This type of conversation (what is considered sooc) was also being discussed on a forum lead by the awesome Wendy Schultz and the recommendation was given to shoot raw+jpg and then compare side by side.  Turns out that those adjustments, changing the picture style, ONLY affect jpg images.  If you shoot in RAW, you won’t see different picture styles (as far as I can see- wouldn’t you agree though?), but you do have the power to make those adjustments in Lightroom, ACR, etc.  If you shoot in jpg, you will see the difference. For the images above, I chose the standard style, boosted the contrast to +3 and boosted the saturation to +3 and changed the color tone to +2.  I obviously boosted the saturation a bit on the ridiculous side of things but I wanted to make sure I could clearly see a difference.  Check out that turquoise sky.  : )  Oh and btw, how about the name of the business!!??  If you are wanting to shop at this store, which I don’t blame you if you do, you simply need to visit Superior, AZ. 

Love to learn!  So, the morale of my story is… if shooting in jpg, registering different picture styles is worthwhile!

So you noticed that the first part is all about hair and make-up and lighting, then came the photo session.  It is after the photo session that PS was put to work…  Her eyebrows were changed, her neck grew, her lips became fuller, eyes wider/larger and her hair darker and thicker.  There in lies the misconception-everything can be done, created/changed in Photoshop.  While that may hold true, somehow the value has been diminished.  What exactly does that mean when somebody says those three words?  Does our world know PS as a “fix” so we all start to use the term, “Photoshop it” meaning fix it… make me look thinner, make me look beautiful, make that not so green grass look lush and scenic, etc.?  As you saw in the movie, things were fixed but were they ever broken?  What was wrong with her real beauty?  What is wrong with real beauty?  (topic for another day, I suppose)

In PS, there are layers upon layers upon layers…  actions and more actions.  PS is amazing and the things that can be done are amazing.  Creating is something photographers love to do-its why we are behind the camera, whether we work with PS or not.  Some PS users complete their style with PS, adding textures, colors, etc.  What I am talking about is the reliance on PS as a means to create/complete a photo.  Nowadays, those simple words, “just Photoshop it” are said as if it is a simple change, a click on the mouse or a moment in time.  The assumption is that PS will make XYZ better…  PS is still a skill, a learned process with many errors and mistakes.  Photoshop takes a lifetime to learn and while you are spending your lifetime learning it, things are changing behind and ahead of you.  : )  PS is truly an wondrous tool and it can add so much (or take away so much if you don’t know what you are doing ) to an image.  Those using PS will agree that if you are working on an image you truly care about, it takes time and more time!

So, what am I ranting and raving about?  Good question!  : )  I want the term “Photoshop it” to be used less often or the realization of what it means.  I want the non-PS users to know that everything in PS is not easy, just open it up and you will see.  I want all to value true beauty.  I want others to value the time it takes to “just Photoshop it.”   Here is what comes to mind when I think of “just photoshop it”-a quick fix or change.  : )  This poor girl, if she only knew what I just did to her picture.  ; )  Actually, in the second photo, it looks like she might know…