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This is my first year doing Santa Minis so I haven't yet been able to take a picture of Santa beside a Christmas tree... Unfortunately, I won't be able to do that until the session begin in November. So I don't have an exact picture to post that is like this one.  I'm not sure if you can use just any picture on a wooden backdrop or not? If so I have some with babies in them. I really would love some tips on what to try in photoshop to achieve this look. This photographer calls it the "Rockwell Effect" and she told me when I met her that it was an action that they had created and that they brush it off the skin. I have included a link of 2 of the photographers photos that doesn't have the effect applied and 2 photos that do.. I really like how this effect gives it a magical storybook look. I have noticed it changed the white in Santas beard and all the white clothes to a tan. Thanks for your help.

without the effect picture 1.)  https://www.facebook.com/daphnesportraitdesign/photos/a.10151793695327704.1073741836.342037307703/10152112535757704/?type=3&theater                                                without the effect picture 2.)https://www.facebook.com/daphnesportraitdesign/photos/a.10151793695327704.1073741836.342037307703/10152112535872704/?type=3&theater

with effect- https://www.facebook.com/daphnesportraitdesign/photos/a.10151793695327704.1073741836.342037307703/10153002152247704/?type=3&theater                                                                                         with effect https://www.facebook.com/daphnesportraitdesign/photos/a.10151793695327704.1073741836.342037307703/10152927171132704/?type=3&theater

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Sorry, I was unable to link each photo individually through her website. Instead it would bring you to her entire Santa mini gallery. Hopefully these links will work. These are both with the effect. In person Santas beard and the white trim to his suite was white.

https://www.google.com/search?q=daphne+portrait+santa+minis&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-us&client=safari#imgrc=Q_QgQI3sw6Us_M%3A

https://www.google.com/search?q=daphne+portrait+santa+minis&client=safari&hl=en-us&biw=414&bih=628&prmd=isvn&source=lnms&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiGxvfggN7OAhUGXR4KHSHPCW4Q_AUIBCgA&dpr=3#imgrc=iDhRrEeVtREqEM%3A

Edited by newbornphotog
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Since I am unable to get a link for an individual picture I posted the link below to the photographers sample santa gallery. Most of them in the slideshow have the affect applied but the one with the little boy hugging santa doesn't and their is also one towards the end. Thanks Damien :)

 

http://clarksvillesanta.daphnesportraitdesign.com/?load=html

Edited by newbornphotog
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Thanks so much :) I am going to try to take some pictures soon of my kids and christmas tree setup. I have googled tone mapping and will try it with them. Everything I have found says you need a plugin to achieve the look. One of the plugin names I keep reading about it Photomatix. 

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Thanks for all of your help :) I went to my studio today and took a picture of my youngest with a simple setup hoping that I could use it to practice this editing technique used in the pictures in the links above...  I have downloaded the Nik Collection you recommended but I'm still having trouble getting the desired look. Could you possible use the image below that I took and see what you can come up with? One of the big things I liked about the editing was that any white in the image changed to a tan/vintage look. I am so far unable to achieve that...  I really appreciate all of your help.

christmas picture.jpg

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Is this better? I know I don't have the complete setup exactly like hers... I do want mine to be somewhat different. But I will have my tree decorated more, presents will be under the tree and santa will be in the picture as well on the session day.

christmas picture shadows decreased-2.jpg

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10 minutes ago, newbornphotog said:

I had cloned and cropped in PS then I saved it as a PSD. When you said lighten the shadows I went back to that file... I thought the PSD was the raw file. Obviously it's different :)  Sorry

Glad ya'll got that cleared up :)

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1 hour ago, newbornphotog said:

I had cloned and cropped in PS then I saved it as a PSD. When you said lighten the shadows I went back to that file... I thought the PSD was the raw file. Obviously it's different :)  Sorry

Right.  So try again for me.  On the actual raw file.

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So I'm a little confused... I may be wrong but I don't think you can save an image in photoshop as the original raw you have to save it as JPEG, PNG, Tiff, etc. So that would make me unable to clone and fix the back drop and still give you the raw file. However in LR I am able to increase the shadows which is the main part I think you are wanting done and I can save it as the CR2 (original) file. I am far from a photoshop or LR expert so please let me know if I am wrong... I am trying :) I have sent you the CR2 file with the shadows lightened. Thanks Again for you help.

 

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2 hours ago, newbornphotog said:

So I'm a little confused

Which is why I beg you to take The Raw Class before too much longer.  It will make everything make a lot more sense.

2 hours ago, newbornphotog said:

I don't think you can save an image in photoshop as the original raw you have to save it as JPEG, PNG, Tiff, etc.

Correct.  That's why your raw processing must be PERFECT before moving on to Photoshop work, because there is no going back.

2 hours ago, newbornphotog said:

I have sent you the CR2 file with the shadows lightened.

Because you only sent me the raw file, not the accompanying xmp file, I can't see what you've done.  But that's ok, I just need you to save a jpeg version of what you've done, and post it right here in the thread.

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