Change the Color of Your Solid Studio Backdrop in Photoshop

If you want to maximize use of the solid color backdrops, you can make them more versatile by altering the color in Photoshop.

In the image below, I used a yellow shower curtain that was $20 at Bed, Beth and Beyond.

For this method to work best:

1. Before photographing, choose a backdrop color not found on the clothing of your subjects.
2. When photographing, aim to keep the backdrop evenly lit.
3. Pick a backdrop that is a solid red, yellow, green, blue, cyan (like turquoise) or magenta for best results.
4. Start by doing all your other edits first.  You can see which Photoshop actions we used in the edit.  Then either flatten or go to the background layer so that your adjustment layer is directly above the background in your layers palette.

The following video illustrates the method. In summary, you will:

1. Pull up a Hue/Saturation Adjustment layer.
2. Under the drop menu where it says “master,” choose the color closest to that of your backdrop.
3. Slide the hue slider until you like the color.
4. Adjust the saturation, up or down depending on the look you prefer.  I usually decrease slightly for a more natural look.
5. Paint on the layer mask of any areas that you do not want affected using the brush tool, with the foreground color set to black.

Watch this changing background colors tutorial now for step-by-step instructions on changing the backdrop color:

3 Questions To Ask Yourself Before Starting a Photography Business

These days so many of us have nice cameras.  It’s always so tempting to start a photography business. There is a lot of negativity in the industry with people that will tell you that you can’t/shouldn’t do it.  I think that it’s always good to follow your dreams, but If you’re considering doing so, listen to my story first…

Five years ago I invested in a Canon Rebel.  I had a two year old and a brand new baby.  That camera was my best friend.  It didn’t take long and I started getting requests from others to take pictures for them also.  I was flattered and of course eager to say yes. My next step was starting a photography business.   So I got online (all the cool kids were doing it).  I created a blog, slapped “Kristin Wilkerson Photography” across the top and clicked away. My story about my first journey to becoming a professional photographer might sound familiar because many take this path, while other photographers despise it.

I’m here to tell you that it was a bad idea, a really bad idea to start a photography business this quickly.

While my pictures meant a lot to me and others seemed to admire them I wasn’t qualified or ready to put myself out there as a self-labeled professional photographer. The stress of honoring the requests of what I called “clients” was sucking the life out of what once brought me a lot of joy.  It didn’t take long for me to quit the business (that never really was a business). Instead I took a class to help me better utilize my camera, studied like crazy, and tried shooting in all sorts of lighting situations.

Let’s fast forward 4 years.  My love for photography had grown and so had my knowledge and understanding.  I also had more time to invest in myself.  It felt like the right time to start my business and after evaluating my life goals, my time restrictions, and my risk factors I decided to move forward.  I’m still in the early stages  but because I have taken the time to learn about both business and photography I am optimistic about the future.

I’m sharing this story with you because most of us that enjoy photography reach that point where we ask ourselves “Should I start a photography business?”  Assuming you are confident in your photography and feel you can handle most “photo-related” scenarios thrown at you, here’s a few things to consider before taking the plunge:

1. Am I willing to take the time and money to register for a business license, pay sales tax, and personal income tax?  If filing taxes and being registered isn’t something you are willing to do then offering your services for money is not a good idea.
2. Do I have the time needed to invest in making clients happy? It’s not about just taking the pictures for them.  You need to be able to answer emails and give clients the attention they deserve.  You also need to be able to take criticism from clients and if you can’t then you’ll have a hard time managing a business.
3. Does turning my gift of photography into a job suck the fun out of it?  For me 5 years ago the answer to that was yes.  Because I was already so busy the added pressure of deadlines and pleasing others ruined the joy.  It’s ok to keep your gift as a hobby or wait until it feels right.

Just because you love photography and have invested in equipment doesn’t mean that you have to be a professional photographer. But it doesn’t mean that you can’t be either.  There is no shame in being a hobbyist and there is no shame in turning your talent into a career.  Do what makes you happy but after my mistakes I’d suggest to do it right.

Kristin Wilkerson, the author of this guest post, is a Utah based photographer. You can also find her on Facebook.

Because Camera Equipment Really Does Matter

I think it’s safe to say that most photographers are a little sensitive when they get comments like “Wow that’s a great picture what kind of camera do you own.”   It makes me chuckle a little when the most common question I get from other photographers is “Would you mind sharing what kind of camera and lens you use?”   It seems like the industry is saying “it doesn’t matter” to the outside world but in reality we know it really does.

I’m not saying that anyone could purchase the Nikon D4 and immediately start putting out awe-inspiring photographs.  But I will say this; I think we are kidding ourselves when we pretend like equipment doesn’t make a difference because in my opinion it makes a significant difference.

I used to shoot with an entry-level camera and I loved it.  75% of the time I could produce good photographs.  But that other 25% of the time was driving me nuts.  I didn’t want to be restricted to perfect lighting anymore.  I was begging for more freedom.

If you are thinking about upgrading your equipment, here are a few questions to ask yourself:

• Is my current camera limiting my creativity?  If you feel like you are capable of more but your camera’s ISO capabilities are too low, or your autofocus is too slow investing in a full frame camera might be a good decision.
• I’m not feeling limited but what do I do if I feel like my images don’t stand out as much as I’d like?  A new camera will give you more flexibility but if you are looking for sharper images, creamier bokeh, or more vibrant colors it might be time to invest in a new lens.  Don’t cheat yourself here.  Good lenses are sometimes expensive but they are worth the investment especially if you are photographing for income.
• I have a top of the line camera, and nice lens, but I still want more is there anything else?  Yes.  Sometimes we like to turn up our noses at artificial light.  But when it’s used correctly you can get beautiful soft light that opens up a whole new world to you and your creativity.

Technical knowledge, creativity, and artistic vision can’t be purchased.  Hopefully if you are already a photographer you’ve noticed those skills in yourself.   An expensive camera won’t make you an amazing photographer but it will help you to improve on the beautiful abilities that you already have.

This article was written by Kristin Wilkerson, a Utah based photographer.  You can find her on facebook.

Now it’s your turn.  What do you think?  Does the camera or lens you use help create a better image?  Yes or No – tell us what you think.