Selective colour... so last decade, but

V8burble

V8burble

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Andrew
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Yes
customers still appear to want/like it. The parents of this fella love this shot, is there a place in your photography for selective colour? I would happily have said never... but if it sells, hell ye'

cropselectivesmall.jpg



Interested to know where you stand :shrug:
 
Same boat as you i dont like it really but have done a few of late as people want it..


md
 
If it pays the bills and the customer wants/likes it then go for it. Swallow your pride and take the money. Just add a clause in your contract so they don't tell anyone you did it :D
 
James M said:
sorry about the big pic first time using this forum
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Just resise to 800 on the longest side and it will be fine " or the mods will make it into a linky"


md

welcome
 
Nope, I'll not do it, and I tell clients why I won't do it - they are investing money in me creating something they can treasure for years, so I won't do something for them that is a fad. I want them to still want the photograph of their child on their walls for many years to come, and not end up hating it because of the devil-child-eyes. :lol:

I'll be honest, I also use it as a way to demonstrate that I am streets ahead of the person who does do selective colouring (hey, come on, this is business, we all need to put spin on things! ;) ) so I tell them that I've moved well beyond selective colouring as a photoshop technique, because it tends to be one of the first things that you learn in photoshop, so it's an indicator of someone being new in the trade :naughty:

As I say, it's business!

[waits for the tirade of abuse :p]
 
But that's my point Zoe, and the title... it's been around for decades and parents STILL like it, so as a fad it's probably older than many photographers, so will happily sit on their walls for many years to come.

So, for me, fine I may not like it and I may not feature it, but hey if someone wants it then they are the customer and surely they should have what they want?

Not sure that's a tirade of abuse ;)
 
As I am not a pro it doesn't affect me greatly.

However I'm not a big fan of it and haven't got any portraits done with it myself.

It does beg the question "what is the latest great thing in portraiture?"

Selective colouring is out, white backgrounds are increasingly frowned upon. What now?

Most of my portatraits are done outside or using really tight crops as I don't have indoor space or backgrounds. I'd be interested to see what is in vogue at the moment though.
 
Andrew, remember, it's spin (what I say to clients, that is). One person will put one spin on, another will put another spin on. Also, one other way of looking at it - clients can have anything they want .... as long as they pay for it. If someone is insistent on any use of a retouch style or photoshop technique, yes, I'll do it, but it costs £25 per image for my time to do it. I've had clients ask for things that I don't do, and they've ended up spending on more product rather than on photoshop work that they're not that bothered about. So it can help me to get bigger sales. But I can only go on what works for me with my business model and the kind of clients I have - and of course, that makes a difference too.
 
Andy, what's in with the clients I have is fashion-led. Very artistic - but I still get phone calls for white backgrounds and I send them to a photographer who does that, after I've attempted to educate them that I am best!

But the main thing that is in with clients is gorgeous images that show them looking more amazing than they could imagine they can look, and probably in the kind of image they know they couldn't take themselves.
 
No - I bloody hate it, but if it's what the client wants, do one with, one without, then take the money and run, retching loudly...
 
Can't say that I like it, but whats the objection in using selective colour, if that what the customer wants; you would remove a spot, smooth the skin or pop the eyes for someone else I guess, you wouldn't think "I'm dressing mutton as lamb here" so I won't do it.
 
I personally think that if its done correctly, it can still be very nice. The issue is that its been done to death and therefore people look at "Normal" shots and get bored.

When something special comes along with selective colouring then i think everyone appreciates the shot.
 
Quite simply, selective colouring is the invention of Satan.

Its a technique which was in vogue in the 90's and in the vast majority of cases it looks absolutely ridiculous. In the rare events that my clients have asked for it, I politely refuse to do it.
 
Cool...so we're in agreement - as a technique, it sucks the snot from a dead dog's nose?
 
Well if the customers want it then do it. After all they are paying your wages.
 
Sorry, I would rather turn away the business than do selective colouring. Its utterly vile, looks amateurish and is massively outdated. As you can probably gather, selective colouring is one of my pet hates:lol:. Its not representative of my style of work. Its like if a client wants Venture style shots, I tell them that they should go to Venture - its not what I do.

But as I said, if I am asked for it by clients at a viewing (which thankfully, is extremely rare), I politely tell them that selective colouring is not compatible with my style of work and they are happy to accept that.
 
gingerjon said:
It's hard to disagree with such a well-balanced assessment.

There is a special circle of hell for those who dabble in this 'art'.
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Well ..I guess im gonna burn then! :)
Im not really a HUGE fan of it or anything,but i do like some shots with it..
I'll erm ... :coat:
 
Interesting to see that it brings out some strong feelings. I'm still of the opinion that if a customer wants it, I'll do it and take the money, but like I say, I wont feature it or advertise it myself. But money is money... fine I can offer my own opinion on processing but if, like in this case the parents love it like that then hey I'm offering a service and being paid to do so.

Thanks all for voicing your opinions :thumbs:
 
I think there is a place for everything and im sure everyone has a pic that it would suit.
I find it a bit sad to see people say that its so last decade that just shows those that follow trends when in reality its very hard to be original now days.
 
Nothing worse than a black and white poppy shot with the poppies left red....:-(
 
Never had it asked for. If I had a customer ask for it, I would make them insist, nicely though. I would explain I'm not a fan, and would admit that the photographic world cringes about it, but say if you REALLY want it, we can do it.

G.
 
Interesting to see that it brings out some strong feelings. I'm still of the opinion that if a customer wants it, I'll do it and take the money, but like I say, I wont feature it or advertise it myself. But money is money... fine I can offer my own opinion on processing but if, like in this case the parents love it like that then hey I'm offering a service and being paid to do so.
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:agree:

If you have a paying customer,.....surely turning the £££ down is detrimental to your business........
 
Lynton said:
:agree:

If you have a paying customer,.....surely turning the £££ down is detrimental to your business........
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So can putting out shoddy work, or work that doesn't reflect you as a photographer. Afterall why should anyone use you, if you don't offer anything that a thousand others don't do already.

EdinburghGary said:
Trouble with being "An Artist", some things are more important than money...

G.
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:cool:
 
Jayst84 said:
:cool:
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It's true, there is a fine line. I don't see a problem with turning down work and loosing the moola IF you are absolutely serious about your artistic integrity. For example, I would wholly refuse to sell a flat mid grey no contrast black and white, even if requested. It's not worth the damage to your rep or the way it would make you feel...I don't feel strongly enough either way on selective colour/ I don't like it, don't dislike it. Indifferent I guess, I see it as a little pointless.

G.
 
I've haven't done much photo editing yet, but I prefer this shot with selective colour than without:

20100210-DSC_5283Web.jpg



20100210-DSC_5283Web2.jpg


Flame suit on
Oh, and yes I know it's not a portrait, but the whole fad is under question, so...
 
Triggaaar said:
I've haven't done much photo editing yet, but I prefer this shot with selective colour than without:

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s150/Triggaaar/20100210-DSC_5283Web.jpg[\IMG]
[IMG]http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s150/Triggaaar/20100210-DSC_5283Web2.jpg[\IMG]

Flame suit on[/QUOTE]

You deserve:
[url]http://www.leatherneckexpress.com/pictures/iwojimaparade/Flame%20thrower%202.jpg[/url]

:D
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I hate the technique too, but if I see a need to isolate the mundane via highlighting something interesting it'll be deployed! Asbestos suit on also...

Circus Club - Liverpool, lastnight:

4396303756_841a76eb30.jpg


4396326460_9d13fa98a2.jpg


They way I look at it, don't rip the hole out of it, use it to draw attention.
 
Sorry I don't see it as a fad at all. Its a P&P technique one which I love and in the right place can make or break a photo. And love the first shot as a parent and a ameatuer photographer I would buy it.
 
I lost a wedding job once when I said I'm not a fan of selective colour and said that's not a style I would like to be associated with. I then looked towards the fire-place where there were at least a half dozen portraits with selective colour on display. Boy, did I cringe. Never did hear from her again!

It's a question of shooting for dough or integrity I guess? ;-)
 
I always think that 99% of the folk that pay for a shoot aren't photographers so I guess they don't see things as often or indeed in the same way 'we' do.
 
I like selective colouring, but I don't like the photo your client likes - evil eyes, and an almost porcelain skin, like a scary doll!!! :D
 
Arkady said:
No - I bloody hate it, but if it's what the client wants, do one with, one without, then take the money and run, retching loudly...
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Metal God said:
Quite simply, selective colouring is the invention of Satan.

Its a technique which was in vogue in the 90's and in the vast majority of cases it looks absolutely ridiculous. In the rare events that my clients have asked for it, I politely refuse to do it.
Click to expand...

gingerjon said:
It's hard to disagree with such a well-balanced assessment.

There is a special circle of hell for those who dabble in this 'art'.
Click to expand...

Arkady said:
Cool...so we're in agreement - as a technique, it sucks the snot from a dead dog's nose?
Click to expand...


:thumbs: I'd rather lie on nails balls first
 
creepy and a bit alien to my eye and mind

why not just simply simple....simon?
 
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