Mustard or Mayonnaise?

I am so grateful each of us are unique. I am also grateful to have company in some of the things I enjoy.

When our rather large families convene, inevitably, there'll be food and lots of it. Out come the condiments and the most used sentence is "Mustard or Mayo?". Some prefer one or the other, and some want both. That's alot like the "condiments" of photography.

It is a thrill to point a black box, push some buttons, remove parts, use the parts in other equipment, and then negotiate software until you can see just exactly what it was you put in the black box to begin with.

Excitement builds when you realize it is useful and there are endless possibilities as to the way this item can be presented. Do I remove years, and if so, how many? Wrinkles...duh! Just how much retouching will be tolerated or expected. These are two questions and each must be addressed separately.

In post-production, I "fix" the clothes, straighten/whiten teeth, "comb" hair, remove hair, brighten eyes, adjust contrast & tone. Then...soften the skin. Whew! Not even half-way done. About here I get to start deciding what treatment will explain this capture the best.

Recently, I was privileged to spend time with some friends from the past. I met the young man when he was just starting grade school and it was the first time I met his fiance. What a dynamic couple.

I began shooting with the information we discussed. They knew I preferred natural lighting, organic captures (little posing), but, some posing would be necessary. I didn't know either of them, nor my style, well enough to do more than the basic retouches. These pictures had to be special. They're telling the world that they are planning on spending the rest of their lives together.

I processed the top colored picture in the more basic style. Then I added an "action" treatment to it. I actually liked the softness and enhancement. But would they. Here's that picture:

Finally, I wanted to see it in Black and White. They say a picture that is perfect in color is also perfect in Black and White. I thought so but which one will they like?

I sent them the first two pictures along with the rest of the best from the shoot and they did like the second version.

Now, I've learned more tricks so I went back, re-touched the touch-ups and converted it to Black and White. I think they'll like this one just as well. It has turned out to be my favorite.