The best way to end up with great images is to start with great images right out of the camera. Get to know your camera and it’s capabilities. Use those capabilities along with good composition, correct exposure, correct white balance, and a solid focus.
I try to analyze my photos before I snap the photo, usually you get better quality that way. Many photographers use Nikon and Canon cameras, but as you can see, all are taken with a Sony D-SLR [A300 & A560], and my photos still have just as great of quality as other brands. It’s not about what camera you use, but how you use it and get to know your equipment and of course… who’s behind the camera! (=
I’ve been a photographer for close to 11 years, so finding something new and creative to add to what I do every year is a huge task, but it comes about naturally when the time comes.
Many have asked me to disclose if I “photoshop” my images. The answer is 100% No! Yes, I don’t photoshop any of my images and the way you see them is exactly how they were taken and came out as. The only images that obviously will not look the same are my HDR [High Dynamic Range] images (Those are special images that are merged with 3 to 7 [Numbers change depending on my mood, lol] images to make the 1 photo that you see, but it’s still naturally taken and not a photoshopped composite.) Even Fashion images I take are the same also… the way you see them is how they are. Now, if it’s a person with bad skin then of course that’s had help, but for Fashion that’s standard so no avoiding it there.
Most of my images have been through Adobe Lightroom just for it’s accurate contrast setting. I love high contrast on my images (reason why they’re so vibrant). Color wise, my camera does that. I have my camera’s saturation as high as it go to save all the color that’s captured, but sometimes I’ll end up taking it right back out depending on how I feel about a certain photo. It really depends on the image itself for me to really know what I’m going to do. Have I even ever uploaded images without using Lightroom? Yes, you’ll find a few on my website gallery where nothing was used. Typically Lightroom is the farthest I go… black is a color that is key to my photos and camera’s tend to not capture deep black’s, which I hate. Considering I have two different camera bodies and neither give me that black that I’m looking for is a shame, oh well… maybe I’m just too particular in that area!
Lastly, it simply requires great optics on your camera. If you have great camera lenses then you’ll always have great photos right from the camera that are sharp and full of great color!