Presenting EGallery

EGallery (“E” for Eric) is a free PHP script that generates an image gallery automatically. Once you have a directory of image files, just upload the EGallery files to that same directory and “POW!” you have yourself a full-fledged image gallery. Thumbnails are automatically processed and cached and each one links to an original resolution copy of your images, which users are prompted to save to their computer. Want to see it in action? Follow this link for a demo.

Installation

Follow these few basic steps to install EGallery on your PHP-enabled website:

1. Upload images to a new directory on your web server. For example: YOUR-WEBSITE.COM/sample/
2. Upload the /egallery/ directory to the same subdirectory that you just created on step 1. Example: YOUR-WEBSITE.COM/sample/egallery/
3. CHMOD the /egallery/cache/ directory as well as the contained index.html file to 777.
4. Upload the index.php file included with the download package to the directory you created on step 1.

Once you have completed the step above, navigate to the image directory from step 1 using your web browser. The first time that you visit this page it may take a little while for the script to generate thumbnail files. After the initial load, those thumbnails will be cached resulting in a faster page load.

You can configure this script by editing the /egallery/setttings.php file. This allows you to alter the <title> tag, thumbnail image size, and error messages.

Troubleshooting

Q. Why don’t I see thumbnails?
A. First, make sure that you have the correct write permissions. Set the CHMOD value to 777 for the cache directory and the index.html file within it. Another possible cause may be that the images are so large that they are using up your server’s memory. You may have to temporarily change your php.ini file settings to increase the memory limit. If you can get it as high as 128MB then you should be good to go. You can also try changing the MEMORY_LIMIT value in the thumb.php file.

Q. I see the error “Warning: shell_exec() has been disabled for security reasons in /egallery/functions.php on line 29″?
A. This is probably caused by your server being set to run PHP in Safe Mode. You will need to disable safe mode to run this script. If the error still doesn’t go away, you should check with your web host to see if their own custom security permissions are preventing the script from running. As a last resort you could try changing lines 29-31 in /egallery/functions.php to the following:

//$mimetype = trim(`file -bi $f`);
foreach($imagetypes as $valid_type) {
if(preg_match(“@^{$valid_type}@”, “image/jpg”)) {

Updates

Version 1.0 -Initial release.

A future update may include the ability to download all images as a .zip file and additional settings.

When shooting these images it was difficult to tell if the lighting was correct when reviewing the photos in-camera. That’s when I decided to create a Lightroom preset to apply to all of the photos during a tethered capture. Without this ability I would have felt less confident in my shots as I was taking them, and wouldn’t have been able to see what lighting needed improved until it was too late.

Once the shoot was complete I tweaked my black and white preset until I was happy with a version that worked well across nearly all of the images taken during this session. The resulting preset is great for black backdrops, but it also works really well for more generic black and white portrait purposes. One other thing that I should mention is that it’s not a 100% true black and white preset because the images will have a slightly warm tone to them, which is controlled by the Split Toning feature within Lightroom.

Download the Black and White Preset

The Profile Picture

The first thing is perhaps the most important piece of self-advertising that you have online: the profile picture. A model’s profile photo should convey your natural beauty, your body shape, and your ability to make a shot interesting. It’s difficult for a model to convey all of these things in one image that’s under 100 pixels wide, but it can be done.

When I use the term “natural beauty” I am referencing a model’s facial features, and how well they photograph. Just because a girl is beautiful in person does not guarantee that they will be beautiful on film. Even if you don’t photograph naturally as well as you would expect, there is room to improve through practice. Models who frequently practice poses and facial expressions in the mirror will produce consistently better photos because they become familiar with their looks. Practice makes perfect, even in the modeling world.

This photo uses all 3 of my below recommendations.
Tall heels, a wide angle lens, and a low angle make this model appear taller than she really is.

The average height for a female in the United States is currently around 5 feet 5 inches tall. Runway models are usually 5’9″ or above, but fortunately you don’t have to be that tall to look good in photographs. One trick that models use is to photograph themselves from unusual angles to make themselves look taller. Photographing with a wide lens, or from a low angle will sometimes give the illusion that you are much taller than what you actually are. My last tip concerning height, and what will undoubtedly be every model’s favorite: get a nice pair of pumps! Shoes with tall heels will elongate your legs and also help tone your calves in photos.

Here is an example of good and a bad poses for profile images.

Above I have two example pictures to demonstrate good and bad poses for profile pictures. The example on the left is good for a number of reasons. First, the model is making eye contact with the camera. While this isn’t one of the most important features that makes this a good photo, eye contact will draw the viewer in and create a more memorable photograph. Second, the model is wearing a form fitting dress that allows the photographer to see the basic shape of her body. This is especially difficult to do while in a sitting pose, so bravo to this model. Next, the model’s body and face are both making a connection with the camera, drawing the viewer in. Finally, the composition of the photograph makes it easy for the viewer to see her facial features.

Onto the second image, designated as the “Bad” photo. While this image on it’s own is a great shot, it would not make a great main profile image. The main reason for this is because the dress and pose completely hide the figure of the model. I am not going to advocate that all models use bikini shots as their profile picture, but you should use form fitting clothing so that the photographer can have a good idea of your body type. Bulky clothing like gowns and flowing dresses make it difficult for a photographer to tell if your body shape is right for the position they are trying to fill. Other negative aspects of this image is that it doesn’t fill the frame enough with the model’s face to get a good idea of her features. Lastly, the model is not looking into camera so you don’t feel the same personal connection that you get with the first image.

Documentation

A model’s online portfolio isn’t entirely photographs. Take a few minutes to polish up your online profile with details about yourself to win over photographers. Believe it or not, a little personality will go a long way in getting you a booking.

Models should document who they have worked with (photographers, agencies, brands, companies), if they have any skills (dancing, juggling, acting, etc.), or special training/education related to the industry. If I am looking for a model for a paid gig I am far more likely to hire a model who has a background related to that gig. For example if I am shooting a commercial for a tennis racket, I would rather hire a model who knows how to handle one than someone who has no experience playing tennis.

If you have any piercings or tattoos, document them in your portfolio! Model Mayhem doesn’t have a dedicated input field for this type of information (unlike OneModelPlace.com), but it’s important that photographers know about any small details like piercings, tattoos, scars, etc. Sometimes disclosing this information on your profile will benefit you. For example, I am currently trying to organize a shoot with models who have tattoos, and it would be a lot easier for me to read about the tattoos than trying to find one in one of your portfolio pictures. In the age of Photoshop, it’s not difficult for photographers to remove a scar, piercing, or tattoo during post-production so don’t be afraid to disclose that information. When reporting your identifying marks make sure that you leave a description of where exactly they are located on your body.

An added bonus to adding all of this information to your portfolio is that it gets indexed by Google. Search engine traffic may end up leading to a photographer who is looking for a “juggling model with tattoos”.

Posing

Don’t strike the same pose or facial expression in every shot. There are a number of profiles on Model Mayhem that contain several images, and in every one of the model uses the same pose, angle, and smile. It’s fine if you have a signature look, but there is no reason why every one of your portfolio shots should be identical. Show some variation in your work so that photographers can see how versatile you can be.

Pacing is very important when posing for a photographer. I prefer to work with models who allow me to capture about 2 or 3 shots of each position before they make small, subtle adjustments. Some girls that I’ve worked with either move between poses much too fast, or even worse stand completely still. When working with a photographer for the first time you may even ask them how they want the poses paced.

It is also important that a model understands lighting enough to know that they can’t move around so much that they lose the light. Usually photographers give models about a 2×2 foot size area for them to move around in for close up shots. That gives them just a little room to lean side to side or forward and backward. Anything outside of that box may cause the light to be too bright or dim. It’s okay for a model to ask a photographer how much room they have to play with, so feel free to ask.

If you are interested in fashion modeling, subscribe to Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, or Elle. If you want to do beauty modeling, pick up an issue of Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, or Redbook. You will stand out from other models when you actively study and learn from professional models in magazines. The knowledge gained from this type of research may also prove useful when a photographer asks you to strike a pose like Adriana Lima.

Be Personable

Not only do you need to look good on camera, but models should be personable and fun to be around off camera. These people skills are essential not only when working with photographers, but also when meeting designers, agents, and other industry members. A model with a warm and inviting attitude will book more repeat shoots and find jobs through personal connections made at jobs and parties.

500px.com is best described as both a place where a photographer can host their portfolio and as a place where photographers can browse and comment on other artist’s photographs. They offer a combination of features that you may have seen across other sites like Flickr, Vi.sualize.us, or 1x.com. The difference between those other sites and 500px.com is that 500px has nearly mastered the essential features that I am looking for as a photographer wanting to share my work and explore the work of other photographers.

Their service opened to the general public in 2009 after several years of conceptualization. Since that time they have gained nearly 50,000 members and currently receive around 1.4 million visits each month. They have built a community that is filled with talented artists, which in return generates a large amount of traffic. Most of that traffic is from fellow photographers and those who are interested in viewing beautiful work. A small fraction of the viewers may be potential future clients, which is one of the reasons 500px.com receives a recommendation at the end of this review.

User Profiles

What 500px.com does extremely well is social networking. Specifically they have created a social networking platform directed towards professional level photographers. I believe that 500px.com greatly exceeds the social networking aspects provided by competitors like Vi.sualize.us or DeviantArt.com. These 2 competitors target a much larger audience (artists in general), which is perhaps why 500px has a lead in the photographer market. The vast majority of work on display across 500px.com is high quality, similar to photos you would see in magazines or art galleries. Because they are targeting a professional level audience they are able to stand out from competitors like Flickr whom appeal to a wide range of styles and skills.

500px.com has a feature that enables members to mark other users as friends by “following them”. When you follow another member you will see all of your friend’s most recent contributions displayed on your personalized homepage. This lets you keep up to date with their latest work without much effort.

Activity feeds allow you to view the latest actions related to your profile. If another user comments on or favorites one of your photos, that action will show up in the activity feed. Whenever you start following another photographer, or another photographer follows you, that will also show in your feed.

Explore Images

500px features work from thousands of photographers, and they make it easy to find some of the best work through voting algorithm and editors choice categories. Editors choice images are hand selected by 500px.com staff, while the other categories are controlled by the collective rating of “Likes” and “Dislikes” submitted by members.

The popular category showcases the highest rated works. It uses a voting algorithm (explained here) where the highest score possible is 100. I don’t fully understand the exact methods involved in determining their scoring, but I recognize that members are the ones in control of promoting content through their votes.

500px.com Portfolio Page

If you are a photographer looking for a website to host your portfolio, 500px.com offers a very simple and elegant way to do that. Each account is provided with a portfolio page subdomain. For example my username on 500px.com is “Ocala”, so my portfolio is found at http://ocala.500px.com. If you own an “Awesome” account ($50/year) you are able to host this portfolio page on your own domain name. This feature and a few other benefits are included in the final part of this review.

At the time of this writing there are 7 basic portfolio themes, and 4 additional premium themes reserved for paid subscribers. One of the limitations of their portfolio pages is that you are unable to customize it. You are left with what they provide you and can only make small changes to the content on the contact page.

500px.com is currently developing a feature to create add-on pages for your portfolio site. An example use for this feature would be to add a “Pricing” page where you could list your fees for photography services. This will be yet another feature for “Awesome” users who pay the yearly subscription fee.

500px.com Contact Page

For members who want to use their portfolio on 500px.com as a way to attract new business, it’s essential that you give viewers a way to contact you. 500px.com provides each portfolio with a contact page, which lists your social media contact information (Twitter, LiveJournal, Flickr, ICQ, Skype, Google Talk), your homepage URL, as well as more traditional contact methods like your phone number and email address. To simplify things they even include a contact form that will deliver an email to your inbox, so that visitors don’t need to leave the page to dispatch an email.

Sell Prints Online

500px.com offers a very simple way for you to sell your photographs online through Fotomoto.com. First you must agree to the store policy and verify that you own the rights to your photographs. Once you have done that, a “Buy Print” option will appear beneath your photos which will direct users to a Fotomoto.com popup to complete the sale. Photographers earn an 80% commission (minus the cost of print), while Fotomoto will take a 15% cut and 500px a 5% earnings from each sale.

When you start selling prints you are supposed to be contacted by Fotomoto.com with a welcome email containing signup information for their site so that you can configure your prices. When I signed up to sell photos I never received the email from Fotomoto. At the time of this writing I cannot comment any further concerning the ability to sell prints because of this issue.

Premium Features (a.k.a. Awesome Users)

There are a number of features that are reserved for “Awesome” users, 500px.com’s term for premium members who pay a $50/year subscription fee. Throughout this review I have mentioned a few features that are offered to these accounts, but here is a list of all of the benefits offered:

• Premium portfolio themes
• Unlimited photos
• Unlimited portfolio collections
• Custom domain
• Custom logo on portfolio page
• Ad free portfolio page
• Remove 500px branding from your portfolio
• Full-sized image RSS feed
• Google Analytics Integration

My personal favorite feature is the ability to upload as many photos as you want. If you are an avid photographer who has a large number of photographs that you want to share, then this feature would be essential. Without a premium account you are limited to 20 uploads each week. For most photographers this is perfectly acceptable, as they will only submit their top tier work which may consist of only a couple dozen photographs. If you have under 100 great shots that you wish to share you could get away with a basic account if you are patient enough to wait a week between each batch of 20 uploads.

Many photographers could easily justify the $50 a year fee when they consider using 500px.com as their portfolio host. If you aren’t interested in building a wholly unique portfolio site then $50 is a pretty good deal for such a sleek interface.

Final Notes

It seems that 500px.com is doing a lot of things right. Their service is slowly expanding with new features, and their web traffic is quickly growing. There are a few glitches in their system (ex. issues with Facebook Connect), but I am pretty confident that with time they will continue to iron out existing bugs and improve their research and development process to avoid future problems.

I highly recommend that semi-professional to professional level photographers check out the site, and if they like what they see sign up for a free account. Amateur photographers might be a little more discouraged from user feedback on the site, so I recommend that you limit your portfolio to your absolute best work.

In case you missed it at the top of this article, 500px.com provided me with a promo code so that readers can receive a discount. Enter the promo code “friends” during checkout to take $10 off your first year when signing up for a premium account.

Step 1

Start by opening that photo that you want to age into Photoshop. Below is an image of a pinup girl that we will be using for this tutorial.

Step 2

Next we will add another layer that goes on top of the original image. For this layer I will be importing a paper texture that I found by using Google Image search. This texture works well because it’s high resolution, has a dark yellow tint, and some texture details.

Step 3

Now you will need to change the layer style from “Normal” to “Multiply”. In the example image above you will see that I have “Multiply” selected. Next you will want to change the opacity for this layer to somewhere between 50-70%. I have it set to 63% in this case.

What you see above are the effects that we have applied so far to the image. Not bad, but I’m not a fan of the texture and dark splotches on my models face. The solution to this problem is to add another layer that will reduce the amount of aging and texture being applied to the model. Right click on the original image layer and select “Duplicate Layer” to make a copy. Then drag that copy to the top of the layer list.

Step 4

Click on the eye icon to the left of the other layers to hide them. Next, take out the eraser brush and erase everything except your model. You don’t need to spend a great deal of time on this process, just get it generally close to the outline of your model. Once you finish doing that, change the opacity of the layer to somewhere between 50-60%.

Step 5

The final step is to un-hide the background layers to view the final result. You should now see less of the paper texture across the area that is left on the top layer.

You can view a larger example image on the Crystal Pinup Gallery, or another sample on the Angie Pinup Gallery.

Online Services

Notes:

• All sites offer a free membership, while some offer some premium features for a range of prices.
• Meetup fees only apply for starting a group. Normal membership is free with the exception of any mandated event fees.
• Portfolio images are based on the least expensive plan offered by a service.
• Private messages are listed as the amount allowed per day.
• Myspace has an undefined limit on the number of private messages sent out each day to prevent spam.
• Meetup lets you search for groups by city.

ModelMayhem.com

ModelMayhem.com is the first site that I signed up for when becoming a photographer. They are great for both photographers and models because they offer free profiles for both classes. I believe that models are given a few more privileges, such as more space for portfolio images. The ModelMayhem.com website contains a large number of models, photographers, and artists and they make it easy to connect with people through friend requests and private messages. They offer premium accounts, where you pay an annual fee to get to add extra photos to your portfolio, send more private messages per day, and use BBCODE in your profile to add links and images. You can get by without ever having to spend a dime, but when you are ready to start getting paid for projects it is a worthwhile investment to upgrade your account.

One of the downsides to ModelMayhem.com is that there are several scam operations that target models. As long as you use common sense and don’t get involved with cashiers checks, credit cards, and social security numbers you should be fine.

Meetup.com

I use Meetup.com to organize local photography events in Central Florida. There are a surprising number of photographers, models, and make up artists on Meetup.com throughout Florida looking to collaborate on projects. What’s great is that this system seems to really benefit the models, because they can participate in group events and be photographed by a number of different photographers at a single event. Chances are that one of those photographers will get a few great shots, and it might lead to future collaborations or work opportunities.

What makes Meetup.com less ideal is that it isn’t designed from the ground up to appeal to models or photographers. It’s designed to appeal to a wide audience, so a lot of features that you will find on more model-specific websites will be missing. That still doesn’t stop me from leaving Meetup.com off this list though, as it will still result in a lot of great modeling opportunities.

Facebook.com

It seems like everyone has a Facebook account these days, and that includes a number of photographers seeking to add content to their portfolios. Facebook is a decent platform because it allows you to both promote yourself as a model, as well as have a direct means of contact with photographers through their instant messaging service.

If you want to get serious about modeling, create a Facebook page dedicated to promoting your services. Upload your top modeling pics (amateur quality is fine if you are just starting out), and then have your friends “Like” the page. By getting viral you will quickly spread the word that you are awaiting projects and you will attract friends of friends. A major upside to this method is that you will probably have friends/family able to vouch for the photographers that find your profile.

One of the obvious downsides to using Facebook is that it isn’t designed to operate as a platform for connecting models with photographers. They do offer group pages, where groups of artists can join together and comment on things. This falls short of a site built from the ground up to support models like some of the other sites in this list.

OneModelPlace.com

I am new to OneModelPlace.com, but I can already tell that it seems to cater more towards adult themes (nude or erotic) more than commercial, fashion, or other casual types of portrait photography. If you are looking to attract photographers who deal a large part in nude photography, OneModelPlace.com might be a good fit for you. Not that all photographer members on the site are looking for those types of projects (I maintain an account there after all). Models have the ability to easily select what types of modeling they are interested in, which makes it clear what genre’s they are comfortable with. Models also have the benefit of getting a free account where other member types have to pay a monthly fee.

iStudio.com

iStudio was recently bought by OneModelPlace.com. They are a clone of ModelMayhem.com, with a significantly smaller audience. When you sign up for an account at iStudio they offer to copy over data from an existing ModelMayhem.com account to make setting up a new account easy as pie. While iStudio’s community is tiny compared to that of ModelMayhem.com, they offer several improvements and upgrades such as unlimited private messages and up to 100 portfolio images. Because they make it so easy to copy over an existing ModelMayhem.com profile I recommend that you set up an iStudio.com profile after completing your ModelMayhem.com portfolio to cast a wider net and find more photographers.

MySpace.com

Believe it or not, people still use MySpace.com! Granted, the numbers are quickly dwindling. I maintain a photography page on MySpace.com to attract potential models and clients, but it has yet to result in a single lead. I even spent quite a bit of time trying to contact local talent, but it appears that MySpace is not a venue worth exploring for models or photographers since so many people have already jumped ship for Facebook.

Craigslist.org

Craigslist is the shadiest of the online options, because you don’t have an online portfolio or profile to refer to. Without a portfolio you can’t verify the quality of work or check out a photographer’s references. Photographers frequently post casting calls for models in the “Gigs” section, usually under “Creative” and “Talent” categories. If you choose to go this route, I suggest that you ask the photographer for some portfolio examples before taking the conversation even futher. You should also be careful when meeting with them the first time and you should bring an escort to shoots until you are comfortable with the photographer.

Want to learn a little more about a photographer before meeting them in person? Do a little research and check if they have a profile on Facebook. A person’s Facebook account will tell you a lot about them, and it also verifies their identity.

Offline Services

Schools and Campuses

If you attend, or are local to, a university or college you are in proximity to photographic talent. Every school (even technical schools) has at least a handful of photographers looking for models. Some of those photographers might be amateurs, while others may have enough skill and talent to land them a job at Vogue. Get your name out there by hanging a flyer on campus, just attach a simple hips to head shot with your name and number (or email). If the school has an art department give your name and contact info to one of the staff who could pass it on to the relevant professors.

Google Maps

A combination of both online and offline, this method isn’t for girls who are shy of making cold calls. Start by searching Google Maps for a local photographer, then calling them to ask if they could use a model for a TFP session. Many local photographers are willing to photograph models for free, as long as they are willing to sign a model release form.

I have had some requests from other photographers looking to invest in speedlite equipment for the first time. I remember being in the same situation not long ago, and spending hours researching all of the possibilities. If I had to do it all over again I could have probably saved myself both time and money knowing what I do today. That’s why I’m writing this article, which will highlight some of the best photographic equipment you can get on a small budget.

In the tables to the right I have put together 2 kits and outlined a budget for each. The first kit consists of a single speedlight as well as a radio trigger and receiver, stand, swivel mount, and shoot through umbrella. This is the most basic setup that can be used in a number of situations and got me by for a number of months before I stepped up to my current 3 light setup. The second table demonstrates such a 3 light kit. It contains 3 speedlights, 1 radio transmitter with 3 receivers, 3 stands (estimated prices), 3 swivel mounts, 1 shoot through umbrella, and 2 umbrella softboxes. The final price for this kit is significantly more, but it is still a fairly small budget. Because of the equipment selected the kit cost is relatively small when compared to other products.

If you are operating on a budget, I suggest getting a Yongnuo YN-560 as your speedlite. While this speedlite is only capable of manual settings (non E-TTL) it performs just about as well and has the same build quality as the much more expensive Canon 430EX II. In fact, you can buy about 4 of the Yongnuo units for the same price as one Canon 430EX II flash. I own a Yongnuo YN-560, a LumoPro LP160, and a Canon 430EX II. The LumoPro is bar far my least favorite. The design is bulky and not well though out. The Canon is nice and has the most professional feel, but the Yongnuo gives you a big bang for the buck value.

Next you will want some radio units to remotely control your flash units. This allows you to detach the speedlite flash from the top of your camera and move it onto a stand. The transmitter fits to the hot shoe mount on top of your camera, while the receivers fit to the bottom of the hot shoe mounts on your speedlite units. A transmitter/receiver pair cost about $40 through Amazon. You can save a few bucks ordering through a seller based out of Asia on eBay, but the shipping time will be significantly longer. Extra receivers cost about $27 on Amazon.

Now for a light stand, which your speedlight will sit on top of. A good general use light stand should be able to stand up at least 8′ high. You should also make sure that the stand is “air-cushioned”, this means that when you unscrew the stand to fold it up the stand won’t quickly fall in on itself and damage your speedlite. Instead the stand will have a slow “cushioned” fall, which is a great feature when you have a fragile light unit 8 feet up in the air. I have yet to find a perfect stand, so I won’t be posting a specific recommendation at this time. You can expect to pay around $30-40 for a mid range stand. Smaller, more portable stands will sometimes sell for less, while large and more stable stands will be significantly more expensive. In order for you to attach a speedlight to a light stand you will need an adapter. Of the couple that I’ve tried out, I am happiest with the LumoPro LP633.

The next set of items that you will want are some light modifiers. Usually modifiers are used to soften light by spreading it across a larger surface (like a softbox or umbrella), but there are modifiers for changing the shape and direction of the light. I am a big fan of the PBL Photo Studio Umbrella Softboxes, which can be picked up from Amazon for $20 for a pair. They are easy to set up and work great for a variety of setups (see my review for examples). Another item to add to your arsenal is a shoot-through white umbrella. Umbrellas are a staple item that work well indoors and out. Small umbrellas seem to perform about the same, so purchase one that has a lot of positive reviews on retailer websites and fits in your budget. A medium size (about 40″) umbrella should cost somewhere around $15-20.

That is all there is to it when it comes to setting up a basic off camera lighting solution. The most painful part about putting together one of these kits is waiting for the items to arrive at your doorstep. Leave a comment if you have a recommendation for other products not mentioned, or to endorse products already suggested.

In this article I am documenting my post production worfklow involving Adobe Lightroom, Portrait Professional, and Adobe Photoshop. The amount of time needed to edit a photo using all 3 of these software solutions is significant, so I tend to only complete all 3 steps with only my top picks from each shoot. Normally I will do all of the work within Lightroom, which gives me a lot of control over the image, but doesn’t offer the touch up tools required to finish an image at a more professional level.

Once I have done some general image editing to get the color, contrast, and lighting where I want it I will export a copy of the image and open it up with Portrait Professional. You may have at least heard of Portrait Professional because they advertise in just about every photography magazine out there. I frequently see ads for them in Popular Photography. After trying out a demo version I purchased a copy for a decent price and use it mainly to smooth out skin and hair. It’s a partially automated system that also has some features that attempt to manipulate your subjects facial features to make them more pleasant looking. The settings allow you to change the size of the subject’s forehead, eyes, jaw, etc. Sometimes applying these types of “improvements” will produce some nice results, other times it will slightly disfigure the subject or leave noticeable issues around the area that was altered. I disable these features, but I can see why some people might want to use them and get a little creative.

After completing the skin and hair smoothing in Portrait Professional I will bring a copy of the image into Adobe Photoshop. This is where I will fine tune some left over blemishes, remove or edit any aspects of the photo that I don’t want. An example would be to change the color of an earring, or to remove an earring altogether.

All of these steps take me a little over half an hour to perform. The video accompanying this article was sped up to 5x the original speed and in real time lasts 36 minutes. The good news is the the Lightroom step can be streamlined so that once you have set up the settings for one image you can apply those same effects to similar shots in your gallery with a couple clicks. That cuts down the amount of development time significantly when working with a gallery of images. Lightroom presets also help speed up the process if you find yourself applying a similar style to most of your photos.