Collaboration Is The Key to Successful Photography

As we start a new year, we look to new paths, new challenges and new goals to kick the year off right. And, what if this year we decided it was time to bring others in to face these paths, challenges and goals alongside of ourselves? What if this year became more about looking beyond?

Whether you are new to styling or have a thousand styled shoots under your belt collaboration is the key to taking your game up a notch. I cannot push my stance on this enough! Having other inspiring and creative people around you will bring forth a whole new game. It gives you an excuse to share your ideas while giving you space to bounce ideas around. In addition, collaborating with other artists means your ideas can be elaborated on, taking them to a whole new level you would not have come up with on your own. Collaborators can be stylists, hair & make-up artists, other photographers, clothing stores/lines or even a crafty friend. Creating more resources to pull from and collaborating with other experts in other fields will make the styling & creation of a shoot living in your head come to live in its best form.

And, as your craft grows so will your vision. As you can do more, you will want more. Those who see their weaknesses and collaborate with others for help will prevail over those that neglect their weakness. Once you recognize and understand your limitation you can work with them instead of against them.

I want you to find someone to collaborate with on a shoot.

Again, this can be a stylist or photographer that is there to help you come up with the game plan from the start or a hair or make-up artist that helps you bring your vision to light or even a crafty friend that can provide you with props. However you can find a way to do something in a session you could not do alone (or could not do as well), DO IT!

Pull out your inspiration folders and make a list of the ideas that you feel are out of your reach. Do you know someone that could do what you cannot? That is a great place to start.

Don’t forget to look at mentors as collaborators as well. Mentors and people who are living the life that you want to live are the people that have succeeded in what you are passionate about. They can help you avoid pitfalls and best understand the importance of what you are doing.

Working with others can help you in a plethora of ways…

• It frees you and your work from ego. You create something greater than the sum of the individual talents. It becomes a team effort.
• It broadens your horizons (and your comfort zone). You can go places you aren’t willing or able to go on your own.
• It can help make a dream of yours a reality (working with others expands your resources and your audience).
• It can help you use your gifts & weaknesses and make them both beneficial (you can be exceptional at your gifts while letting someone else be exceptional where you are weak).

“Competition among creatives is cannibalistic; it feeds on the soul & excretes arrogance…” –David duChemin in 3 Ideas

It is important to be aware and acknowledge that there are people that can help you fulfill your dreams. Being in the same field does not mean that you are automatically in competition with one another. Relationships are your ticket to success. Foster them. If you treat the people you work alongside with with respect and genuine care, it will come back to you ten fold. Take time to comment on a blog if it touches you. Reciprocate praise when it is given. Support local photographers and your photography community. These types of collaborations gives you accountability and camaraderie.

This is the year! Ask for assistance, recognize your weakness and know it can be overcome.

The secret to your success might just be someone else.

This post was written by Shannon Sewell. Shannon is a children’s commercial photographer. Shannon is currently teaching a class called Inspired Child at The Define School. Registration for her next class opens January 21st. Click here for more info.

Ideas for collaboration with other photographers.

The post The Key to Successful Photography is Working With Others appeared first on MCP Photography Blog.

We thought it would be fun to interview the newest of the MCP Actions Team.  Learn how Tracy became part of MCP and how she can take your newborn photography and editing to the next level. Tracy is an experience, talented photographer specializing in newborn portraiture. Read along as Tracy provides you with helpful bits of information, shares her equipment choices, and tells you more about herself in the Q & A.

Jodi: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Tracy: My name is Tracy Callahan and I am the photographer behind Memories by TLC. I live in Cary, NC with my amazing husband of ten years and our two adorable boys, Matthew and Carter. I primarily photograph newborns, but I also photograph young children and recently began doing maternity sessions. I LOVE children and I admire their purity and respect their innocence. I think of my style as fun, creative, simple and clean!

*image courtesy of www.michellestudios.com

Jodi: What do you have in your camera bag?

Tracy: I have a Canon 5d MII, 50 mm f/1.4, 100 mm macro f/2.8, 70-200 f/4.0, and 24-105 f/4.0.

Jodi: What is your favorite lens?

Tracy: My go to lens is my 50mm. My second most used lens is my macro. I love it not only for close ups but also for outdoor portraits. It gives me amazing bokeh!

Jodi: Do you shoot with natural light or studio lighting?

Tracy: I use natural light when I am outdoors but use studio lighting indoors. Most of the time I use one light (AB800) with an extra large softbox along with a white reflector. I feather my light to mimic natural light. I always shoot wide open during newborn sessions even with my lights. I generally have my lights on very low power and tend to shoot at f/2.0 for bean bag images and f/2.8 for prop shots.

Jodi: On average how many images do you take each session?

Tracy: For newborn sessions I usually take between 125-175 images. I usually edit and show my clients 20-30 images per session.

Jodi: What is one piece of advice you would like to offer to photographers who are just starting out?

Tracy: Avoid getting caught up in the gossip and bullying that seems to be so prevalent in the photography world today. Remember, we all start somewhere and we were all “new” at some point. Photography is a journey and we all travel through our own journey at a different pace.  Don’t ever let anyone make you feel bad about being new and try to avoid comparing yourself to others. Instead, seek inspiration from those you truly admire and work hard to grow and improve your own skills. We all have room for improvement and we can all use a little dose of humility now and again. Remember that we all have to start somewhere and Rome wasn’t built in a day. Don’t rush the process and don’t jump into business until you are ready and have all of your ducks in a row.

Jodi: How long do most of your sessions last?

Tracy: My newborn sessions generally last 3-4 hours. Believe it or not the sleepier the baby the longer the session can take since there are so many more setups that we can do. My six month and one year sessions generally take 45min-1 hour. Most children lose interest after 45 minutes or so. It is best to move fast and keep it fun and when children have had enough it is best to call it quits.

Jodi: How much time do you spend on editing?

Tracy: I am a firm believer in getting your images exposed and composed correctly in camera. I believe that photoshop should be used to enhance images but not to fix them. That being said life happens and sometimes our lights don’t fire or we make a mistake and we are so lucky to have photoshop to help us out in those situations! I usually spend no more then 2-3 minutes per image when I am editing. I use MCP’s Newborn Necessities Photoshop Actions for all of my sessions and they have literally cut my editing time in half.

Jodi: What is your most memorable session?

Tracy: I have had many but one that really sticks out in my mind is a recent newborn session that I had. I had done the parents maternity images and a few short weeks after that session the Dad was deployed. The Mom came to the session with her Mom and Mother-In-Law. The baby was an absolute angel and during one set up when we placed an image of her Dad on her chest with an extra set of dog tags that he had made for her, she began to smile. I had trouble holding my camera and focusing and when I turned around to see everyone there wasn’t a dry eye in the room including me. It was a magical moment.

Jodi: What is your favorite part of your job?

Tracy: Honestly, I love meeting so many amazing families and their adorable children. I love absolutely everything about babies and I love that I get to snuggle these sweet precious, innocent little ones. I love capturing their images but I also love getting to hold them and sooth them. It is also so much fun when they come back again and they are sitting up and then again at one year when we celebrate their birthday.

Jodi: What is your least favorite part of your job?

Tracy: Invoicing and taxes, need I say more…

Jodi: Tell readers how we came up with the idea to have an online Newborn Workshop.

Tracy: I was a fan of MCP Actions and was selected to be a tester for their Newborn Necessities action set.  As a tester I helped fine-tune the results of the actions to be the perfect newborn editing solution. In the process, Jodi and I had conversations which led to me doing some guest posts on the MCP Blog.  Eventually we started talking about how we could offer a one-of-a-kind, interactive online workshop for newborn photographers.  Our Newborn Photography Group Mentoring: The Start to Finish Workshop came together as a result. We put together a comprehensive class that leaves no stone unturned. There are so many vital details that go into each newborn session and we created a class that would put everything together. It’s the perfect solution for those unable to travel to attend an in person workshop, due to time restrictions, family obligations and cost factors. We’ve already received several glowing reviews from the class.

Jodi: Share the class times and dates for the upcoming Newborn Photography Start to Finish Workshop:

Tracy: We have two more classes scheduled for this summer. One is August 7 at 8pm EST and one on August 22 at 10am EST. The class lasts 4+ hours and while the live class is not recorded, attendees can access many posing and studio videos after the workshop.  Additionally there is an ongoing private Facebook group where I will share tips, answer questions and work with participants going forward.

If you are interested in photographing newborns and babies, this class is a must.

The post Meet the Newest Member of Our Team: Tracy Callahan, Newborn Photographer appeared first on MCP Photography Blog.

If you are ready to take your newborn photography to the next level, then you don’t want to miss this opportunity!

The “Newborn Photography Group Mentoring: Start to Finish Workshop”  is an online live course custom designed to improve your newborn photography.  This one-of-a-kind educational experience includes tips and secrets that will help you better prepare for a newborn session, setup your studio for success, learn soothing and posing techniques, prepare beanbag shots, and master transitioning from pose to pose. You will also learn safety, composition and angles along with newborn editing techniques.

No need to spend money flying to a newborn workshop. This group mentoring class will last approximately four hours, while you watch on your screen in the comfort of your office or home.

This online class will help photographers achieve fantastic newborn images.  Working knowledge of exposure, camera settings and basic Photoshop is highly recommended. We designed the newborn workshop so that photographers of all levels will learn something new.

You will have a unique opportunity to watch clips from multiple newborn sessions, while learning all the techniques necessary to capture stunning newborn portraits.

Video demonstrations will include how to:

- Set up beanbag and prop shots

- Master infant soothing techniques

- Read infant “cues”

- Achieve safe, breathtaking poses

- Compose the best images in camera

- Transition from pose to pose and from beanbag to prop

Each video demonstration will include live narration explaining step-by-step what was taking place.

Here’s a short glimpse of what you will learn:

Will I learn to edit newborn images? 

Yes, you will learn to use MCP Newborn Necessities to fix common issues such as:

- Slightly under-exposed images

- Jaundice or red, ruddy baby skin-tones

- Baby acne and rough flaky newborn skin

You will also learn basic post-processing of baby images and how to get certain sought-after newborn conversions, in color and black and white.

About the teacher:

Tracy Callahan of Memories by TLC Fine Art Children’s Portraiture will teach this online class. Tracy is an engaging and spirited presenter with an amazing passion for newborn fine art photography.  She will guide you through newborn sessions from start to finish sharing tips and secrets along the way.

Tracy Callahan is an experienced newborn photographer from Cary, NC. Her articles have been featured on MCP’s blog multiple times. Tracy has extensive experience working with newborns, and owns a successful photography business that she has built from the ground up.

Don’t miss this class. Spaces are limited and the cost is $349 per person.

Requirements:

- Working knowledge of exposure, camera settings, and basic Photoshop

- Photoshop CS2, CS3, CS4, CS5, or CS6 OR Elements*

- Newborn Necessities Photoshop actions will be used during the editing portion of class.  Tracy highly recommends these, though you do not need them to sign up for the workshop.

* The editing portion will be taught in Photoshop CS5+.  You are welcome to take this class if you use Elements, but Tracy will not be able to answer Elements specific questions.

The post Newborn Photography Group Mentoring: The Start To Finish Workshop appeared first on MCP Photography Blog.

In 2010, I became friends with a wedding planner and during that very first meeting, we hit off as colleagues, but also as artists. An idea had been brewing for months in my mind about an opportunity to create freely, bring vendors together, and allow photographers to experience something new. Orchestrated Stylized Shoots was born as a way to create and implement stylized shoots.

The WHATS (aka vital components):

• Theme
• Models
• Details
• Location
• Wardrobe

Once you figure out your WHATS, you need to figure out your WHOS. Who will be the people involved? And how much involvement will they have? Some listed WHOS may not be necessary to your theme, so match up what’s needed for your shoot.

The WHOS (aka participants):

• A coordinator/event planner
• A photographer (you!)
• A florist
• A stationery designer
• A bridal salon/clothing designer
• A beauty team (hair and makeup)
• A venue
• A caterer/baker
• An accessory designer

The HOWS (aka quick tips to organize):

• Allow yourself at least 3 months to plan and execute a stylized shoot. It is a LOT of work, so give yourself enough time to plan, contact, and design. (Many of our shoots are planned on average about 9 months in advance! But keep in mind, ours might be a bit larger than the average shoot.)
• Determine your budget. Consider all costs involved and how much you are able to spend. You can do a shoot for very, very inexpensively or you can get lavish. It’s up to you!
• Decide if you just want to be the sole photographer or if you want to invite others. If you invite others, how will shooting happen? (For each of our shoots, we have a limited number of photographers because we never want the “shooting line” environment. Each photographer is placed in a group and rotated through different scenes. That way no one is feeling suffocated or overwhelmed.)
• Once your theme is established, start contacting vendors. It’s best to start with the vendors who not only see your vision, but with those you already have a personal relationship.
• Be generous. Offer vendors hi-resolution photos in exchange for their time/services/products.
• Be genuine. Show vendors that it is a great way of advertising and getting their names out. Submit the shoot to online event or wedding blogs. If you don’t do much marketing, then find another way to show your appreciation for their professional contribution. The shoot couldn’t happen without them!
• Construct a schedule with who is participating. Give times, addresses, and any other day-of details necessary. (This is where it helps to have an event planner on board with your shoot! Let them do what they do best.)
• Be excited. Verbally ramp up excitement for your special project on Facebook, Twitter, and anywhere else. No one else will know about it unless you tell people about it. (This gives attention to your vendors, but also people will be on the lookout for these images!)
• Be organized. Have everything together in boxes/bags and for smoother setup the day-of.
• And HAVE FUN! This is your time to get your creativity to shine and do what your artist’s heart is craving to do!

Chelsea LaVere is one of the brains behind Orchestrated Stylized Shoots, a successful little division that creates stylized events locally to Virginia, nationally, and internationally, alongside Meghan Gwaltney, a local wedding planner. In August 2011, they helped coordinate a Jane Austen stylized shoot with Melissa Love in the UK, and in September 2012, they are coordinating a photographer’s stylized shoot Mediterranean cruise with a grand finale stylized shoot in
Venice, Italy. Currently, Orchestrated ranks #1 in Google for “stylized shoots.” They really pride themselves on bringing local community members and vendors together to share creative visions. You can get to know them at www.orchestratedshoots.com | www.bitofivoryphotography.com.

The post Proven Tips for a Successful Stylized Photography Shoot appeared first on MCP Photography Blog.

Super quick contest – who wants to play?

I am in the mood to do something nice.  I am eating healthier (cooking and watching what I eat) and exercising a lot (spinning class) – and I just am feeling good. The better my mood, the more giving I feel.  I’ve never done contests for our online classes, but there’s always a time to start. If, by the way, you are not interested in a class, later this month we will give away Lightroom 3 and start a contest for a choice of a Canon 5D MKII or Nikon D700.  So keep an eye out so you do not miss out!

Prize:

• To attend Wednesday’s Beginner’s Bootcamp Class for Photoshop.  It takes place at 10 A.M. to Noon eastern time, Wednesday, January 11th, 2012. Make sure when you are asked for your email in the comment section, that you do not have typos, as this is how we will contact you.  We will also add the winner’s name to this post when picked Tuesday night (the 10th) so make sure to check back so you do not miss class.

Rules:

• If you know you want to attend you, regardless of your contest status, you can purchase and reserve your spot in class now.  If you are chosen, and you already paid, you can apply the money toward something else on our site.
• This prize is ONLY good for Wednesday’s Beginner Class (unless you are already attending – see last comment). It cannot be applied to another date/time or a different class.
• This prize is not transferable.  Make sure to let your photographer friends know if you are unable to enter due to a scheduling conflict. You know the whole Karma thing – if you do nice things for others, you will get it back in return…
• This class teaches how to use Photoshop CS2, CS3, CS4 and CS5+.  We do have classes for Lightroom and Elements – see our site for details.

How to Enter:

1. Just add a comment and tell us one thing you want to learn how to do in Photoshop.
2. For a bonus entry tweet or post to your Facebook about this giveaway. Come back and leave a comment letting us know you did.
3. For one more bonus entry, subscribe to my Facebook Feed here (I can’t accept more friends due to the 5k limit) but you can “subscribe.” It looks like this:
   

   

Good luck and remember to check back and see if you won since the class is 1st thing in the AM on Wednesday, eastern time.

Jodi

 

And the winner is… Tracy Nelson – #223. We had to pick a new winner as Tracy only had Elements and this is for the full Photoshop class.

The new winner is: Holly Spencer – #407.

Thank you – see you in training tomorrow.  I have emailed you as well.

I hope to see some of the rest of you in future trainings, or tomorrow, if you wish to sign up this evening.

The post One Day Contest: Win a 2 Hour MCP Actions Photoshop Training appeared first on MCP Photography Blog.

You ask, we listen! Announcing Photoshop Elements Workshops from MCP Actions

MCP Actions has been teaching hobbyist and professional photographers worldwide how to use Photoshop since 2006. We have helped thousands of photographers gain competency in Photoshop. Our goal is to break Photoshop, and now Elements, into manageable parts so that you control the program, rather than the other way around. Our classes are interactive, live, and all taught online. See our screens and hear our voices as we teach you photo editing skill.

Every time I post on Facebook letting photographers know of our upcoming online group classes for Photoshop, I get multiple questions asking “do you have any classes for Elements?” The answer is now “Yes!” MCP has added Both one-on-one and group online, interactive trainings for Photoshop Elements users.

About our instructor:

Erin Peloquin, MCP’s Elements Specialist, will teach our PSE Elements classes. Erin has been editing photos in Elements for 7 years and is in the process of converting all of MCP’s Actions to work in Elements.  She will share her tips and tricks for editing your photos beautifully and efficiently.

What training classes are available for PS Elements users:

• Beginner’s Bootcamp Group Class
• Watch Me Work Group Class
• Private Elements Training

Details and how to sign up:

The Beginner’s Bootcamp is a two hour marathon exploration of Elements.  Learn about layers, masking basics, cropping and much more.  You will feel more confident in your editing and have a strong foundation for future Elements learning. Click here to get pricing, more details, dates/times, and to sign up.

Want to take your knowledge of Elements to the next level?  Attend a Watch Me Work session.  If you are overwhelmed by your actions or want to watch an expert edit photos from start to finish, this is the workshop for you. Click here to get pricing, more details, dates/times, and to sign up.  This training builds on the learning in the Beginner’s Bootcamp and demonstrates how to chose actions and combine them with the manual editing skills necessary to take a photo from good to great.

If you need more personalized help, consider our Private Elements Training Classes. One-on-one classes are customized to your specific needs.

The post Announcing Photoshop Elements Workshops from MCP Actions appeared first on MCP Photography Blog.

**** Scroll down to see NEW DATES ADDED (plus one class added for Elements users too) ****

How to Use Cards & Templates: The Online Photoshop Training Class

It’s that time of year again. Whether you are a professional photographer offering holiday cards to your customers or a hobbyist wanting to make collages, cards, and gifts for your friends and family, you will want to know how work with cards in Photoshop: add your images, change colors and alter text as desired. This MCP Online Group Workshop makes using cards and templates easy and fun.

Not only will you learn how to add pictures to your templates, you will know how to use clipping masks, adjust colors (where applicable), change text, and more. And thanks to some amazing partnerships and collaborations with MCP Actions, this class will include dozens of cards and templates for photographers from leading designers. New this year, class also comes with 23 beautiful digital papers.

Once you sign up for this workshop, you will get the following:

1. Hundreds of dollars worth of cards, templates, digital papers: dozens of designs (one sided and double sided cards, calender templates, senior templates, wedding set, and more) by leading graphic designers for photographers.
2. A 1 1/2 hour live workshop teaching you how to use the cards and templates: you will learn clipping masks, layer order, changing colors when applicable, adding or changing text, and more! See the bottom of this post for times and dates available.

Since this class is seasonal, dates, prices and purchase info is at the bottom of this post.

Here are thumbnails of some of the cards, templates, and digital papers that come with the workshop:

Thank you to the following contributing designers. Please visit their sites for amazing products:

Simplicity Photography Designs

Hamelin Designs

Eva Talley for Luxcetera

EW Couture

Photographer Cafe

LCH Photography & Design

Photo Card Boutique

Designs by Amie

Simply Couture Designs

THE DETAILS

Investment: The “card and template workshop” is $125 per participant for a 1.5 hour live online group training, and includes dozens or cards, templates, and digital papers (most, but not all, shown above).

Class Times/Dates: 3 dates are currently scheduled. More will be added if/when these fill. Bookmark this post if you want to check for new dates. Please make sure you select the date above the Buy Now button for the class you want. Details on attending this online class and links to the downloads will be sent two days prior to the workshop. Read the Workshop FAQ section to better understand how MCP Online Classes work.

Photoshop Class: for those with Photoshop CS2, CS3, CS4, or CS5. Need to be familiar with the layout and basic functions and tools in Photoshop. I will teach the class using CS5.

October 5th, 2010 – Tuesday – 10:00-11:30 AM eastern time - SOLD OUT

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October 14th, 2010 – Thursday – 2:00-3:30 PM eastern time – SOLD OUT

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October 23th, 2010 – Saturday – 2:00-3:30 PM eastern time – SOLD OUT

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October 26th, 2010 – Tuesday – 8:30-10:00 PM eastern time – SOLD OUT

October 19th, 2010 – Tuesday 11:00 to 12:30 PM eastern time

Once purchased, your money is non-refundable. I will send details and the card/template download links 2 days prior. Once this email is sent you will not be able to cancel and apply toward a different class since products will have been emailed.

The post Card and Template Online Class {Photoshop + Elements Workshops Available} appeared first on MCP Photography Blog.

How to Use Cards & Templates: The Online Photoshop Training Class

It’s that time of year again.  Whether you are a professional photographer offering holiday cards to your customers or a hobbyist wanting to make collages, cards, and gifts for your friends and family, you will want to know how work with cards in Photoshop: add your images, change colors and alter text as desired.  This MCP Online Group Workshop makes using cards and templates easy and fun.

Not only will you learn how to add pictures to your templates, you will know how to use clipping masks, adjust colors (where applicable), change text, and more. And thanks to some amazing partnerships and collaborations with MCP Actions, this class will include dozens of cards and templates for photographers from leading designers. New this year, class also comes with 23 beautiful digital papers.

Once you sign up for this workshop, you will get the following:

1. Hundreds of dollars worth of cards, templates, digital papers: dozens of designs (one sided and double sided cards, calender templates, senior templates, wedding set, and more) by leading graphic designers for photographers.
2. A 1 1/2 hour live workshop teaching you how to use the cards and templates: you will learn clipping masks, layer order, changing colors when applicable, adding or changing text, and more! See the bottom of this post for times and dates available.

Since this class is seasonal, dates, prices and purchase info is at the bottom of this post.

Here are thumbnails of some of the cards, templates, and digital papers that come with the workshop:

Thank you to the following contributing designers. Please visit their sites for amazing products:

Simplicity Photography Designs

Hamelin Designs

Eva Talley for Luxcetera

EW Couture

Photographer Cafe

LCH Photography & Design

Photo Card Boutique

Designs by Amie

Simply Couture Designs

THE DETAILS

Investment: The “card and template workshop” is $125 per participant for a 1.5 hour live online group training, and includes dozens or cards, templates, and digital papers (most, but not all, shown above).

Class Times/Dates: 3 dates are currently scheduled. More will be added if/when these fill.  Bookmark this post if you want to check for new dates. Please make sure you select the date above the Buy Now button for the class you want. Details on attending this online class and links to the downloads will be sent two days prior to the workshop. Read the Workshop FAQ section to better understand how MCP Online Classes work.

Photoshop Class: for those with Photoshop CS2, CS3, CS4, or CS5. Need to be familiar with the layout and basic functions and tools in Photoshop. I will teach the class using CS5.

October 5th, 2010 – Tuesday – 10:00-11:30 AM eastern time - SOLD OUT

_________________________________________________

October 14th, 2010 – Thursday – 2:00-3:30 PM eastern time – SOLD OUT

_________________________________________________

October 23th, 2010 – Saturday – 2:00-3:30 PM eastern time – SOLD OUT

_________________________________________________

October 26th, 2010 – Tuesday – 8:30-10:00 PM eastern time - SOLD OUT

October 19th, 2010 – Tuesday 11:00 to 12:30 PM eastern time

Once purchased, your money is non-refundable. I will send details and the card/template download links 2 days prior. Once this email is sent you will not be able to cancel and apply toward a different class since products will have been emailed.

The post How to Use Cards & Templates: Online Photoshop Class (+ Free Cards/Digital Papers) appeared first on MCP Photography Blog.

MCP Actions has provided online, interactive Photoshop training classes for photographers for more than 4 years.  The only complaint we get is that we don’t have classes for Elements users. Now that we are slowly working on getting more and more MCP Photoshop action sets compatible with Elements, we thought it was about time. Erin Peloquin, MCP’s Elements Guru, will be conducting these classes through her site, Texas Chicks Blog and Pics.  If you are frustrated by Elements, or if you just want to learn more, you will love what she has to offer. If you have Elements 8, Elements 7, Elements 6 or 5, come join in the learning fun! By the time you are finished, you will be editing your photos to perfection.  These training sessions are perfect because you can learn right at your own computer and they cater to both hobbyists and professional photographers.

Registration for Photoshop Elements from A to Z and Elements Actions from A to Z has just opened.

Need a crash course in Elements?  Elements from A to Z will take you on a start to finish tour of Elements and give you the knowledge to make your images masterpieces. This online group training class is similar to the MCP Beginner’s Bootcamp Class for Photoshop. But is catered just to Elements users!

Need a little help in using your actions to their full potential?  Elements Actions from A to Z is the class for you. This online group training class is similar to the MCP Watch Me Work Class for Photoshop. In the MCP Photoshop training, I work on your images showing you which actions and steps I would take from beginning to end. In the Elements version Erin is running, she will show you the same, but in Elements. Learn to get from point A to point Z, all with Erin’s help and support.



The post Photoshop Elements Online Training Classes for Photographers appeared first on MCP Photography Blog.

MCP Actions is very excited to announce the launch of my WATCH ME WORK 2 Hour Photoshop Interactive Online Class.

Details are below. For class times and to sign up, visit the MCP Watch Me Work Training Class Page.

We have listened to our customers and created a new online interactive Photoshop class in response to the terrific feedback we have received from you.

We hear that, chances are, you’re overwhelmed by all of the Photoshop actions in your palette.  You may have attended MCP workshops, and benefited from them, but you’re not sure how to put all of the steps together.  You tell us
that you wish you would watch a Photoshop expert edit your photo and learn step-by-step how to achieve vibrant, crisp, clean photos.

So, in a new two-hour interactive online Photoshop class called “Watch Me Work,” Jodi will work with each class participants’ photos using a combination of MCP Photoshop actions and manual editing skills, taught in other MCP Photoshop Training Classes.

You’ll see how Jodi works on photos from beginning to end and hear how she makes decisions about which actions to use and which choices she makes with each edit.  Each attendee will have the opportunity to send 2-3 photos in
advance, with one chosen from each to ensure variety.

This class will cover using actions, workflow and basic retouching but will not cover in depth restoration of old photos or major retouching issues such as extractions, body reconstructions, head swaps, braces removal, etc. For those topics, see the Private Workshops.

Here are a few examples of the types of Photoshop edits you can expect to see. Exact edits are dependent on photos sent in by participants. This class may be taken multiple times, as no two sessions will be exactly the same.

The post Watch Me Work: Photoshop Actions & Workflow Online Class appeared first on MCP Photography Blog.