PP Help for my Front Porch

[Shebang]

I really need help. My DH has been out of work for seven months of this past year. We have to do something. The only thing we know to do at this late stage in life is to steer our profession in a different direction. My computer programmer sister is building us a website to peddle outdoor furniture/art/garden accessories. We need an eye-catching front porch photo. This is the only thing I currently have which was taken years ago, and has that ugly thing in the background I need some honest feedback and a willing PP person to fix the problems if possible (I would if I could). We just need something to get started with until we can do better - snow/ice storms in February don't work for what I need! Thanks much.

[Frog]

Do you want an overall picture to show how several items can be arranged tastefully?
I think you will be better off starting with a whole new picture that is less busy. Take out all but one or two of the flower arrangements. You could use one or two just as accents.
I wish you well.

[Shebang]

Sometimes you just have to take the first step. This photo has too many problems. So I went to a stock photo site to look. Not much there either (so far), but at least we're moving forward. This is a rather overwhelming endeavor because there is so much new territory to conquer, but day by day we're making progress.

Thanks, Frog!

[Lava Lamp]

What about taking some different crops of this one. If you cut it up, it would seem like different photos and you could isolate the details you want. Web photos are usually pretty small anyway...

[daq7]

I agree with Frog that a slightly less complicated arrangement would work better. It would be easy to darken out the background on this to eliminate the ugliness. Do you have it in RAW?

[Shebang]

I agree with Frog that a slightly less complicated arrangement would work better. It would be easy to darken out the background on this to eliminate the ugliness. Do you have it in RAW?

No, it's not shot in RAW. I don't even have the house (it's rented out), and the furniture is long gone. It's easier to start from the beginning in another direction, I think.

I strongly suspected this was not going to work, but I wanted to hear it from others.

Thanks to you all for your time.

[OldClicker]

Does this work? - TF

[Jay C]

^ Great photoshop

[daq7]

Wow, yeah, that is excellent photoshop work. I would have settled for darkening it out or something. Very nice.

[Shebang]

Wow, OldClicker - I am impressed! Thank you!! Are you self-taught in PP?

[OldClicker]

Wow, OldClicker - I am impressed! Thank you!! Are you self-taught in PP?

Yes, I just play with it. Probably not the best way to learn, though. - TF

[Shebang]

Seems to have worked very well for you!

[BlueRob]

Ha! that looks mucho better!

Nope playing with software is not the best way to learn but I have to admit is much more fun that way....ALL of the software that I use...photography and architecture related I have learned it that way....again its FUNN!

[MarcusK]

I think OldClicker's PP is the only PP that would work...

Regarding learning the software... playing around actually is the best way to start... but then books and tutorials are the way to go.... there's so much to learn.. so you will need to decide how far you want to go...

A point of interest: there are some photoshop seminars/workshops that have a prerequisite 10 years professional experience to attend them... that should tell you what you can do!!

Shebang.... a good way to start if you would be interested is to test out all the tools available and see what they do... I for one am willing to offer any help and assistance along the way if you want to start learning!! I had already begun writing some lessons to share with some of my friends who wanted to learn... this is a good reason for me to pick them up again!

Cheers and good luck with the site....

[Shebang]

...Shebang.... I for one am willing to offer any help and assistance along the way if you want to start learning!! I had already begun writing some lessons to share with some of my friends who wanted to learn... this is a good reason for me to pick them up again!

Cheers and good luck with the site....

Marc: Thank you so much. The generosity on this forum is inspiring. I do want to learn Photoshop. I absolutely am captivated by the results the PR photogs are getting. The problem is I am such a rank amateur with the camera that I rarely get anything worth PPing -- and with our currently stalled-out career, there's no budget with which to buy PP. I don't know how this wll all work out, I just know that it will.

Is there any point in reading lessons without the tool? Do you have an overview of PP sort of thing? Other than bits and pieces and what I read here, I don't even know what it will do. (Ten years of professional experience? That's scary. Obviously, it will do a lot!!)

[MarcusK]

The more comfortable you are with the camera the less PP you actually end up doing, unless you are aiming at special effects, such as the "draganizing" effect BlueRob does.

There are certain general aspects that primarily deal with what to look for and what you can do in post. Also, there is no need to necessarily go with Photoshop, and you could go for Lightroom or Aperture (Mac OS), which cost less and can do quite a lot.

The text on post-processing (PP) might be an interesting preparation until you do get the full software.

Tell you what though... I'll format the first pdf and send it your way... see if it gives you any insight...

and by the way, the generosity on the forum is what kept me coming over the years... and keeps me here...

[Shebang]

Thanks! "All or nothing" is the tendency of my personality. Is Lightroom similar to PhotoShop in its approach, or would you have to learn all over again by making the switch from LR to PP?

[OldClicker]

The 'cheaper' Photoshop would be Elements (combination Lightroom & Photoshop). There isn't much PS does that Elements doesn't. Lightroom's strength is with its totally non-destructive editing. It doesn't change the image, it just 'remembers' what you did and does that again the next time you open it. - TF

[BlueRob]

The problem is I am such a rank amateur with the camera that I rarely get anything worth PPing --

You will be amazed how a soul-less shot improves with some basic PP work. I know that first hand LOL.
Obviously the idea is to become a well suited photographer and thus reduce the amount of time you spend PPing a more on the filed clicking the shutter button. In the meanwhile I encourage you to START with the software of you liking....the interface of such programs is very straight forward....and you will get a hang of it in no time.

Please feel free to drop me a PM and I will gladly help:thumbsup:

[Frog]

Are you making the furniture or getting from wholesaler/supplier?
Are you concentrating on wiker or will there be other types?
Your shot is mostly wiker so someone opening it would get the impression that that is what you deal with. If not only wiker you will want other shots of arrangements to give the idea of what you deal in. Maybe your sister can make it so that a person can click on a piece of furniture in the photo that will take them to that item for description and purchase.
At any rate, you will need individual pics of your items. Make them sharp and clear with good background and shoot in raw with a tripod no matter how fast your shutter speed is.
Quality photos in sites really help sales.

[Shebang]

Are you making the furniture or getting from wholesaler/supplier?
Are you concentrating on wiker or will there be other types?
Your shot is mostly wiker so someone opening it would get the impression that that is what you deal with. If not only wiker you will want other shots of arrangements to give the idea of what you deal in. Maybe your sister can make it so that a person can click on a piece of furniture in the photo that will take them to that item for description and purchase.
At any rate, you will need individual pics of your items. Make them sharp and clear with good background and shoot in raw with a tripod no matter how fast your shutter speed is.
Quality photos in sites really help sales.

Frog, you have hit the problem nail with the proverbial hammer. Though products for an "appealing outdoor space" is our main theme, the items on this porch will not be in our inventory, which is a big part of the reason I have abandoned trying to use this photo. My husband is quite talented and knowledgeable with paint products, some of which you must receive a certificate of training before you can even buy the stuff, so we are going to just go with a generic stock photo until we can create and photograph our products for sale. It's very convenient that I have the desire for photography, because as you mentioned, good pictures are critical -- and mine, so far, stink. I'm going to lean heavily on PR to help me set up some kind of makeshift studio or whatever for that purpose.

Even before PR, I had a great interest in PP, and I know that will be valuable to know in this endeavor. I am looking forward to Marc's help there, and BlueRob, thank you! for your offer of assistance as well. So much to learn and do for these old brain cells. Thanks all!!

[Frog]

As has been mentioned, a good photo won't need much pp. Its not scenery, or a portrait or something you want to put some artistic touch to. Make 'em sharp with good light and you'll be fine.

p.s. Your pictures don't stink and you haven't been showing product photos.
Study them and get some practice in and put them up for critique. Doesn't have to be nice stuff, any old thing will do.
. I know we have people here that have done product photography. Then when you're ready to start shooting the real product, you'll be ready.

[MarcusK]

Your pictures don't stink and you haven't been showing product photos.
Study them and get some practice in and put them up for critique. Doesn't have to be nice stuff, any old thing will do.

This is lesson one... critique... is one of the most important aspects of learning... and not just by getting critiqued, but actually by critiquing the photos of others as well and then comparing to what others have said... I have learned so much here on this forum due to this particular section of the forum...

Which is why I love straight, direct answers no matter how blunt... and when you start digging in a photo to find something wrong... well... you learn to look for details...

By the way, forgot about Photoshop Elements, which is a toned down version of Photoshop... Very good for photographers, and would serve your needs.

[gahspidy]

Sorry to hear you are in this tight spot, Paula. Much of the country is and so your certainly not alone in this.
You have some great suggestions and advice from the members here already.
I agree that PS Elements is ideal for you in that it won't break the budget, has a much easier learning curve than PS or LightRoom and can do everything you need.

Frog is absolutely correct when he says that good photographs are very important for selling items whether they be in print or on web. A good photo will go a long way in selling a product.

You don't need to start out with any expensive or fancy equipment. What would be ideal is if you have some area or room in the house that can be uncluttered so that you can place yur items there to photograph, prefferably against a plain wall with no clutter or distractions around getting in on the shot. If there is a fair amount of window lighting, all you should think about investing in is a descent tripod (if you don't have one already) and a reflector. The reflector could just be a fairly large piece of white board or you can invest in one like a compact disc reflector that unfolds into a large 3ft diameter disc size.

The reflector will help a long way in using the available natural lighting whether your shooting indoors or outside.
When you have taken some shots of your items, show us as well as taking some pics of the space from which you are using to set up the shots and we will try to help you all we can. I think you'll be fine, you have a good eye for composition and that is a huge plus.

It's great that your sister is there with the skills to help get your site together and going once you get your photos and products together. Your already well on your way, and you have us

[Shebang]

Thanks, everybody! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: This is a daunting endeavor for two old fossils but hey, nothing ventured, nothing gained.