previous work so that you don't end up with any surprises in the end.  


2 Happy Thoughts:

Kristie said...

You did a great job fixing the photo. What I think is so funny about this photo is it looks like it was just taken at a family get together. What was she thinking using the the railing as a the background. That is so frustrating when this happens. I hate when people act like they are so pro when really they are not. I asked for all the photos of Brynlee baby pictures and the lady told me the same thing Oh i don't want you to see my mistakes. I hate that some people rely so heavely on Photoshop. You should be able to take a good picture and not have to use photoshop to change it SO much. I undertand using it to make the colors better or something like that. Little details. How frustrating. You should have had Pagie just take them. :)

Amber said...

Yeah, the railing was very frustrating. I should have just taken the photos and Photoshopped myself into the group shots. :-)