It's that time of year where everything is sparkly and bright. Very bright.
I have mentioned that working on designing Christmas and Holiday greetings have kept me busy, but what I haven't said is that creating unique and personal messages for clients is one of my most favorite things to do!
The theme for this week's post is "high key," and although I may have covered this topic before (several years ago), I realized that some of the design work I do calls for high key images. I am going to take one example from my last year's work folder to show you how a high key image can make for a great design concept.
I have mentioned that working on designing Christmas and Holiday greetings have kept me busy, but what I haven't said is that creating unique and personal messages for clients is one of my most favorite things to do!
The theme for this week's post is "high key," and although I may have covered this topic before (several years ago), I realized that some of the design work I do calls for high key images. I am going to take one example from my last year's work folder to show you how a high key image can make for a great design concept.
This is one very prized kitty. He is well known in his inner-family circles and has somewhat of a reputation.
He was not too keen on a camera or off camera flash. He could care less about my feather on a stick or catnip mouse. His main thought, I am sure, was "when are you going to leave."
He was not a steady eddy, and often would move just when you thought you had the perfect "snap!"
Yet, his parents said, "if you can...make him our card."
He was not too keen on a camera or off camera flash. He could care less about my feather on a stick or catnip mouse. His main thought, I am sure, was "when are you going to leave."
He was not a steady eddy, and often would move just when you thought you had the perfect "snap!"
Yet, his parents said, "if you can...make him our card."
I will usually do a few designs (in this case 4 x 8 card-sized) and send them on to the client for review and selection. Based on Frampton's overall attitude, one of my designs centered around turning the photo black and white and bombarding the shadows to a more high key look. I then added some verbage and a somewhat hasty, slapdash hat (believe me, he would NEVER wear one) which also fit his personality. The result is below.
Frampton is suddenly bright and Christmassy.
I am not a fan of colorizing an image (taking a black and white and adding color to certain areas) EXCEPT for fun cards during the holidays, where the technique can serve to heighten a design.
As a Christmas greeting image, it would be pretty boring if I left it as just a black and white Frampton.
The planning of this design included my adding some of the words in now.
I am not a fan of colorizing an image (taking a black and white and adding color to certain areas) EXCEPT for fun cards during the holidays, where the technique can serve to heighten a design.
As a Christmas greeting image, it would be pretty boring if I left it as just a black and white Frampton.
The planning of this design included my adding some of the words in now.
I can then use some stock images, backgrounds and textures to finalize the look of the greeting, and make Frampton stand out.
The final design (and the one selected as THE Christmas greeting) is below. You can see how high key Frampton stands out from the traditional reds and greens of the holiday colors. The card was printed with a "pearl" finish, which gave it a festive sheen.
High key can be shot in studio with proper lighting, but Frampton's original photo was taken elsewhere with one light. As you can see, it is possible to take an image and turn it into a high key photo if the photo lends itself to the switch and the conditions are right...and if you watch a cadre of YouTube tutorials.
The final design (and the one selected as THE Christmas greeting) is below. You can see how high key Frampton stands out from the traditional reds and greens of the holiday colors. The card was printed with a "pearl" finish, which gave it a festive sheen.
High key can be shot in studio with proper lighting, but Frampton's original photo was taken elsewhere with one light. As you can see, it is possible to take an image and turn it into a high key photo if the photo lends itself to the switch and the conditions are right...and if you watch a cadre of YouTube tutorials.
To see what others have done with high key, you can read through this week's blog circle. Start with Lynda Mowat from Heartstrings Photography, based in Hamilton, New Zealand. As we get closer to the holidays, we are once again, a smaller circle.
While I have finalized Christmas greeting session for this year, I am still fulfilling Christmas "GIFT" sessions. I do have a few spots open and available during the week of December 10th, however the weekends are booked. Last scheduling day is Friday, December 14th in order to have photos selected and in before Christmas.
Didn't make it this year? It's never to early to book your session for 2019! I do send out reminder cards. Have a great weekend! Meow.
While I have finalized Christmas greeting session for this year, I am still fulfilling Christmas "GIFT" sessions. I do have a few spots open and available during the week of December 10th, however the weekends are booked. Last scheduling day is Friday, December 14th in order to have photos selected and in before Christmas.
Didn't make it this year? It's never to early to book your session for 2019! I do send out reminder cards. Have a great weekend! Meow.
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