I’ve been interested in High Dynamic Range (HDR) Photography for a while now, but have been too busy to start experimenting with it. Until last Sunday that is.

At a very basic level creating an HDR image is quite simple. It involves taking multiple, bracketed exposures of the same scene, then combining the images into a single image optimized to show the dynamic range of all of the exposures. This allows you “see” detail in the image that a single exposure just couldn’t display. Sounds simple enough, but there are a few things you need to know before you start.

Read Article

Portrait Retouching

Only $8.25 Per Image! For a limited time.

Here’s What You’ll Get

Your Image Specialist will first Custom Color Correct your image based on the preferences in your profile then perform the following corrections – as needed – to make the subject look great:¹

• Blemish Removal
• Wrinkle Softening
• Eye Enhancement
• Teeth Whitening

Then, he will soften the skin of all subjects in the image.

Upload your RAW or DNG files after placing your order in our online store. You will receive an email with a link to download the corrected files when your order is complete.

Visit Retouching Page
Watch Before/After Video

¹Up to three heads included per image.

Portrait Retouching-Lite

Only $3.00 Per Image!

If your image doesn’t need all of the corrections in our Portrait Retouching offering but does need some attention, Portrait Retouching-Lite may be for you.

Here’s What You’ll Get

• First, we will Custom Color Correct your image based on the preferences in your profile.
• Then, your Image Specialist will remove minor blemishes/imperfections from up to three subjects per image.
• Finally, each subject’s skin tones will be lightly softened to further smooth imperfections and tone while maintaining a natural look.

This is a cost-effective retouch for images requiring less-extensive work.

Read More

A great thing recently happened – that is, if two months ago is considered recent. Anyway, we were lucky enough to hire Lela Kieler to oversee Silverback’s operations.

Lela’s Lightroom® and Photoshop® skills are top-notch. In addition to overseeing our Image Specialists, she’s charged with controlling the quality of every order that leaves our office.

Lela is a true breath of fresh air to our testosterone-heavy staff. Welcome aboard Lela!

It’s Online and Totally Free!

Because of the high number of downloads of the Microsoft Excel version of our Estimator, we’ve just launched a new and improved version you can access right from within your web browser – no download required.

Why You Should Care

It’s important to make smart decisions or your business could easily stagnate instead of flourish – especially these days. Yet I’m constantly surprised at the number of photographers who haven’t done the math, or fail to truly explore whether outsourcing their post-production would be appropriate for their situation. After all, ignoring any potential business improvements that may provide a cost advantage is not a good idea.

We’ve Done the Work, You Have the Easy Part

Just plug in 7 numbers that I’m sure you know off the top of your head and you’ll have an answer. The Estimator will make all of the calculations for you. What have you got to lose?

Visit our Estimator Page Containing Additional Information

We’re Passing the $aving$ on to You.

8GB and 16GB Swivel Drives from Pexagon Technology are not only handy to have on hand, but are a great way to send your larger orders to us. Both sizes come pre-loaded with our required folder structure and are emblazoned with our logo. A black lanyard and box are included.

The busy season is in full swing. Pick up one or two today and you’ll be prepared when it’s time to send your next order.

16GB Swivel Drive was $54.99, NOW $44.99 – You Save $10!
8GB Swivel Drive was $31.99, NOW $24.99 – You Save $7!

Visit our store to learn more and place an order.

Demystifying “Basic” vs. “Custom” Color Correction

If you need a good, basic color correction that targets the skin tones, then you should consider using our Basic Color Correction Service. There are a couple of significant differnences between our Basic and Custom Color Correction Services. Let’s review them here:

Our Basic color correction is a great option for anyone needing a quick turn around time and a solid proof-quality color correction. That, combined with the convenience of image upload and download and a lower price make this an attractive option when time is of the essence, but you still need great quality.

Here’s how you place a Basic Color Correction order:

It’s simple, just follow these steps after downloading our ROES Ordering Application.

1. Click the “Catalog” dropdown in the middle of the left panel of the application window and select the “Color Correction” option.
2. The center panel will change to the “Color Correction” option.
3. In the bottom of the right panel, click the “Folder” button and navigate to the folder containing your JPEG images.
4. Drag the JPEG images you want color corrected into the blue “Color Correction Drop Box” square in the middle panel of the application. You can do this multiple times if necessary to add images to your order.
5. You can click “Review Order” in the bottom of the middle panel to review and complete your order.

That’s it! Within 1-3 days you will receive an email that the corrections are complete and ready for download.

Can Outsourcing Your Post Production Save You Money?

I know there are a lot of photographers who pay attention to what’s happening in the world of post production outsourcing, but are on the fence as to whether it’s the right approach for their situation. After all, if you do the post production, retouching, album and slideshow design yourself, you don’t have to write a check to pay for the work, so you’re saving money – right? Unfortunately it’s not that simple.

Just because you don’t “write a check” doesn’t mean there isn’t a cost associated with doing the work yourself. And that cost can be quite substantial. In fact, not only are you doing the work at a competitively unsustainable hourly rate, but spending time in front of your computer prohibits you from doing other things – like shooting another portrait session or wedding.

Enter the concept of “Opportunity Cost.” Wikipedia defines Opportunity Cost as

” … the next-best choice available to someone who has picked between several mutually exclusive choices.”

Let’s put that in terms that make sense to photographers. You shoot an event or session that creates post production work. You decide that instead of paying someone $10, $15, or even $20 per hour to do it for you, you will do it yourself. So how do you quantify, in dollars, the opportunity cost of your decision? Let’s take a look.

If you bill your time at $100 per hour, you could be out shooting another wedding, but instead, you spend time in front of the computer doing post production work. Let’s say it takes you 8 hours to process an entire wedding start to finish. So it costs you $800 to do the work. This is a real cost because instead of doing the work you could be shooting another event at $100 per hour.

What if it only cost you $400 for someone to do the work for you and they can do it as good as or better than you can do it yourself? Then the Opportunity Cost of your decision is at least $400 ($800-$400). I say at least, because we haven’t explored any other options.

Hmmmmm interesting …

Conclusion

If you’re still convinced that outsourcing your post production is a losing proposition, I challenge you to launch our Savings Estimator and see if Silverback can save you money. Just plug in seven numbers and you’ll have your answer.

Have fun and let us know how your estimate turns out!