Saving Grace

A few months ago, I started backing up my photos in a way that I never have before: the uncompressed PSD files in their own folder under the parent folder of the client. 

The file also contains the original SD files as well as all edited photos, under different files whether they are watermarked (for digital display) or un-watermarked (for printing). 

From the wedding I shot last month, this is the file hierarchy: 

I started saving the .psd files right before compressing the image ("flattening" all the layers) in case I need to access the files again, without having to remember all the steps I took to edit. (And since most of what I do when I edit is the same, that wouldn't really be hard to do in a pinch.)

I have found that saving the files in this way has saved me some time, even though it takes up more room on my backup drive. I strongly urge other photographers to do the same.

Man Oh Man

How can it be two months since I posted??
Please forgive my absence. Summer is here, and, like you, I have been busy busy busy.

I have photographed seven sessions since my last post (including three weddings!) and have much to blog from them.

At the moment, I am putting the finishing touches on a child's portrait session, and loyal readers will recognize the subject when I get around to sharing the session here. I am also working on editing a wedding that I shot solo -- it came up suddenly and I only had a month to prepare. (Plus the weddings that I've second shot for Juhl Photography over the last few months still need edited and shared, too.) Jeepers. o.o

It isn't just photography that has kept me busy.

I have also accepted a new position, said good-bye to Target, and will be starting my career on Monday.

I will have less time for photography (as the job is 40 hours a week, Monday through Friday) but I will have the ability to purchase better, newer equipment. Besides, most of the time availability for busy families and couples is weekends anyway, so I won't have to worry about requesting time off for a session on the weekend.

I will be only accepting a limited number of shoots a month, though. More information on that will be forthcoming.
And with the job comes an eventual change in location: I will be moving to Fort Collins no later than November. (My car does not do well in the snow.)

In addition to all of that, I have been working on some craft projects. (I plan on devoting the next few days to finishing them and doing final preparations for next week.) Saturday is our first booth event of the year. Depending on how well it goes, it might be our last booth event of the year as well. We'll have to see how it goes.

Thank you so much for stopping by! I will update this guy with all my sessions as soon as I am able, but please forgive me if it takes a little while longer. I will need an adjustment period once I start my new job, as my days (including commutes) will be eleven hour days.