MCP Actions™ Blog: Photography, Photo Editing & Photography Business Advice
The MCP Actions™ Blog is full of advice from experienced photographers written to help you improve your camera skills, post-processing and photography skill-sets. Enjoy editing tutorials, photography tips, business advice, and professional spotlights.
Retouching with the Liquify Tool in Photoshop: Is It Right or Wrong?
I sit here with microphone in hand. I was about to record a tutorial showing how to use the Liquify Tool in Photoshop. But then I stopped. I paused. And I decided rather than teach you how to use it, after all you can Google Liquify Tutorial, that I wanted to better understand how photographers…
Fashion Photography: Use Photoshop Actions for Dramatic Photo Editing
Fashion photography often looks amazing with more dramatic editing. Using Photoshop actions, you can achieve such a wide range of looks. This photo and edit was submitted by Camilla Binks of Camilla Photography. She wrote the following when she sent this image to me: “I know you didn’t ask for blueprints to be sent to…
Cherish Your Snapshots ~ Make Every Picture Count
Snapshots: It’s a word that makes many professional photographers cringe. As defined by Wikipedia, “a snapshot is a photograph that is “shot” spontaneously and quickly, most often without artistic or journalistic intent. Snapshots are commonly considered to be technically “imperfect” or amateurish–out of focus or poorly framed or composed… Common snapshot subjects include the events…
Contest: Win Photoshop CS5 and MCP Photoshop Actions
What does MCP Actions mean to you? This is your chance to use your creativity, photographic skills, and thinking cap to win Photoshop CS5 Extended ($999 value) or a $50 or $100 Gift Certificate for Photoshop actions from MCP. These are two independent contests running at the same time. Enter one or both. To qualify…
The Photographer ~ on a Family Vacation ~ with Kids
The Photographer, on family vacation, with kids by Kirsty Larmour I’m lucky, very lucky – my family (me, hubby, 2 kids aged 4 and 2) have lived in some awesome places and managed to travel to some even greater places in our time – but it doesn’t matter how far and wide you travel, the…
How to Photograph Your Family {And Not Be Left Out}
Photograph Your Family – And Yourself Too by Michael Newman As the “official” photographer for any family gathering I’ve done my far share of group pictures. It’s a given that I take my camera with me to any family event. And as always, I’m happy to oblige. Here’s a few tips for taking great group…
Turn a Snapshot Into a Portrait Using Photoshop Magic
Some photos start out looking like snapshots, even if they were meant to be a portrait. If the lighting and feel of the photo is strong, you can transform them using various techniques and Photoshop actions. This photo, submitted during a private training class, was taken by Maggie Ford. The image had so much potential…
FREE Mommy Cards: Perfect Gift For Customers or For Yourself
Mommy cards are a great referral program giveaway for your customers. Just add an image from a client session and give your clients a stack of these fun cards. If you’re looking for a fun and unique gift for your clients that doubles as a great way to promote your business, Mommy Card Photoshop Templates…
How to Keep Artistic Control as a Professional Photographer
Do you feel professional photographers should control their images? As a pro photographer, you are the artist. You create a vision and make it come to life. From posing, to lighting, to post processing, you control the look and feel of your images. Your style defines who you are as a professional photographer. You have…
3 Inexpensive or Free Ways to Advertise Your Photography Business
3 Inexpensive / Free Ways to Advertise by Sarah Petty You can make so much business happen by getting out there, making friends and helping them grow their businesses. Here are 3 ways to help maximize your budget. 1. Call local charities and start the relationship by asking what you can do to help them.…
The Secret to Beautiful Black & White Images in Photoshop
Do you ever wonder the secret to achieving beautiful black and white photos? Do you want to know how to get creamy skin and rich contrast in your newborn photography? Well thanks to this Blueprint before and after photography by Gina of Pea Head Prints, you can! Here is her “secret:” MCP Photoshop Actions combined…
A Referral Program That Actually Brings Referrals!
Are you wanting ideas for a referral program that actually will bring Referrals? Why is it that some photographers are constantly talking about referrals being their best form of advertising? What are they doing that you’re not? What makes a great referral program? Let me first start off by telling you what doesn’t… Free 8×10.…
What to Wear: How to Dress for Engagement Pictures
What to Wear {Part 6: Couples} As a photographer, it can help your customers when you direct them on what to wear. The next number of weeks, guest writer Kelsey Anderson will be providing information to help you coach your customers on what to wear. When booking a portrait session I think it is almost…
What type of advertising for photographers works best for the money?
What type of advertising works best for the money? Direct mail? Newspaper? Etc. by Sarah Petty Small business owners always ask me “where should I be marketing,” but I know they are specifically meaning they want to know where and how to advertise. The thing that makes small business fun is that there is no…
Online Ordering For Your Photography Business: How to “Close the Deal”
Since writing Easy as Pie, I’ve received loads of photographers’ questions about online ordering. How long do you leave your gallery up? How do you enforce this policy? How do you collect the gallery republishing fee? What if my client’s dog died and they need an extension? Read on to find my answers! All client…
What to Wear: How to Dress for Family Pictures
What to Wear {Part 5: Families} As a photographer, it can help your customers when you direct them on what to wear. The next number of weeks, guest writer Kelsey Anderson will be providing information to help you coach your customers on what to wear. When booking a portrait session I think it is almost…
Embrace Competition in the World of Photography
Competition… Is it a good or bad thing? Does it help or hurt your business as a photographer? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below. Does competition frustrate you? Or do you embrace it? Here are some of my thoughts on competition as it pertains to my actions and training…
Many Looks Using Photoshop Actions on an Urban Bride {Blueprint}
Bridal sessions can be fun and creative. A recent trend if to photograph brides in an urban setting. Using Renee Trichio’s image (Twice as Nice Photography) from when she attended a Private Photoshop Actions Training with me a few weeks ago, you will see that even using one action set, the possibilities are endless. My…
Surefire Ways to Use Your Customer Service to Enhance Your Client’s Experience
Enhancing Your Client’s Experience by Shuva Rahim Customer service is something I’ve been thinking about more and more lately. Perhaps it’s because I’ve drastically changed how I do things since I started my business, or maybe it’s because all of us have had horrible experiences with businesses in our communities. It’s almost like threshold for…
Interview & Contest with Jessica Grieves of Photographer’s Kickstart
This week I had the privilege of interviewing Jessica Grieves, of Bubblegum Tree Photography, and the author/designer of the new Photographer’s Kickstart program. And as a BONUS – we also have a contest where you can win the Kickstart Training Module. Scroll to the end of the interview for contest details and your chance to…
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