PHOTOGRAPHY

There has never been a time in the history of photography when we have been able to achieve such phenomenal editing results as in the digital age.  And while there are a myriad of tools that the computer and the Internet have given us to enhance and change the images that come out of a photo shoot, none can match the popularity and power of Adobe Photoshop.  The programme has become so synonymous with editing and creating effects that the phrase "to Photoshop" has become a verb meaning to enhance or alter an image.

We can 'Photoshop' new outfits, accessories or even people into a shot where it was simply not possible before.  So if you want a picture of you shaking hands with the President, you don't have to go to Washington to get it, you can just 'Photoshop' your picture into the President's picture and it will look as real as if you had been there.

In the same way, we can "Photoshop" things out of a picture that we don't want to see there.  So if you have a physical flaw, it can be removed.  You can even remove a distracting person from the background of the photo.  The programme is so sophisticated that these images are possible and you cannot really tell that the change has been made.

Photoshop has become such a de facto standard for photo editing that if you are setting up a photography studio or business, a copy of the software is as essential as Microsoft Word or PowerPoint.  The good thing about this software is that it is readily available and many people know how to use it.  So if you feel insecure about learning yet another computer application, you can probably find a college student, someone in high school or maybe even junior high who knows Photoshop inside and out and can help you get started using the software.

But Photoshop has not always dominated the genre.  It was created in 1989 by two brothers, John and Thomas Knoll.  While the brothers developed Photoshop for their own needs at the time, it didn't take long for them to realise its market potential.  So, being shrewd entrepreneurs, John and Thomas set up a small company called Adobe and began operations in 1990.

Adobe is a shining example of how to succeed in the Internet age.  Today, few of us who use the Internet have not heard of Adobe.  You would be hard pressed to find a personal computer that uses the internet that does not have a free copy of the Adobe Reader on it to read PDF files.  The PDF format is yet another example of how this small company has created and then taken over a specific market of online business.

To really get to grips with Photoshop, the first thing you should probably do is find a copy to play with.  As with most computer applications, you can probably find a copy on a friend's computer to play with and get a feel for the controls.  Then, if your friend is a Photoshop wizard, have him or her show you some of the real "wiz-bang" things they can do with Photoshop, using the same menus you were just tinkering with.  This little Saturday afternoon experiment could make you a Photoshop addict for life.

After that, you might want to download a copy for yourself.  You can get an evaluation version, which gives you most of the features.  But you really only need to do this if you are unsure about buying a copy.  Since Photoshop dominates this market, you will almost certainly buy a copy, so you might as well save yourself some frustration and buy a licensed copy straight away.  Now, you'll probably find yourself playing with the software for hours on end, just for the fun of it, and that's great.  But don't overlook the value of taking some organised classes in photo editing with Adobe Photoshop.  These classes can show you the shortcuts and how to get the most out of the software.

From there, your imagination is the only limit to how you can use this tool to make your photos better for your clients.  And you will be able to respond enthusiastically when someone says, "That's OK, you can just Photoshop that and fix it right up".