What it takes...

Some people have voiced concern, or just a little anxious when stuff will be posted online.

To clarify that issue and to let everyone know I am not just wasting idle time, I have put together a list of what has to be done everytime I shoot a portrait, or a wedding. In the recent weeks, that means multiple weddings and portrait shoots happening extremely close together.

1. Download the cards. This can take minutes, or if the wedding has a lot of
   pictures...days

2.  I then do a preliminary review of the raw files and edit of all the
   pictures discarding some that did not come out, out of focus, etc.

3. preliminary lighten/darken some as needed

4. export as .jpg files (this is what I work with and print from) so I can
   import them into Photoshop for additional retouching and enhancing.

5. process the files to eliminate or reduce "noise". Digital files contain
   "noise" or artifacts that need to be reduced or eliminated. This makes the
   pictures cleaner and sharper

6. Renumber all the files to show a simple number like "0001" instead of
   the camera file number "DSCF5432.RAF". People would go nuts with a number
   like that. This is the quickest part of the this whole process.

7. burn to DVD all the raw files AND the "raw" jpg files for backup (takes
   forever and many multiples of discs). I cannot do anything else while those
   discs are burning.

8. copy all Raw JPG files to folders to begin Photoshop work

9. review and selection of the final webshow files

10. final retouching and enhancing of JUST those files

11. creation of the final webshow and posting online

12. creation of the animated .gif files (moving pictures that you see on
    the homepage and her Wedding Spotlight page.

13. begin process of selection of images for the Album Showcase

14. enhance and retouch those images, usually as I select them while I am
    creating the Album. The album can literally take 3-10 days to create depending on
    its complexity and what else is going on.

15.  review all remaining Gallery pictures to do a final edit/cut, retouch
    and minor enhancement to post on the web. May even do some "artsy" stuff
    to some of them to show what can be done.

I will be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding these issues if I have not detailed it enough, so just call.



www.dugganstudio.com