Annie Rutherford
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Blog

Behind the Scenes of the Spring Mailer Shoot

2/13/2019

6 Comments

 
Directing a photoshoot is always exciting, but I always get that little bit of nerves right before. This was our biggest shoot yet, and it was for a project I was very excited about – our 2019 Spring Mailer. Not only did we have three models and need to travel to three locations, but we also worked with several vendors to receive clothing, hair and make up.
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Developing the shot list is always the hardest part, especially in this case when I have to pair our products with a variety of outfits and decide which shots will be best for which pieces. I laid out every shot by model, location and outfit to ensure we worked as quickly as possible.
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My Top 3 Photoshop Tips

6/1/2018

4 Comments

 
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Photoshop is a difficult application, especially when working with models and jewelry. I was lucky to start with a great shot that mostly needed superficial work. The unique challenge I was faced with was knowing that this image would be blown up and printed out on a large foam core for a party for the magazine. This meant I had to ensure that at that large scale it would still look perfect. 

3. Edit in Layers

Always. Always. Always create a new layer before making any changes. Before I make any edits I duplicate the original photo and keep that layer on top so I can toggle the visibility on and off to check my progress. This helps me keep track of my edits and ensure I haven't taken anything too extreme. It also allows me to revert back a step if I decide I don't like the direction its going in. 

2. Use the Liquify Tool Carefully

The liquify tool can be your best friend, but it must be used sparingly. This is the tool that celebrities use that warps the mirror in their selfies so you can tell where they have nipped in their waist. I would never tell you to make a model look thinner, or to edit the shape of someones face, but sometimes the client wants these things done. In this case I used the liquify tool to smooth out her dress so you couldn't see where it didn't quite fit. I also used it to fix the part in her hair where the stylist failed to get it straight. This is a great place where a new layer can help you ensure that you haven't gotten too crazy. 

1. Airbrushing Doesn't Have to Take Hours 

I have edited photos that need to be perfectly airbrushed for large scale printing, but I also have to edit enough photos for our social media accounts to post at least once a day and often two to three times. This means I can't perfectly edit each photo, but I also spend equal amounts of time in front of the camera as I do behind it. Since we are our own worst critics I had to learn a way to make my skin and the skin of our other models look good enough for scrolling. The easiest way to do this is the healing brush tool for large spots and the blur tool across the skin. If it needs more work create a layer and apply the blur filter and then create a layer mask and use the black brush tool to erase any areas that need more detail.
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4 Comments

    About Me

    I'm a Graphic Designer in Kansas City and here I will chronicle the rewards and challenges I face in the design world. 

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  • Home
  • Explore
    • Art Direction
    • Digital Design
    • Print Design
    • Experiential Branding
    • Word Marks
    • Environmental Graphics
    • Social Media
  • My Projects
    • Basys
    • ZIWI
    • Hallmark
    • TIVOL Marketing >
      • Publications
    • Female Health & Fertility Magazine
    • Exceptional Needs Today
    • iFocus Marketing
    • KC Chiefs
    • Mavuno Internship
    • KC Waters
    • RTS Financial
    • Real Estate
    • Calida Tea