February 4, 2014

best-of-free-presetsWe were making presets here before selling presets was even hip. No one makes them like we do because we don’t just make presets, we’re passionate about quality and that’s why all our effects are GUARANTEED. Knowing Lightroom inside out is a start, but understanding light and photographics is what really makes great tools.

From each of our Pro Collections like Power Workflow 4, we have Light Packs so you can try for yourself. I thought, “With all the free presets we give away, it would be nice to make a one stop list of our light packs”. So here they are. Our most recent preset sampler packs, designed for with LR4 and LR5 and sure to please. This list is not long, but you won’t find any junk here. Every one of these packs is quality from the ground up and will save you time. Please share and enjoy, Gav

Power Workflow 4, Light Pack – Download

PW4 is the most powerful presets you’ll find. It’s our signature set and we’ve made it since Lightroom 1. Every version has been more refined and now it’s so well honed that it just begs to save you time. In this great sampler pack we’ve included great selections from Power Workflow 4 that will get you started. You can also get the complete collection of more than 75 perfectly prepared presets here.

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Color Fantasies 2, Light Pack – Download

Color Fantasies is a great color study and V2 took it to the next level. In this collection you’ll see powerful color twists you didn’t even know were in there, but we’ve done it with a subtle hand that is about gentle powerful color. Enjoy this sampler pack and check out the Pro Collection for more than 100 of the best color effects on the market.

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Silver Shadows 2, Light Pack – Download

We’re passionate about Black and White. control at your fingertips. Many think you have to use plugins or black and white tools to convert, but Silver Shadows 2 dispels that myth and puts endlessly variable silver conversion ate your fingertips. Not just the looks that we use either. You can mix, match and tweak to quickly get deeply refined silver conversions. Start with this sampler and then check out the Pro Collection for over 100 conversion tools.

 

Elegance 2, Light Pack – Download

Elegance is a presets collection for takes on the local adjustments like brushes, gradients and radials. Save time by selecting the look your need and applying it locally right from within Lightroom. This sampler pack gives you a selection of starter brushes and you can the loads more in the Pro Pack.

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December 31, 2013

 

Amazing Sunset Yosemite National park

As the sun sets on an old year, lets remember the best of sunsets — Here’s a brand new release from this Fall in Yosemite National Park. What color that night and a great reminder that there’s another sunrise just around the corner. The last vestages of light were there and gone, but the next morning dawned bright and colorful once again. This was one one of the best skies I’ve seen all year, these stunning bands of color adding magical to a beautiful place.

Here’s to 2014 everyone — Gav

Release details: Prints Available.. Order Open Edition originals above.. Master prints and Signature Limited Editions are listed below and can be ordered by contacting gallery.

Released prints….

For Photographers. How it was made…

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December 19, 2013

 

Gavin preparing and adding initial to mounted 24 inch open editions in his gallery. Visit his website for details.

I’m Gavin Seim. Do you know my number? It’s 509-754-5255. I offer it because if a customer or even a colleague has a problem, I want it fixed. I’ve answered that phone while standing in the wilderness making images. Answered so I could tell someone how to install their LR presets or get their order. Because service matters.

I’ve been serving customers in retail since I was about 10. I’ve seen all the excuses. But I ignored them and made a commitment not to be the company that so many become. We’re human. But at Seim Studios we operate on service and quality. Whether we’re selling a portrait, a print, or one of our editing and education products for photographers.

Below is the principles of service from our website at Seim Effects. Everyone that works at Seim Studios is expected to follow it – Please use it in your business.

“Service is not something computers do for you. It’s not something from a book. It’s not a line in a policy manual. It’s not an excuse – Service means YOU raise a finger, a hand and sometimes even an arm, or a leg. You do the footwork, you look into the problem and you do your level best to find a way to resolve it and make customer happy. That’s service.”

What I’m about to say applies to ANY company of any size. No excuses. I’m fed up with how out of touch today’s world is with service and a smile. It’s not just the fortune 500s. Your mom and pop shop on the corner is often just as bad. It goes all the way back to how we raise our kids to respect others. But here’s the thing. If we give bad service, we won’t get away with it. Word spreads. If you’re big it takes longer, but it will catch you  — I’m not writing this only for you. I’m writing this for me. So if I ever forget, I can come back and remind myself the words of a young businessman who knew what quality and service meant.

Did you know I’m running for Congress? When was the last time you got great service from your congressman? The same principle applies there. Service, communications and respect. Lets get to this list.

  • 1. YOU Are the Servant:

When a customer deals with you or calls with a problem there’s one thing that is critical to remember: YOU are their servant. This is not a joke. You are being paid to serve that person and whether they pay you again is directly related to how well-served they feel. Service is about satisfaction. It’s about humbling yourself and taking pride in giving someone what they want. This applies not only to how you behave but also to the quality of the product you sell. YOU serve them! If you cannot grasp this concept you will never be a great businessperson.

  • 2. Give them the Pickle:

A wonderful concept started by Bob Farrell, this means just what it suggests. The little things are what makes happy customers. You don’t ruin a customer’s experience by making up petty rules or finding petty charges for extras. You don’t look for subtle ways to fleece them. Are you listening fast food? People are not idiots. They may tolerate your tacky charge for a glass of water, but it will leave a bad taste and it will cost you.

  • 3. The Customer:

It used to be said the customer is always right. While occasionally this is not 100% true, you can still treat them as if they are. The truth is it’s generally only that PICKLE that they want. Give it to them. If you can’t, go that extra mile and try to find some solution. There are bad customers out there and yes, occasionally you have to work for them. Good service does not mean letting customers stand on your neck but it also does not mean letting them walk next door because you won’t give them a .10 packet of ketchup. If you take the high road and work for that customer, chances are they will love you for it.

  • 4. Anger Management:

You owe your customer service. It’s your job. You need to make them happy. Even if they are unhappy right now. From an early age I was shocked by how offended people would get when I got frustrated with bad service. But when a customer is upset, a professional MUST not take it personally. While ethically customers should be kind as well, that does not mean they cannot chide a company or person for failing at their job. The angriest of customers is rarely angry at you. They want what they paid for. Give them the pickle and take responsibility for problems and they will turn from foe to friend. It’s rare that I cannot turn an unhappy customer into a satisfied one with a few minutes of personal effort.

  • 5. SERVICE:

Pure and simple. You work for your customers and so do your employees. In a world where service seems to have been forgotten, if you give that service you will blow them away. This means making it easy for them. It does not mean hiding your phone number on your site, only offering email support, taking days to respond, making excuses, trying to get them to pay for your mistakes.

I’ve heard all the excuses folks. They are all crap. It does not matter if you’re a software giant with ten million customers or a tiny bistro on the street corner. If you say you just can’t afford to give service, it’s a lie. Service means you make it happen. You pick up the phone, ship out the package, send the letter or crawl there on your hands and knees. SERVICE is how you stay in business.

Service means you go the extra mile to make sure you’re customers are treated fair and just. Policy be hanged, efficiency tossed out the window and price left at the door. Because when you give this kind of service people remember you, they talk about you and they want to buy from you AGAIN. If you give bad service YOU will pay later and YOU will deserve every penny of that loss.

None of us are perfect, Things go wrong. But every now and then step back and ask yourself “How would I want to be treated?”

Serve and be served — Gav

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November 24, 2013

 

the subway zion national park

I’m excited to finally announce this new release and it has quite a story behind it.

It was the first time we hiked the Subway, a rather legendary, if hard-to-reach spot in Zion NP. Nathan and I started that morning with packs full of gear, three cameras (including our cinema rig) first aid, water purifier and flashlights. It’s around 9 miles round trip and the first three-quarters of a mile takes you down the side of a cliff  into the valley.

Now when they say this is a strenuous hike, that is the rating of the terrain. The distance is not considered in that classification. There were no groomed National Park trails or picnic tables. Most the time you were finding a route around (and over) boulders and across creeks. It was a long hike with all the gear and between that and the stops we made to film for PHOTOGRAPHICS, we did not reach this grand destination until about 4PM.

I knew we would be walking back in the dark, but it also put us in this carved channel of rock when the light was at it’s most glorious. The other hikers were headed back and we were utterly alone as the creek moved across the slippery rock and the leaves fell down from the cliffs above. I did not make many exposures. I just took a breath of awe and took my time considering the shape, line and color and how to best to do it justice. In fact, Nathan was filming the making of this image and and I hope to include it in the new PHOTOGRAPHICS series.

The result is just what I wanted. This place is truly incredible and well worth the effort. We made it back mostly in the dark and while we had lights, it was a challenge. I never thought I would be so happy to find that final trail that lead up the side of the cliff. We were in fact so late, that the park ranger was waiting for us when we reached the top wondering if something had gone wrong. But we got the image and much more.

Release details: Prints Available.. Order Open Edition mounted prints above.. Master prints and Signature Limited Editions are listed below and can be ordered by contacting gallery.

Released prints….

For Photographers. How it was made…

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October 22, 2013

Here’s a fun outtake from the road as we film for the new PHOTOGRAPHICS miniseries. You can follow the trip here. Watch the real trailer and pre-order the film here.

Watch the actual trailer…

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