Happy Monday! I am thrilled to share that my work was featured in this month's Photo District News, along with a nice article on how I use Photoshop to help create a signature style. I thought it would be a perfect time to answer a few common questions from fellow photographers that I get about post-processing my images.
When it comes to editing in Photoshop, my Number One Rule is "Garbage in, Garbage Out." I am a firm believer that no amount of editing can make a bad, boring or ugly photo good. Period. If the photo sucks, throw it out.
I also strongly believe that we should all develop one or two signature looks (i.e., ways of editing images in Photoshop) and stick to it. How can we develop a strong, recognizable style if we are changing the look of our images week after week?
And, lastly, I believe that Photoshop editing should be fast, efficient and consistent, which is why I use TRA. Although it can be fun to play with one image for hours, the bottom line is, I have hundreds of images to retouch, and TRA allows me to do that quickly.
If you would like to learn more about my take on Photoshop, how I edit my photos or how you can use post-processing to help develop a signature style, check out The StyleLab. We still have a few spots left for our May 11 workshop and I'd love to see you there!
When it comes to editing in Photoshop, my Number One Rule is "Garbage in, Garbage Out." I am a firm believer that no amount of editing can make a bad, boring or ugly photo good. Period. If the photo sucks, throw it out.
I also strongly believe that we should all develop one or two signature looks (i.e., ways of editing images in Photoshop) and stick to it. How can we develop a strong, recognizable style if we are changing the look of our images week after week?
And, lastly, I believe that Photoshop editing should be fast, efficient and consistent, which is why I use TRA. Although it can be fun to play with one image for hours, the bottom line is, I have hundreds of images to retouch, and TRA allows me to do that quickly.
If you would like to learn more about my take on Photoshop, how I edit my photos or how you can use post-processing to help develop a signature style, check out The StyleLab. We still have a few spots left for our May 11 workshop and I'd love to see you there!
Evie Perez said:
Wow!! Congrats!! These are all beautiful images.
(04.13.10 @ 09:38 AM)
Grant Perry said:
Congrats Congrats on the PDN spread! Awesome.
(04.13.10 @ 05:31 PM)
Julie Massie said:
Congrats on PDN! Looking forward to Style Lab!
(04.14.10 @ 07:30 PM)
weddingchicks said:
congratulations, what an awesome spread! yay!!
(04.17.10 @ 03:17 PM)
Mel McLellan said:
YAY! Congrats on the feature! How awesome!
(04.20.10 @ 11:38 AM)
Manya said:
Congrats!
(04.23.10 @ 07:50 PM)
miami photographer said:
Very nice shoe picture! Wow!
(05.06.10 @ 02:03 PM)
Heather said:
Your work is amazing!!
(05.06.10 @ 10:49 PM)
Bear with me, readers, as I hijack the blog for a few moments and satiate the grandparents' need for more Max photos. If you can believe it, he is 13 months old and growing like a weed. I thought this beautiful Spring weather was as good an excuse as any to take some portraits of my sweet Maxfield and his daddy.
And now, back to our regularly scheduled programming....
delightfully,
Chenin
Max and his daddy!
And Doug took this one of me and Maxfield goofing around -
And now, back to our regularly scheduled programming....
delightfully,
Chenin
muyiwa said:
Max IS deadly cute, and I'm sure he's super well behaved - however, I'm pretty sure if there was any crying or anything, it was culled out. My kid - check her out at www.stealthbaby,com seems like the perfect child, and she's close, however it seems pretty likely that she'll go to college on a whining scholarship. But you can't tell from her pictures ;-)
(03.31.10 @ 11:15 AM)
Sabrina said:
You can share photos of Max any time. He is so dang cute. I love those rubberband writsts. It's so sad when they grow out of that or I guess sad if they still have that at 30. Hee!
(03.31.10 @ 11:20 AM)
Adele Cabanillas said:
He is such a cutie. Contagious little smile can just imagine the giggles accompanying it. Gotta love this age. Lovely location too. Please tell me that's not your backyard?
(03.31.10 @ 11:21 AM)
Lisa Gilbert said:
Oh my goodness, I just want to SQUEEZE him. Gorgeous photos of all three of you!
(03.31.10 @ 11:42 AM)
Kelly Marie said:
Such wonderful happy photos! I don't think Maxfield could be any cuter!
(03.31.10 @ 11:45 AM)
Katie Neal Photo said:
Wow, he is adorable! I absolutely love those photos! He looks like he has the sweetest demeanor!
(03.31.10 @ 12:04 PM)
elizabeth said:
HE looks sooo much like you in that first image. Cutest outfit ever. Little man :)
(03.31.10 @ 12:16 PM)
Inland Empire Wedding Photographer said:
Awwwwws if that's not the cutest little boy I have ever seen~ I love his laugh and smile~
(03.31.10 @ 12:23 PM)
Andrea said:
Very sweet, he is your mini me! He looks very handsome all dressed up & I just love the last picture {and the scenery} so much!
(03.31.10 @ 12:24 PM)
Jasmine* said:
I don't need to say this again, but Max just KILLS ME!! I love that kid.
(03.31.10 @ 12:39 PM)
Aleksandra Podbereski said:
The second picture: such a little man! His rolled up jeans are adorable.
(03.31.10 @ 02:54 PM)
Chenin's Mom said:
To all you who have remarked on Max's resemblance to Chenin, I can tell you straight from the source that he is the spitting image of her at that age, and believe it or not, she was *that* happy too=D
To Chenin: Consider *this* grandparent mollified for now........however, I *still* haven't seen his pic with the Easter Bunny=P
=XXX
(04.01.10 @ 09:04 AM)
Emily Faulknor said:
OMG, he is adorable! Look at that smile and blond hair!!! So precious and great captures of course!
(04.01.10 @ 04:01 PM)
Jen said:
I am in love with wherever you took these shots! Don't you just love spring?!? Your son is simply adorable! There is nothing like being a mom and having a sweet little family of your own!! Love your photos as always :)
(04.01.10 @ 08:18 PM)
karen lisa said:
Max is so cute, Chenin! And he looks just like his beautiful mama :)
(04.04.10 @ 10:03 AM)
Meg LaBarbera said:
that jacket is cute! That pic of your son and Doug need to go into a wedding day slide-show when Max ends up getting married someday! One of those pics you should print out and always have as I am sure it reflects their bond to a "T"!
(04.05.10 @ 06:20 PM)
jessica quadra said:
oh my goodness! max is so precious. i love that second photo. he's a little man!
(04.07.10 @ 04:44 PM)
Zoe said:
what an adorable little man he is! SO darn cute. oh and remarkable images too :) congrats - you look so happy!
(04.12.10 @ 11:03 AM)
gina lee said:
omgoodness... you just want to bite him through the screen... aaaah! he is precious...
(04.12.10 @ 11:06 AM)
Sarah Frenzel said:
He is too cute!! He looks like such a sweet boy... it goes fast, so keep taking ton of pics! Love the location too, where is that?
(04.13.10 @ 10:25 AM)
marina said:
love your spirit and passion comes through in this awesome website. I work with many celebrities in the LA area and would love to meet you someday. I am a florist, scrapbook archiver, photographer and artist........actually, I am all the above and more. Just doing my creative "thang" as it seems you are doing too.
(04.13.10 @ 05:52 PM)
marina gilboa said:
I almost forgot to mention......MAXFIELD!!! What a bundle of love and joy. Savor these moments. Little boys love their mommys!!
(04.13.10 @ 05:54 PM)
Courtney said:
WOW! He is just the cutest little guy! What a smile. Love these pics and thanks for sharing! Looking forward to Style Lab next month! :)
(04.14.10 @ 06:37 PM)
Mel McLellan said:
These.are.adorable! What a sweet little family you guys are! :)
(04.20.10 @ 11:39 AM)
Manya said:
Your son is so adorable! I love the outfit he is wearing. Too cute!
(04.23.10 @ 07:52 PM)
Cat Mayer said:
Maxfield looks just like his mama when he's laughing. Truly lovely!
(04.28.10 @ 08:17 PM)
JENNIFER SKOG said:
oh goodness! I just re-read my post HE is ridiculously cute!
(04.30.10 @ 10:19 PM)
Michelle and Kenneth bring the sunshine wherever they go (10 points to anyone who can cite that reference!) Saturday was an incredible day, filled with wonderful families, amazing weather and two incredible people who made me smile all day long.
Here are some favorite images from Michelle and Kenneth's lovely Palos Verdes wedding.
Here are some favorite images from Michelle and Kenneth's lovely Palos Verdes wedding.
To Michelle and Kenneth: Thank you for sharing your infectious love with me! Enjoy your honeymoon!
delightfully,
Chenin
Contact Me * My Portfolio * Stuff for Photographers!
delightfully,
Chenin
Contact Me * My Portfolio * Stuff for Photographers!
Jeni said:
I love your work. They are such a cute couple. 8th picture down...how do you get that effect? The one of them holding hands but they're faces are blurred?
(03.30.10 @ 12:25 PM)
Nicole Bunten said:
I'm in love with #3, #6, #7, #8, #10 and the last two. Infact, cancel our wedding album order, we'll just steal this couple's album instead. :)
(03.30.10 @ 12:47 PM)
s h e r r y said:
Gorgeousness!!! I love her bouquet, and I WANT HER HEADBAND!
(03.31.10 @ 12:34 AM)
AmyPunky Photography said:
Beautiful photos as usual!!! The quote you mentioned is - I think - by Anthony J. D'Angelo: "Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine." Love this! :)
(03.31.10 @ 05:52 AM)
Leeann Marie said:
Chenin, I am in love with the photo of just the bride. Serene look. Straight at the camera. Greenery.
It is amazingly simple, but absolutely beautiful!
(03.31.10 @ 07:05 AM)
mike mundell said:
Very nice Chenin! I like how you shot through people to create framing...very cool!
(04.01.10 @ 05:35 PM)
Grant Perry said:
Fantastic detail shots. The whole post is fantastic. Stellar work.
(04.09.10 @ 05:50 PM)
I met Annie and David for the first time just yesterday, when I photographed their engagement session. I knew immediately that they were a nice, warm couple and that we were going to have a blast. They get married in just about 3 weeks, so I'll get right down to it!
To Annie and David: Thanks for a delightful afternoon! See you soon!
delightfully,
Chenin
Contact Me * My Portfolio * Stuff for Photographers!
delightfully,
Chenin
Contact Me * My Portfolio * Stuff for Photographers!
laura im said:
these make me wanna drop what I'm doing right now and take a stroll some place beautiful and lush! love 'em!
(03.24.10 @ 11:13 AM)
Kayla said:
Your locations are so dreamy! I can't wait for green trees and warm sunlight again in Ohio :) beautiful session.
(03.24.10 @ 11:14 AM)
Terri said:
Love the last one especially, Chenin!
(03.24.10 @ 11:15 AM)
Tina Harden said:
Wowzer! and I love this location.
(03.24.10 @ 01:31 PM)
Nicole Bunten said:
That last picture could not be more perfect! So beautiful.
(03.24.10 @ 02:00 PM)
angel swanson said:
love, love, love these, chenin!! cannot wait to see you for their sweet wedding. :) xoxo
(03.24.10 @ 05:15 PM)
Inland Empire Wedding Photographer said:
I love the lighting and the colors and the whole feel of the shoot. Beautiful~
(03.24.10 @ 05:15 PM)
melissa a said:
Beautiful, Chenin!!!
(03.24.10 @ 10:04 PM)
annie & david said:
chenin, these are absolutely amazing! we had such a great time and are so excited and blessed to have you shoot our wedding... thank you so much!
(03.25.10 @ 01:36 PM)
kristin @ The Treasured Petal said:
Yay! These turned out gorgeous. I'm excited to finally work with you on a wedding!
(03.25.10 @ 10:43 PM)
eva said:
so was the swich to NIKON really worth it?
i dont see that much of a difference but i'm not a pro...
please share your experience and help other canonisns contemplating your move....
(03.30.10 @ 04:24 AM)
Last weekend, I headed to San Diego to shoot Tish and Rodney's special day. It was such a lovely, laid back day and I am thrilled for this super-cute couple. I also got another chance to photograph a couple and their fur-baby (an English Bulldog named Churchill, in this case!), which always makes for an awesome day!
To Tish and Rodney and Churchill: Thanks for letting me spend a day with your sweet little family! Hope your honeymoon in a blast!
delightfully,
Chenin
Contact Me * My Portfolio * Stuff for Photographers!
delightfully,
Chenin
Contact Me * My Portfolio * Stuff for Photographers!
Lisa Love in Madison, Alabama said:
What a sweet couple & adorable doggie! Churchill made me giggle a bit too ~ so cute!! =)
(03.24.10 @ 12:04 PM)
Catherine Guidry said:
The details are so beautiful! I especially love the ring shot and the way you used such a shallow depth of field. Beautiful!
(03.24.10 @ 12:08 PM)
Katy Gray said:
Beautiful! I love the groom's shirt and Churchill is a GREAT name for a dog.
(03.24.10 @ 02:55 PM)
Chris Whitcomb said:
Simply wonderful images as usual! I love how I can look at your images and actually feel the emotion, not just see it.
(03.24.10 @ 03:15 PM)
cara said:
Ah, the barong tagalog, I love it! Did the couple do any other Filipino traditions (and could you possible share photos?) -- I know, I get too greedy. These are all *lovely* lovely images, they're all so happy! Fab work :)
(04.11.10 @ 08:20 AM)