I call it the lost Photoshop Panel. Because no one talks about what it can do and it took me 15 years to master it.
I’m talking about mastering the Actions panels. Users of actions like my new Alchemist 3 have been asking for some advanced tips. And I realized how little people know about this lost panel that’s’ more powerful than any plugin on the market.
I make lots of great presets like Filmist. But when I do actions people always ask me, can this run in Lightroom. The answer is always no. I make tools that make the native tools of these apps work faster and better.
A raw editor like LR or C1 can’t even come close to and old Photoshop CS6. The way they do layers is world apart and if you only use a RAW editor you’re only half editing your photos.
No not either apps either like Luminar or anything else. The ones that do have basic actions or scripts implement it really badly. That’s why I cant even make this stuff in other layer apps.
Watch the video and I’ll add more notes to this post later for some extra tips.
Yes, it’s a basic question. How to charge for photos? How many should I give, how many outfits, hours, etc. New photographers and sometimes veterans love to colocate their lives because they don’t understand customer service.
So here’s how to charge for photos the right way!
I edited all my broll here with Filmist LUTS, it’s not just for Lightroom and C1. Also make sure you start listeb to Pro Photography podcast for more topics like this.
Most people don’t think they need a photographer.
That’s what you need to understand in this crazy competitive world. The truth is that unless you are experienced, confident and know how to serve. They don’t need you. They might as well use their phone.
I don’t mean this to make you feel bad. Only to be real. We have to have high standards. People don’t need McDonald’s style photographers anymore. And if you don’t make them feel good, they won’t come back.
So in general charging for an image screams amateur. Now selling stock photos, fine art prints, etc is a bit different. But if your client feels like you are holding back, you lose credibility instantly.
Be a purple cow.
Here’s that book I mentioned. You can read it in data but all these years later it’s still a great reminder when you run a photo business, make workshops, or are in charge of a cafe in Mexico.
To be great in a craft business. You have to understand how to be a servant. How to make people feel good. How to give them experience and quality. How many photos in a session and how many you give the client can vary. Your skill and confidence should be a constant, however.
Price matter. But the value you create matters more.
So the topic today is whether you should charge per photo and how to charge for photos. The real answer is that you you charge in a way that is the simple simple and makes the client feel loved regardless of whether you price high or low compared to the market.
That says. The lower your price, the lower the quality of clients you get.
There are lots of free Lightroom presets around my site like Silver and Natural HDR. But my most popular ones are my free film presets and I’ve updated them today for Filmist V2.
In the FIlmist free film presets and styles pack you get the next-gen Portra 160, Fuji Classic Negative, and Agfa RSX 100 film styles.
Just using these film presets will give you edits that feel true to the film. Photographers are learning that real photos are what matters in this new Ai world. For more on this check out my post and grounding your edits with film styles.
Below is a hands-on video from my channel on how to use Filmist 2. If you need help installing the free LIghtroom presets or Capture One Styles, check out the videos on the help page.
Here are the improved film styles in the free film pack.
The latest refinements of these film styles are like true film. I’ve shot more film, done more side-by-side testing, and made every film recipe in Filmist 2 better.
I hope you love these and buy the entire Filmist film presets pack. It’s years of work and it is the best lightroom and capture one film presets I know of. But for now, at least grab my free film presets pack and enjoy.
Oh, and you also get free film LUTS in the free and complete pack so you can get the true film look in video editors like Premiere Pro, Resolve, and other photo apps like OnOne and Luminar.
Portra 160 Gen.3 Film Preset
Portra 160 free film preset is a classic and the latest Gen3 version is even more refined. Portra 400 and 800 are also included in Filmist Complete.
How do I decide what presets to use? The power of REAL Photos.
I’ve been making high-grade Lightroom presets and free Capture One styles for many years. So why am I obsessed with getting perfect film looks? It comes back to maintaining that natural real look that the film created and that I’ve managed to duplicate in Filmist 2.
I use the balance I learn in creating film presets to improve my other presets. That’s why they all play together well.
Some photos need a different look. I normally use films as a starting point. But depending on my photo I’ll also use Natural HDR, Streetist, and my other packs.
Each of these packs also has mods. So while I love the ChemKit2 mods in Filmist I don’t hesitate to go to ModKit from Silver 5 black and white presets or maybe GoldChrome for a rich color warm look.
Fuji Classic Negative updated in Filmist 2 Free Presets Pack
The Classic negative look is inspired by Superia 200. One of my most requested presets and the new Filmist 2 version is even better and more accurate than what you get on a Fuji camera.
The film looks for digital is more powerful and moddable.
The thing with film presets is that you won’t edit this way manually. Digital sliders are designed to let us push hard and the nuance of good film styles can take weeks to refine.
In a real darkroom, we could manipulate how we develop and print. So I put a ton of time into the ChemKit2 mods in Filmist. They let you use a film look and then adjust it instantly with darkroom-inspired processes. I included of of these for tone in the free pack. Turn it up and down and see what happens.
The beauty of using Lightroom presets and Capture One style packs is that with well-made film styles, you get edits that take hours in seconds. Once you get used to the milder grounding look of film it becomes a go-to. But if you have a photo that is not working with film, don’t hesitate to branch out.
Agfa RSX 100 II Free Capture One Style and LR Preset
Agfa series films are rare as digital film styles very much but they will soon be one of your favorites. I included Afga RSX 100 with stunning color and fine grain in the free film presets pack.
I hope you enjoy the Filmist 2 free film Lightroom presets and styles pack and that these filmic styles let you see digital in a new light and use the rest of your presets, actions, and tools better.
A taco stand in Mexico. A real photograph taken on Portra 800 35mm Film and note editing.
On this weeks Pro Photography Podcast… Are photos even real anymore.?
On this Professional Photography Podcast we talk about photo news, the Cine Still scandal, and what Ai is doing to photography. The conflicts in the world are showing how deceptive it can be and new tech like Content Credentials is making systems to know what we are seeing.
Real photos from real people not from AI and we need to start using that. I shoot film and make things like Filmist film presets to keep a grounded focus on that.
Real photos tell a story of a person place or thing. They are the nouns of images and they matter. Ai-generated images will never be real photos. That does not mean they are not a real part of the market now. Only that we need to understand the difference.
The same scene taken on a Fuji X100 and edited with the Filmist Portra 800 preset. Still real.
Videos and other important things mentioned on this show.
Taken on film like this (Lokak Ultra 400), or on digital, it’s important to understand that the imperfections of real photos matter. Perfect is getting easy, real is getting hard.
