Description:
If you’re easily put off by purple pages festooned with hearts or photos of babies dressed like fairies, you might just miss out on this trove of practical advice on running a successful digital imaging business. All dolled up like a preteen’s diary, The Glitterguru on Photoshop may look flimsy at first glance, but the information within will benefit anyone who shoots images for major ad campaigns (or aspires to) and uses Photoshop for simple touch-ups or complex compositing. It's clear that author Troché-Stapp knows her stuff. In addition to commanding five-figure fees for her work as a digital imager, she is a contributing editor for PEI (Photo Electronic Imaging) magazine, and, in her role as an advice columnist, she is familiar with the real world problems people face. Her book discusses how to work with clients on a concept, prep for the photo shoot, create the image, and deliver the finished work in a professional manner and the proper format. The real nitty-gritty of being a professional photographer/digital imager is covered here, from interviewing models and creating a Web site for your business, to estimating your fee. Retouching tips include performing digital "cosmetic surgery" (like slimming down a thigh and adding voluminous hair) and using Photoshop’s adjustment layers, channels, and filters to achieve these affects. There's also lots of advice on seamlessly compositing backgrounds and props into images. The book ends with three case studies: a cover shoot for PEI; an image created to sell as stock; and a "portrait" of Troché-Stapp’s husband as a computer-chip-brained borg. Except for the above-mentioned tips, this is not a Photoshop how-to manual. It’s more of a supportive outline on how to earn a living from your Photoshop creations and it may be just be the pat on the behind your business needs. --Angelynn Grant
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