Bob Martin Digital Photography

Digital photographs are the newest way to capture everlasting memories, but everlasting may be interrupted by several things.. One, accidental deletion, computer hardware crashes and fire, just to name a few. So photographs stored on your computer’s hard drive may not be everlasting.

The compact diskettes that are available to you and me are not the same quality as those made for MGM, Paramount and the like. After a few years they may warp or get scratched making them unreadable. Also hardware designs change daily and the CDs or DVDs of today may not be able to be read by the new machines of tomorrow. So backing up your photos to CD to safeguard them may not really be safe and or everlasting either.

Not everyone is a computer genius and although digital photos make taking pictures fast and easy, many are stumped about how to actually share their wealth of digital photos. Many of the friends and family that you would like to share your pictures with may not know the best way to view, copy or print digital photos

I keep the original “RAW” photos for a period of time,

You now may be asking yourself about the term “RAW” photos.. This is a high quality form of the digital camera’s negative.
Unlike .JPEG, RAW is a true negative, un-compressed and in the original form the camera saw the photo as I took it. It is about 10 times the size of a .JPEG file as it is un-compressed. If you think you would like changes to your photos, they can best be done from the RAW format. The reason I gave you the pictures in .JPEG is only special programs can read the camera's RAW format.

Let’s talk a little about color. Every computer monitor, TV and printer may not show or print your photographs the same way. Each are made by a different manufacture and each may use or have different calibrations. So your photographs may look great on one monitor but print differently on paper from different printers. Each photo shop that you may use to print your photographs may have a different printer with different calibrations. They may a have different level of ink in the printer when your photographs are printed and they may come out different each time you have prints made even if you have them done at the same place.

My monitor is calibrated with the standard colors used by most professional printers, but if your monitor is not calibrated the same as mine your photographs may not show the same way.  My monitor is also calibrated with my printer, so the color that you see on my monitor is what is printed on my printer.  I also use the finist setting when printing, the best setting on most printers is not good enough for my prints.

Most of the time, the differences are not noticeable by most people, but if you do notice that your dress is not the color that it really was, that may be the reason. This also applies to the lightness or darkness of the photograph.

The size of your photographs is something else you should know.. Digital cameras do not take photographs in exactly the right size for an 8 by 10 print. It is a little larger, so a photograph right from the camera sent to a photo shop to make an 8 by 10 print will have to be re-sized or “cropped to fit on the 8 by 10 paper. If you want a different size, say a 5x7 or a 11x14  and if you do not have them sized or cropped before you send them to the photo shop, they will “crop” the photograph the way their computer and printer promts them.  The finished photo may be printed without people's heads or arms.

I color calibrate each of portraits I take using Adobe Photo Color 1998 and I crop them to be printed as the size you order.

I print your photographs from the enhanced full size file and not from the compressed JPEG.  The more pixels the better quality printed photograph.

If you feel that the color is not showing as you wish, we can change that. The best way is to make an appointment with me, and view the photograph as I make the change so that we are both sure it is the way you want it.

I can also remove blemishes, scars, or sores. I can, with some limitations change background and many other items,, If you would like changes or touch ups, give me a call and we can discuss the options that may be available.

Also remember, I can make photo videos with your music or with music that we choose together. Unlike the ones you can buy elsewhere, my photo shows are done by me personally and the photos are hand picked, and placed to make a theme. Again, give me a call and we can discuss the options.

We will not be happy until you are happy

Bob Martin