Ep. 51 | Mastering Photoshop with Emily Supiot

Today on the Frame Your Way Photography Podcast, we have Emily Supiot here with us. She is a mom, photographer and Photoshop guru!

We are getting an inside look at Emily’s journey and how she became a photographer, as well as learning all about Photoshop which is something that we never really get to talk about.

Emily is the blogger behind cozyclicks.com and has so much gold and resources to share with y'all in this episode. Be sure to tune in!

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Transcript

spk_0:   0:00
have you wondered if having a mentor coach would help you further your business? Someone you can ask questions and get advice from? I know I needed someone when I first started, and I'm so excited to offer one on one mentoring to you to find out all the details and how we can work together to give you a profitable and sustainable photography business. You can check the show notes or head to my website. Brooke jefferson dot com. Welcome to the frame your way. Photography podcast. I'm your host, Brooke Jefferson. I'm a wife, Mama to two and full time photographer and business coach. I created this podcast with the aspiring photographer in mind to bring you inspiring stories. Strategies to help you go from zero to multiple figures and tips and tricks to help you get one step closer toe work. Life harmony. Are you ready to frame your way to your dream career? Let's die then Emily Soup. Eo is here with us today and I am super pumped free guys to get to hear this training, especially because we get to talk photo shop, which is something that a lot of us never get to talk about so I can't wait. I'm gonna let Emily introduced herself, and we're going to get into her journey of how she became photographer. So, Emily, if you will introduce yourself Thio my listeners

spk_1:   1:26
Well, hi, Brooke. And hi, everybody out there. I am so glad to be on your show, Brooke. So thank you. First and foremost for having me and allowing me to be on here. Um, like you said, my name is Emily Soup. Eo and I am a child and family photographer, mostly. But more than that, I've evolved kind of over the years into a photography and Photoshopped educator. And, um, I know have a blogger called Cozy Clicks where I teach new and intermediate portrait photographers how to take an edit. Better pictures.

spk_0:   2:04
I love that so much. And I love the whole cozy clicks idea. And of course I wanted you to come on my podcast cause you are so generous and allowed me to come on to yours, so I definitely wanted to return the favor. But I also think that you have a lot of expertise you're gonna be able to share today, and I just know there's gonna be so many takeaways. People are gonna be in fire to take action, and that is what is most important to me. So before we jump into the really good stuff, I want to know. What is your journey look like? And how did you even get into photography to begin with? Well, I

spk_1:   2:43
think like with most moms, when they start having kids, they want to capture every single thing their kids are doing right like they want t. I was just actually talking Thio, my son's pediatrician yesterday. Who? He's 11 now that I was taking pictures of him when he was at his first doctor's appointment. So I really wanted to capture all of these pictures. The thing was when I started having kids, um, 11 years ago now I didn't have a camera, and I didn't even like iPhones weren't even around at this time, or they were just starting to come out. So, like camera phones weren't really big at this time. So I needed to figure out how am I going Thio capture all of these moments with my kids. So I ended up borrowing my dad's old cannon Siri's excess I and just started shooting just started turning the dials and playing around with that, trying to capture all of these pictures of my kids. Um And I think during that time, um, I started to realize that Hey, this is pretty cool. I really like this. And, you know, my dad would take a look at my pictures and he's like, Oh, you know, you should take pictures of other people's kids and I guess one thing just kind of led to another. And over time, um, I did start to get a lot better, and I started to learn as much as I could. And, um, I did create cozy clicks, which is also the name of my photography company, and blogged, too, and just it kind of evolved and snowballed into something that was turned out to be really great. And, um, I created, ah, you know, a portrait photography business.

spk_0:   4:33
I love that. I love that your dad, even, you know, gave you that little bit of encouragement and kind of pushed you forward to try. That's I know for a lot of us, we probably didn't have that. I'm sure some people did have maybe a best friend or a spouse or something. That was like, Hey, you're kind of good at this thing. And you should do this for other people. But I know for a lot of us in the beginning, no one's really cheering us on. It's It's typically just us with this idea, and we're testing the waters. And so I love that your dog gets to be part of your story. I think that's super sweet. I'm one question that I want to ask you is Do you remember your first paid session? What was that like?

spk_1:   5:16
Oh, I've gotta think back to my 1st 1 when my first paid session. Um, I know what I was charging. $50. And I remember wondering and talking to my husband about, like, Okay, how am I gonna find clients? How am I gonna find people? And I know what I did was this was, you know, lots several years ago when Facebook was just starting to kind of evolve into more than just the college kids that were playing around with it. So this is a while ago. I'm kind of old. I'm in my forties now, so I'm kind of old when it comes to things, but I remember I'm like, Okay, I'm just gonna put a mass message out to all my Facebook friends, which at this time it was really what were just people that you knew, You know? I know it's kind of evolved now to like a lot of social media and a lot of people, you know, through other people. But this time it was like, really just the base group of people that I knew it. I sent out, um, Just this mess direct message through Facebook. And I had people start to message me right away, like, yeah, I'll hire you for $50 I'm like, hold my goodness, I didn't know this would really work, that it would be this easy. And, yes, I was only charging $50 so I'm sure it was enticing to people, but the people that I first started charging where people that were somehow related to me on the 1st 1 and I'm not sure if this is exactly right, but I think it was one of my old co workers from when I used to work in elementary school and I shot her son and I knew her and I knew him. So it was actually pretty easy and very comfortable. Um, and from there I just kind of started to slowly take on other $50 sessions of people that I knew, and from there it kind of evolved to people that they knew and people that they knew that they knew and just spiraled from

spk_0:   7:20
there. So my listeners probably have heard me say this a 1,000,000 times. But I always talk about how I used to be the $50 photographer. And I think for a lot of us, that's where we start. In fact, most of us started free before we get up, the courage to even after for 50 bucks. Um And then obviously we we evolved, we get better. And I'm not saying that if your brand new to photography $50 is where you should start. No, I think that you need Thio. Go back to the pricing episodes that I already have on this podcast and really, you know, goes through that and figure out how to actually think, you know, like, no, what's charge yourself. But what that being said, there's no shame. And those of us that have the story of Once upon a time, we were $50 photographers because I mean, like the whole asking for money was a big deal at that point. You know, we didn't really know what we were doing. We didn't feel like a professional. We were just like dipping our toes in it. So all of that to say, no shame in your story of being a $50 photographer at one point, I feel like we kind of have all been there. So it's just kind of like it's almost like an inside joke at this point for my listeners, because we identify ourselves as a former $50 photographer.

spk_1:   8:39
No, I don't think there's any shame at all. We all have to start somewhere and it $50. That just might be the magic number. I guess when we're starting the number that people feel comfortable about asking, I don't know. But for me, that was a good number. It's not what I'm charging now anymore, because I just you you can't have a business charging just $50 with all that's involved with photography. But you know, everyone starts somewhere.

spk_0:   9:04
Yes, I'm so glad that you said that because it's definitely not a sustainable place. It's a great starting point for people you know to get some sessions and portfolio work. But like you said, it's just not gonna be sustainable or successful in the long run. And that can definitely be another topic for another time. But I am ready to really dive into what you are an expert Bert at. And yes, I'm going to deem you as the expert here. I would love for you to walk us through photo shop. Why do you use photo shop? Is that what you started with? How has that evolved? And then why are you so passionate about helping other photographers learn photo shop?

spk_1:   9:48
All right, that's a lot of questions. They're broke. So let me try to break this up. Okay? So I love photo shop like I always have When I You know, when I was starting out and I was that $50 photographer, I was also at the same time playing around with different editing programs. And I did get into a light room. Um I always found light room kind of clunky. I never really loved it. I like working in Adobe camera Raw a CR, which is super similar to light room. I found that a little easier and more streamlined. And then for me, photo shop was just like this magical program that could help you transform and do so many things. And I don't talk about this a lot with my audience. But for a long time I was an artist. I was a painter and I loved painting people. So back when I was in middle school and high school and even college I even when I was in college, I for a minute wanted to major in visual arts. But I painted for a long time, and when I started having kids, it was a little too messy to bring out the brushes and everything all the time, so that kind of, um, got pushed to the side. But when I got into photo shop and started editing people, it reminded me of when I loved to paint, and it was kind of like that digital art form of painting, and I want to be honest with everyone out there. If you haven't really given it the time, it can be super overwhelming. There's a lot going on in photo shop. There's a lot of different tabs to open up. There's a lot of different sliders. There's a lot of different buttons, a lot of different menus, but a lot of possibility Ah, lot to do to make your photos look magical. And I think if you go into Photoshopped with the idea that you don't have to know it all, just play around with different little pieces at a time and start to learn little by little. And I think you're gonna fall in love with it, too, because they're really is ah lot going on there. Um all right, now, Brooke, in the beginning, I said you asked me a lot of questions. What was What was the last question that you asked me regarding photo shop? Because I'm now I'm just at a loss

spk_0:   12:13
now. You're totally fine. I will. I will circle back to that. But one thing one thing I want to point out was, you know, I will be honest. I think I even associate the word overwhelmed when I hear photo shot because you're right. There is so much going on in there now I have used photo shop. I still use it from time to time. But I am primarily light room and a couple of things that I'm just curious about is, you know, I understand there's a learning curve. I think it's gonna take everybody a different amount of time toe truly master a photo shop, if you will. I mean, I just feel like there's I don't even know if mastery is really a word. You know, four photo shop, because there's just so much to learn. And there's always gonna be something else for you, you know, to work on and master. But I'm curious when you are editing client images inside a photo shop. How long is this taking you or are you? I mean, have you seen a difference from when you first started editing and Photoshopped to now turn around times for full galleries at this point in your career? Has that changed?

spk_1:   13:21
Oh, definitely. But it's because in the beginning I was learning photo shop so I would take these galleries and a lot of my time. It wasn't really me trying to be efficient with my editing. It was me trying to learn so I would get these galleries and think like OK, what do I want to do now with this photo? Or how do I want the color toning toe look? Or how can I take those people out of the background and I would start to learn. And I learned a lot by, um, going to the library and just getting books about photo shop and flipping through and trying to learn. And then I got into YouTube and was able to find videos that would help me out. And then I would take that information that I would learn and just try to make it my own and be like, Okay, how can I make this work for me? So in the beginning, it did take me a long time, but it took me a long time because I was also learning. So I was kind of doing, you know, two things at once. Now, when I added a session, I know what I want going in there. So when I'm shooting, I kind of have a vision, and I know what I'm going to be doing inside a photo shop. And I've actually got very efficient at knowing the exact steps that I'm gonna take So I've created different actions that I run and I play for each, you know, set of photos that I'm working with. So it makes it very streams line now very quick to work through Photoshopped. Now I always when I when I that's what I do when I work on client galleries. I also continue to give myself time to learn Photoshopped because like we keep talking about, they're so much. And when you were seeing expert and mastery, I don't know if there's an ever anyone that is really completely an expert or a master, because there is just so much that you can d'oh so many different things and combinations you can do to make you know magic in your photos. So, um, now what I do a lot of times I take pictures of my own kids or I, you know, have model calls and I shoot for myself and I use those photos more. Thio continue to educate myself and play around in photo shop and learn more. And I also use those images to to teach my students and my members so that they can continue to get better and photoshopped and think, Hey, That is a cool idea. That was meat. What you did with that photo that made it really magical are really special. I want to see how I could do that and my photos. So I guess right now my, when I edit my client work, it's a lot more efficient now. But I'm also still learning, and it does still take me a long time when I'm just playing around in Photoshop. Some make sense.

spk_0:   16:08
Yes, that makes sense. I am so thankful that we have actions and preset. I know it's kind of controversial. Um, at least I've heard the conversation. I don't know if you have, but I think those tools are smart, and I think that they end up turning our client galleries way more cohesive. Then, if we were to edit each 11 by one doing the same thing over and over and over again. So for me, I'm a fan of actions in presets. I don't think it's a cheat sheet is what the controversy is. I think it literally helps us start with the base and work up from there, and it just makes things more cohesive and so we can totally save that little argument conversation for another day. But I just wanted to throw that out there like I'm thankful that we're able to create even our own of presets and actions as well as being able to, you know, purchase styles that we're trying to achieve. I think it's a great step in the learning game is to purchase actions that we like and then eventually learned how to create them ourselves. So that's a nice little like side note self challenge for me and anybody else that can relate to that. But I personally am thankful that we have those shortcuts, if you will, just because I feel like it helps us be more proficient. I mean, I hope that makes sense. Does that make sense to you?

spk_1:   17:34
Exactly. It totally does, and I don't think it's cheating at all. I actually I haven't heard that too much in my communities, and you know what the people I talk with I actually think it's a great thing. What I think becomes an issue with a lot of photographers is when they think a preset or inaction is goingto automatically make their picture look like someone else is. You have to understand that your vision isn't the same as someone else's, and an action or a preset may help you get closer toward the vision that you want. But you have to remember that it's still ultimately your vision and you can take an action. Er ah, preset and help you get part of the way there. But your magic has to do the rest

spk_0:   18:17
so so good. And yes, I will. I will just go on and on about that so box. So I I mean, I just I think the same thing, you know, actions in process. They're really not meant to be a one click fix all, you know, one click and you're done on. I think, you know, just like everything that you said. I just totally agree with that. And that kind of I'm goes into the next question, which I was going to ask you is, Why are you so passionate about teaching others how to edit in photo shop? Um, so I think I

spk_1:   18:53
kind of touched a little bit that I was a teacher at one time, So when I was in college, I went to college racket in Michigan at Michigan State. And when I was trying to figure out what I wanted to be, I started, you know, wanting to major in visual arts. That didn't go the way I wanted to just because I thought Okay, well, I can't be an artist when I grow up like that Didn't make sense to me. So the next thing I was passionate about was teaching which my dad was an elementary teacher, so kind of circling back to him again. Um, so I got really into education and child development, special education, and I spent a long time just in the world of education, and I really enjoyed that. But I always came back to Okay, Well, I really am an artist, too. Like, I really like the arts. And so as my evolution as a educator and artist continued, you know, it was just a perfect mash up. Thio want to teach other artists, other photographers how to do things and Photoshopped to me waas something that I really enjoyed that I was really passionate about, that I thought was really fun. And in the beginning, before before, cozy clicks really became a blah, you know, more popular blawg and before I really started creating courses and memberships for people to learn, what I did was I had a small little YouTube channel is actually still out. The cozy clicks YouTube channel actually has over a 1,000,000 views on it now, so it's not small anymore. But what I did in the beginning was when I would learn something I'm like, Oh, I bet other people would want to see this, too. And I make little videos of what I learned, and I'd stick it up on YouTube, and sometimes I would get, like, 40 views. But those 40 views will be people being like Emily. This is so cool. Thank you for sharing this with us. And it made me excited. It made me happy. So I'm like, Okay, well, what else can I teach people? What else am I sharing? And, um, that just became exciting to me, and it became it made me feel good having people, you know, slowly start emailing me and leave comments telling me how much it helps them. Um, so I knew that I was kind of onto something, and, you know, it was just something that just seemed aligned with me and what I wanted to D'oh! So so that's it. Hi.

spk_0:   21:25
Yes, I love that so much. I think I can definitely tell that you enjoy teaching and enjoy serving and helping. And I think that's a huge part of, you know, being able to have a platform and help people at the same time. I mean, I feel like you have to be serving and order to stay on the platform you've been given, you know, And I don't say that like, Oh, you know, you're high and mighty. I say it, as in, you know, you're equipped with tools and skills and knowledge, and now you're choosing to share that knowledge, which is so empowering. And that's why I'm so passionate, you know, about having a podcast and having this unique platform to help others move forward in their business is just because Why would we keep that all to ourselves? Why? Why not serve others, help others teach others, and so on what ways do you teach others? Sure.

spk_1:   22:25
Well, I actually have quite a few ways that I try to help people and going back to you because I was a teacher for so long. I know that people learn in different ways. So I started with the cozy clicks Blawg and people can learn through. Oh, you know, there's over 100 written tutorials and articles on my block that help you shoot better at it. Better. There's light room tutorials. There are lots of photo shoot shop tutorials over there. Um, all those air free. I also like I said, I have my YouTube channel, which I don't update as regularly anymore. Maybe once or twice a month I throw a new tutorial or video up there. Those were all free for people to learn from two. I also have, ah, the stay focused podcast, which is my photography podcast. And that's a way for people to listen about, how to get better at photography and then, if you want Thio, if you want to learn even more, I do have several courses that are available and a brand new ultimate pro at any membership that really dives into photo shop and a lot of difference tips and tricks and full tutorials. And it really is a full community of photographers that are really into Photoshopped to and want to learn and share so it's really cool. Um, finally, I have a free workshop to help you out with photo shop. So if you are not photo shops, Abby, or even if you do know a little bit about Photoshopped but wanna learn some cool fun tricks of magical techniques, I share those with you in a I'm like workshop. It's a little under an hour. You can go to cozy clicks dot com forward slash Create to register for that, and you can learn some of my favorites Photoshopped techniques that you probably didn't know. And there's one in there that's also gonna help you really speed up your editing and Photoshopped to so that's cozy. Clicks dot com forward slash creates. If you want to just kind of dip your toes and try out photo shop Today,

spk_0:   24:44
I'm so, so excited. Thank you so much. You know that I am going to run full force to watch this workshop. I'm ready for my mind to be blown. I hope that I will leave inspired to start just creating magic really, for myself, inside of photo shop. It's been a long time since I have tried to learn something new. I actually Like I said, I have an entire database of actions that I owned from years ago from some awesome you know, well known photographers. So I'm just excited to learn howto put it all together again. I mean, it's it's been a long time, and I hope that whoever's listening, if they have even just a little inkling of wanting to try photo shot I really hope that they'll run and they'll watch. You're free workshop online. I think that's totally generous that you are offering that to us, and I can't wait to check it out. Thank you so much for letting us hear your story and your passion for photo shop. And I am looking forward to connecting with you more in the future. And I hope everyone head straight to your website and gets connected, whether it's through your social media platforms or through your editing membership site and definitely the free workshops. And thank you so much. Emily. You

spk_1:   26:06
are so welcome, Brooke. And thank you for having me and thank you guys too, for listening. I hope that you got a lot of value out of it today, so thank you, guys. Thank you, Brooke. Absolutely. If you haven't already. When you were loving

spk_0:   26:20
this podcast, would you take just a second and hit that subscribe button? This will automatically deliver new episodes to your phone every Thursday. And if you want to go above and beyond, I would love for you to leave and honest rating and review. This helps other photographers find the show and get the support they need. Thank you so much for listening and I'll meet you back here next.