The trick with getting the images to not look cut out requires several steps. For starters, Watch Pam’s demo video and see if that will answer your questions.

basically it has to do with having a very accurate selection of the subject, and also, using the “feather” command to make the transition from subject to background a bit gradual. Not Too gradual however, as then you will get weird things like halos around your subjects, you see a lot of those kind of things in the sample images offered with the really low budge collections available out there.

I was so excited to get your “grung” dvd in the mail a couple weeks ago and I’ve been trying it out and everyone loves it, but the one thing I notice on your website is you have the background from the senior matching your dvd backgrounds, and when I did it my background was still however I shot it. I edit in only lightroom and coral paint shop pro, if I try to ‘cut out’ the senior from the background in coral it really LOOKS like a cut out, esp. around their hair lines, could I ask you how you are cutting your seniors out to place them in the dvd backgrounds so perfectly? It really looks like the photos were actually taken at these locations. Thanks in advance for your help.

Erika

Thanks for your wonderful comments. I share your enthusiasm for this great profession of portrait photography. It really is so rewarding to hear the comments people make when they are thrilled with their portraits. That is why I have done this for over twenty five years.

I’m glad that you are benefiting from our videos and this site. I will be concentrating most of my time to adding new material here. We will be adding a lot of new professional photography technique posts, as well as green screen and digital backgrounds techniques. If you have any specific things you would like me to address, please write and let me know. I look forward to hearing from you more in the future!

Thanks again,

Michae3l