My first reaction was to be a “photographer” and explain all the reasons why she shouldn’t take the photograph as she wanted but rather have a superior product that I would create using my enormous talent. She wanted beef, I was trying to sell her pork (which is ironic since most Traditional Russian People don’t eat pork, but you get the meaning!)

Even though I was smiling and nice on the outside, I was furious, a monkey and a camera could have taken a shot like this and here they were wasting my precious time. I had half-a-mind to leave and give them their money back, but as I thought of all the bills I needed to pay (when you think you, as the photographer, know more about what your client should have then they as the client do, money is often in short supply), I swallowed my pride and did the image.

The images came back from the lab (days of film) and we did a projection appointment. I was sure when this family saw how plain and dated these images looked they would apologize for their error in judgment and want to reshoot them. The outcome was a little different than I expected, they were thrilled with the images and proceeded to spend twice as much as the largest order I had ever had sold (to that point in my career).

Read on so you keep your focus…

I see you won’t succeed.

T’ien hsia shen ch’i

The world is a spiritual vessel

And cannot be controlled.

Those who control, fail.

Those who grasp, loose.

Some go forth, some are led,

Some weep, some blow flutes,

Some beceome strong, some superfluous,

Some oppress, some are destroyed.

Therefore the sage

Casts off extremes,

Casts off excess,

Casts off extravagance.

- TAO TE CHING by Lao-Tzu Translated by Stephen Addiss, Stanley Lombardo

“Creativity is a fact of your spiritual body and nothing that you must invent.”

The Artist’s Way - Julia Cameron

Best Price $2.93 or Buy New $11.02

Ever wanted to make those blurry lights in the back of dark pictures? Here’s a quick and dirty way of doing just that. It may not be the exact thing but that all depends on the talent and creativity of the person using the brushes (of which I have none obviously). 3 shapes (circle, hexagon, octagon), 9 brushes total: 6 Scatter brushes 3 Non-scatter If you guys come up with something cool with it, do drop a line and be like “Yo check this thing I made with your brushes!”.

I’m on my way to Boston in two weeks - register now for these two events:

Register online for two day intensive lighting workshop Boston May 5-6h

Two day workshop Workshop includes:

• Two full days of instruction
• Produce your own Lighting effects catalog
• 1 on 1 portfolio review with Neil
• Hands on instruction by Neil
• Shoe Flash Demos
• Strobe light a huge room
• Model shoot - free GTG May 5th <—see facebook event
• Live PhotoShop demonstration

Get a firm handle on your workflow with Neil in Boston May 7th

Facebook | LIGHTSPEED seminar Boston May 7th

Vintage Pinup and Boudoir Retouching

tutorial is sponsored by the generously donated pinup images of Kelly @ Bay Area Pinups

This is some of the fun vintage effects achieved with the Vintage packages, video guide after the jump:

Would you like to bring a truely vintage and artistic look to your boudoir photos?

Well start out with a great photographer like Liesl Cowley, Kelly Hsiao and use the finishing tools linked below in these video tutorials:

 
Vintage Pinup and Boudoir Retouching tutorial from Neil Cowley on Vimeo.

Leave a comment if you would like to hire Neil to retouch your images for a vintage effect!

The Make Light Real Create cart has these products available to help your boudoir retouching and vintage photoshop retouching:

	Vintage Master Kit Vintage Master Kit - 18 Postcards + 30 Textures + Multiple Choice Action Set You want to master the vintage look - bring that soft, worn lovability…	$89.00                      … more info
	ONE ACTION: workflow and training Available for Immediate Download The complete ONE ACTION Photoshop workflow action with training video. Set includes: ONE: lightroom preset/camera…	$79   … more info
	Vintage Multiple Choice Action Set Vintage Multiple Choice Action Set The Vintage Multiple Choice action produces 11 layers for you to blend into your vintage style. The action does…	$39.00                      … more info
	Vintage Soft Color Faded color, bleached negative antique vintage styling The vintage soft color action will gently desaturate your image with a soft chocolate antique…	$4.00                      … more info Max: 1
	Golden Touch Monochrome Sunny Golden B+W Toning Photoshop Action free download Part of the Golden Touch Series Golden Touch Video Tutorial = training + inspiration Golden…	$9.00                       … more info
	Skin Smoothing Photoshop Actions Skin smoothing for perfect portraits description	$9.00                      … more info
	Draw a soft vignette action Draw a soft vignette action This quick photoshop action helps you draw attention and focus to an area of the image you select with one of three…	$4.00                     … more info

The classic illustrated pinup styles are commemorated in the work of these artist if you’re looking for tone and style clues:

• Edward Runci - Google Search
• Alberto Vargas - Google Search
• Gil Elvgren - Google Search
• George Petty - Google Search

Download image

Register Now: 

The seminar will be held 9am to 4pm May 4th in Williston Park - just outside of Queens (click for facebook event).

The Lightroom training videos will prepare you for the personalized classroom instruction with Neil, Topics include:

• Getting your bearings in the interface: tweeking it for you, and for less distraction
• Starting an editing workflow: mindset and action
• Starting a color correction workflow: balancing action, and inspiration
• Starting a publishing export workflow: print medium, web medium with export presets and using the plugins

You will be ask to bring some images that present a tough color correction challenge for you and we will address them, and answer all of your questions personally so that you reach a state of high creativity working in lightroom.

Read more about the LIGHTSPEED workflow, watch Neil talk about it, or download only the training materials with this link…

Click to download other free photoshop actions and textures

Read more about the LIGHTSPEED - Adobe Photoshop Lightroom enhanced workflow seminar