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I am looking for photographs to use as examples again…  And your photo could be featured on MCP’s blog and/or website.  I will be looking for examples for some “things” I have in the works for late winter and/or early spring. If you are interested in emailing me (jodi@mcpactions.com) a photo to use, I need written permission stating that you have a model release, that you have the rights to it, and that MCP Actions has full permission to use it on my site and blog as an example of editing or actions (in a before and after format).  

I may use these on my blog in a “watch me work” segment or “before and after example.”  I may use a photo to show what I will teach in a training or to show how my action(s) effect the photograph.  Please also make sure to include your full name, studio name, and website.  I will not be able to use every photo, but I will keep ones that do not best match what I need on file for the future.

I will be asking again too - so if you do not have photos that fit this description, keep watching for next time.   Here are some types of photos I am looking for in this 1st batch:

- Professional quality photograph with color problems:

• Skin tone issues
• Isolated Color Cast reflected on skin (like green from grass, etc)
• Overall color balance issues
• Whites of eyes, clothing, snow, etc has a tint that should not be there
• Over color popped photo - eeks - way too neon
• Neon grass - grass looks too yellow

- Professional quality photographs where it would be fun to color pop just one color (leaving the rest in color but more natural)

- Professional studio photos:

• Where a white backdrop was meant to be bright white but looks gray
• Where a black backdrop was meant to be pure black but looks dark gray or with spots where too much light fell on it
• Where a muslin backdrop has some wrinkles that you wish were minimized

- Professional photograph where you want to enhance the look of something

• Photo with a subject against a simple sky (not blown but just boring)
• Sunset photo that lacks rich colors
• Someone who you photographed who wished they looked thinner (not double chins - just overall thinner)
• Photo where you wish you had a high dynamic range with tons of detail showing

What do you get for helping me out?  If the example is used on my website, I have a section for credits and your site will be listed there (if desired).  If used on my blog, I am happy to credit you, but please let me know.  Some photographers prefer to remain anonomous when I do before and afters.  Thank you for your help.  Once I get examples that fit what I need, I have surprises coming for you.

Using Cards & Templates in Photoshop (just in time for the holidays)

Have you ever purchased a template, storyboard, birth announcement, holiday card, etc. only to find out you have no idea how to customize it or even how to insert and resize photos to fit?  If so, you are not alone.  Thanks to some amazing template and card designers, those who sign up for this 1 hour workshop will get some great cards and templates to practice on (shown above).  I will use these designers’ layouts in my online workshop.

Eva Talley

Beyond Red and Green

Savvy Designs by Jess

Simply Couture Designs

Jamie Schultz Designs

LCH Photography & Design

MCP Actions

WHERE: This will be a group format online workshop. You will be able to see my screen and interact via phone (call into a US based toll free number) or VoiP (if you have a headset with speakers/microphone).

WHAT: I will teach you how to use a variety of templates and cards.  I have gotten dozens of emails in the past few weeks from frustrated photographers trying to use cards and templates they have bought from a variety of companies online.  The cards and designs are beautiful, but I hear over and over, “I have no idea how to get my pictures into the cards. Can you help?”  As you know, my Magic Blog It Boards, Print It Boards and Tell a Storyboards all come with video instructions.  But very few sites offer this support.

So now I am hear to help.  And just in time for the holidays…

In this 1 hour training, I will teach you how to use a variety of templates and cards.  I will even have a sample cards for you to use for practice from a few designers. The ones included are shown above. You will get a link to download these once the class is filled.

This class is for beginner to intermediate users.  I will teach you how to insert and resize photos to work in cards using: clipping masks, layer masks, cut out openings, paste into command.  I will explain how you can customize templates and cards - from changing fonts, to colors, and more.  Each designer has different TOU so what you can do with a card has a lot to do with how it is designed and also what terms they have.

WHO: Anyone can benefit.  Before taking this workshop, you will want to own Photoshop 7, CS, CS2, CS3 and CS4 and be familiar with the layout and basic functions of the tools in Photoshop.  I will be using CS3 to demonstrate in this class.

WHEN: You have two options for when.  You can sign up for one of the times listed at the bottom. I need a minimum of 3 people per workshop, maximum of 8.  If you sign up for one and it does fill up, you can switch to a different one. OR if you have 3-8 friends who want a private workshop, we can coordinate a time and I can conduct one for your self created group.

INVESTMENT: The ”Using Cards & Templates” workshop is $50 per participant. Once purchased, your money is non-refundable.  But with 48 hours notice, you may switch to a different workshop slot.

I will update on this thread as classes fill. So if you are interested, please bookmark this post. I may add future times and dates here for this online class. All times are posted in US Eastern time.  Please make sure you know what time that means for you.

Please add a comment in the comment section, which class you are registering for. I will add your name here once I receive your payment.  To pay, go to paypal, and click send money.  My paypal address is: jodi@mcpactions.com.  Please make sure to write “MCP USING CARDS AND TEMPLATES GROUP WORKSHOP” and your specific time slot desired on your payment.

- Tuesday, November 11th, 8:30-9:30PM eastern time (THIS TIME/DATE is now FULL - for night class check my class the following week (on Wed).

1. Char Lynn O’Connell - PAID

2. Julie Bogoevski - PAID

3. Amy Barnett - PAID

4. Wendy Layne -PAID

5. Staci Landis - PAID

6. Photographer (anon) - PAID

7. Lailah Mueting - PAID

8. Allison Wist - PAID

- Wednesday, November 12th, 9-10AM eastern time.

1. Tara Pugmire - PAID

2. Dale Regazzi - PAID

3. Stu Bernstein - PAID

4. Claire Hill Photography - PAID

5. Laurel Riffey - PAID

6. Tonya Dreher - PAID

- Friday, November 14th, 2:30-3:30PM eastern time. (THIS TIME/DATE is now FULL - check my classes available for next week.)

1. Maureen Rigdon - PAID

2. Terri Stahl - PAID

3. Alisa Conn - PAID

4. Jenny Ress - PAID

5. Sara Schrock - PAID

6. Valerie Bowlick-Terrell - PAID

7. Niccole Kulig - PAID

8. Kim McKinney - PAID

- Wednesday, November 19th, 8:30-9:30PM eastern time.

Nichole Johnson - PAID

Teri Vollmer - PAID

Erin Thompson - PAID

Julie Miller - PAID

Dionne Terrell - PAID

Pam Maumenee - PAID

Pamela Davis - PAID

I wish I had time to do a full report for you right now on CS4, but it will likely be days before I get to really dive in and get to know it. I am testing all of my action sets so I can let you know if any had to be revised.  So far, it appears that the Tell a Storyboard Actions may all need to be revised.  Figures since that is 4 sets and in total it is around 300+ actions - eeks.  I am working all night to get these changed so they work in CS4.

Anyway, needless to say, I am swamped.  I hope to start doing some videos and/or at least a review of CS4 as soon as I can get to it.  I am unable to take any more editing projects in the next 2 weeks as a result of this and my busy training schedule.  But will resume after that. 

In order to be more time efficent, I plan to do more group trainings and limiting the number of one on one trainings.  These group online workshops will range from $45 (1 hour class) to $70 (1.5 hour classes on more advance and in depth topics).  My one on one training rate effective today is now $75/hr with slight price breaks for multiple hours purchased. See my website for details.  If you need the individual attention, this is still a great deal.  But if you want a better price and like a group workshop feel, try one of these classes.

For the group workshops, I plan to pick a topic and schedule classes on it over a 2 week period and then move on to new topics.  If you have a topic you want to attend a workshop on, please leave a comment.  At any time, if you have 3 or more photographers who want to do a workshop, I am happy to work with your schedule and also cover almost any photoshop topic you desire. 

If you wan to do the curves workshop, please go to yesterday’s post to sign up.  I just opened up a second night class as the 1st one is getting full.  There are a number of daytime slots available.

Be back soon with Photoshop CS4 updates…  Jodi

UPDATE: approximately 1AM - I have corrected the problem with the Tell a Storyboards.  If you own these, please contact me when you upgrade to get the ones that will work for CS4.  The ones I send out in the future of these will be compatible with 7-CS4.  All other sets are working and my site has been updated to reflect this.

UNDERSTANDING AND USING CURVES IN PHOTOSHOP

WHERE: This will be a group format online workshop. You will be able to see my screen and interact via phone (call into a US based toll free number) or VoiP (contact me to see if you can use voice over IP).

WHAT: I will teach you curves - from beginner to advanced. Afer attending this workshop, you should feel confident in using curves to enhance your photographs.  You will be able to add contrast, enhance color, brighten or darken the whole photo and select parts, and will know what curves to do when.

WHO: Anyone can benefit.  Before taking this workshop, you will want to own Photoshop 7, CS, CS2, CS3 and CS4 and be familiar with the layout and basic functions of the tools in Photoshop.

WHEN: You have two options for when.  You can sign up for one of the times listed at the bottom. I need a minimum of 3 people per workshop, maximum of 8.  If you sign up for one and it does fill up, you can switch to a different one. OR if you have 3-8 friends who want a private workshop, we can coordinate a time and I can conduct one for your self created group.

INVESTMENT: The curves workshop is $45 per participant. Once purchased, your money is non-refundable.  But with 24 hours notice, you may switch to a different workshop slot and apply the payment towards actions on my site.

I will update on this thread as classes fill. So if you are interested, please bookmark this post. I may add future times and dates here for curves online classes. All times are posted in Eastern time.  Please make sure you know what time that means for you.

Please add a comment in the comment section, which class you are registering for. I will add your name here once I receive your payment.  To pay, go to paypal, and click send money.  My paypal address is: jodi@mcpactions.com.  Please make sure to write “MCP CURVES GROUP WORKSHOP” and your specific time slot desired on your payment.

OCTOBER 22nd - 9-10AM eastern time.

- Alisa Conn - PAID

- Evie Curley - PAID

- Maureen Leary - PAID

-  Pam Reiss - PAID

OCTOBER 22nd - 8:30-9:30PM eastern time.

- Matthew Scott - PAID

- Laraine Davis - PAID

- Brendan Byrne - PAID

- Jody Williams - PAID

- Stephanie Doran - PAID

- Susan Heckel - PAID

- Anniemations Photography - PAID

OCTOBER 23rd - 2:30-3:30PM eastern time.

- Terri Stahl - PAID

- Dale Regazzi - PAID

- Jayme Tighe - PAID

OCTOBER 27TH - 8:30-9:30PM eastern time.

Debbi Braeger - PAID

Eliza Boquin - PAID

Shannon Steffens - PAID

OCTOBER 29TH - 2:30-3:30PM eastern time.

- Kristen Soderquist - PAID

- Heather Crowder - PAID

- Tracy Jackson - PAID

- Stephanie West - PAID

MCP Actions Website | MCP Flickr Group | MCP Reviews

MCP Actions Quick Purchase

As many of you know, one of my offerings at MCP Actions is one on one photoshop training.  I have been doing these customized trainings for over 2 years now.  And I often get requests to do “in person” workshops, as they are so popular with photographers.

I have not seen a need for training in person since cost is high to travel and since I can share via my computer screen and phone every move I make in Photoshop. 

I continue to have many photographers asking me if I would consider doing online workshops.   This is a strong possibility for fall or winter.

If I conduct these, they would be group style online classes with around 3-8 people.  Each session would focus on a specific topic.  I would teach LIVE on my screen and you would call into a conference number to hear the audio portion. 

All of these topics can be covered in one on one training, but the group format would have the benefit of a more formal approach and Q&A where you can learn from hearing answers to other photographer’s questions.

I am giving some thought to trying this out, but I really want to hear what my readers and customers think.

If I do online workshops, I would set specific dates and times for the trainings and specific a particular topic.  I would also list what you need to know prior to attending so that trainees are at a similar skill level.

Pricing likely would be vary depending on the length of the class (1 hour, 90 minutes, etc).

What I would love to hear from everyone is the following:

Would an online photshop workshop be of interest to you? 

What topics would you be most interested in learning about in this online 1-2 hour workshop format?

_____________________________________________

Some of my one on one trainees have said these are some areas they would want to take a “workshop” in:

• The power of layer masking
• The mystery of curves - using curves from beginning to advanced
• How to get rid of color casts/fix skin tones, etc
• Methods for enhancing color
• Fixing Faces - smoothing skin, enhancing eyes, getting rid of under eyes shadows, wrinkles, etc
• Methods for converting to black and white
• Using MCP Actions - how to get the most from each set
• Methods for sharpening and when to use each
• Workflow - what order to edit in
• Polishing - how to see what’s “missing” in your images to polish them to perfection
• Cool tools (how to use certain photoshop tools to their max)
• Customizing actions for increased workflow and batch processing
• Using and/or making storyboards and templates

Please leave your thoughts in the “comment” section below.  Once I gather more info, I may be a poll on the blog for more feedback.  I appreciate your help and I will keep everyone updated should I decide to offer these trainings.  Until then, please consider my one-on-one Photoshop training.