1. A photographer takes a picture and uploads it to his computer.
2. Then, the photographer edits the photograph in Adobe Photoshop. The photographer ajusts the light levels, curves, and viberance to bring out the color while slightly decreasing the saturation to prevent a color gamut.
3. Then the photographer flattens the image and duplicates the photo as a seperate layer. then an effect is added to that layer - "Overlay", "Vivid Light", or "Hard Light" so that the photographer can effectivly use the high pass filter. Once you convert the upper layer into a smart object, then you can add a high pass filter to sharpen the image and restore a tiny amount of atmosphereic haze. I feel this effect brings the photo back to reality.
4. Next, the photographer crops the photo (in this case a 1:1 ratio) and then resizes it for its purpose. I always resize to print, meaning your dimensions should be in inches the size of the biggest print you want of that photo and save that picture size at 300 dpi. If i wanted to print this photo, i would recommend a frame at the very least 8inX8in at 300dpi, however you could go much bigger if you wanted. If you want to post this photo on the web, facebook, or something, you will have to bring the file size below 5 mb. if you were to post this photo on facebook, i would recommend a 4inX4in frame at 300dpi, that should be small enough to bring the file size below 5 mb and the photo will still be printable. But you might have trouble printing anything over an 8inX8in photo.
5. Now you can add other effects, if you feel the image needs it. i know that tilt/shift iris blur photos you see taken with a large format camera or just some photographer with a lensbaby are fairly popular. if you feel like going the extra distance, it will make a difference. The photographer then flattens the image and converts it to a smart object, then he adds a blur filter to the image.
6. What you get is a photo that looks like someone went through great effort to set up or just another snapshot that some hotshot doctored in photoshop. Either way, the result is amazing.
Just so you can see the difference side by side... The effects are worth the money.
Ultimately you have to ask yourself,
when time has passed and you want to look back on those moments, do you really want your memories to look like someone got a grainy/pixelated snap shot of you on their iPhone, or would you rather they look the way you remember them?
(Just a Thought)
