New Logo

This is the new version of my logo. I started my photography business years ago, specializing in event photography. I got caught doing too many weddings (which was never my passion). I have shifted my focus and specialties to portraits of children and families. Let me know what you think, and if you need a portrait photographer, please email me: coryvince@hotmail.com.

Child Christmas Portrait on a Budget

Portraits at a mall studio are cheap. You can sign up for a yearly package and spend next to nothing (I'm told). And the results are "OK", but as you know, I HATE studio portraits. Living in northern, NJ I will allow them at only one time of the year. Christmas.

So my friend takes her son to one of those studios and has new portraits hanging up every month. They do a nice job but she was not satisfied with his Christmas shot. After bribing me with compliments and a free meal, I stopped by and got this shot for her. It was a very simple setup. They had just gotten their tree (not yet decorated) and propped in up in a corner near a window. Perfect! I set up my TTL flash, camera left, as my key light and used the window (that had a diffused shade) as my fill light on camera right. I liked the outcome and spent only 7 minutes in Photoshop Elements. Adjusted color and saturation, and burned the edges. In addition, I burned just the shadows in the tree. Send it to Walmart, they print it up on their Christmas card paper and you are good to go.

Fast. Cheap. The comfort of home for a 2 year old?  ....Priceless!

Step it Up

I loved this photo as soon as I saw it. The lighting was great, the coloration perfect and the smile; simple and uncoaxed. I did, however, think I could tweak it up a notch in Photoshop Elements, and that is exactly what I did.

I played with the contrast and saturation as well as the exposure.  Since she was in a stroller and I wanted to downplay that, I burned the edges. It helped to make her face standout and gave it almost a "snoot" flash effect. Hey, it's good enough for a website or fireplace mantel, and in essence it was a quick "snapshot" with my Rebel.