SOULMATE Presets and Wedding Photography

5 years. That is how long I have been photographing weddings for a living. 4 of those years were spent contemplating whether I would give in to the trends or find a unique style to the way I shoot and process the images I create.

Every January 1st, I rip up a piece of paper from my beat up idea notebook and jot down 2 career goals I’d like to achieve. On January 1st, 2017, I wrote down the following:

• • 1. Find a style and stick to it
  • 2. Network

During the beginning of this wedding season, I went through many shooting and editing styles. Overall, I was satisfied with my work but, I always felt like my work was missing something. This is when the combination of creative off camera flash techniques and SMAL presets came into play. 

 In the 4 years as a wedding photographer, I never felt fully satisfied with the way my vision transitioned from my head to the back of my camera, to the final edited image. 

OCF + SMAL did this for me…

Being able to utilize flash as a creative tool and applying SMAL presets as a finishing touch, gave me the confidence I needed to start being as creative as possible. Not having to worry about spending countless hours in front of a computer struggling with a style, made me love what I do more than ever.

With Smal presets, I am now able to apply my favorite presets on import, only change white balance and exposure and be 95% done with an image. Not having to worry about post processing is the absolute best feeling ever. By using these presets, I’ve significantly cut down my editing time. To the point where I can focus on many more aspects of my business instead of being in the Lightroom develop module for hours per day.

Not only has Sven created what is, in my opinion, the most versatile preset I’ve ever used. He also created an even BETTER version called SOULMATE. I have been fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to test these presets out for a few months. I can say, without a doubt, that these are the best presets I have ever used. Beautiful, vibrant colors with no extra work. One click and I get results that completely blow my mind. You really have to see it to believe it.

Overall, I can not thank Sven enough for making these presets and allowing me to unlock my creativity and helping me find the style I’ve searched for many years.

Esteban Gil | Egil Photo

Finding Confidence Through Consistency

As long as I can remember, I have found myself drawn to photos with rich colors, deep blacks and beautiful skin tones. Before I ever picked up a camera, I would see images like these posted on my Facebook newsfeed. Friends posted their engagement, wedding and annual family photos. When I finally started my own photography business I had no idea what a preset was. I didn´t know how it could help me achieve that beautiful which had always stopped me in my tracks. Eventually, I found the world of presets. I was left constantly disappointed by purchasing presets which required an exhausting amount of tweaking. They didn’t look anything like what was advertised. I was frustrated. With both my work and the time consuming editing process and overall lacking confidence in my final photos.

I’m not sure who originally told me about SMAL presets. Somehow I joined the Facebook group and was blown away by the gorgeous images that flooded the page daily. THIS was the exact style I had been yearning to achieve in my own photography. I knew I had to buy these presets. The first session I edited with the WILD presets got me more attention on social media than any images I had posted previously. Finally my photos had the tones and bold colors that I’d been looking for!

Over time, I found consistency through using the SMAL original pack and felt like my images had a special edge. I still get excited when I apply SMAL presets and watch my images come to life on my computer screen. I like to describe my style as “true to real life, but maybe just a little better than you remember”. Thanks to these wonderful presets which help my photos feel more rich in color and dimension than ever before. My business has soared since purchasing these presets but the true gift is the confidence I’ve gained since finding SMAL presets. 

Laurie Larson | Laurie Ashley Photography

The Importance Of Client Styling

There are four things I say can make or break a photo session: lighting, connection/emotion, outfits and editing. Of course, there are a multitude of things that can derail a session. But, the key components are incredible lighting, emotion captured, clothing options and impeccable editing. 

Styling outfits and encouraging clients to wear things that match your brand and your business vision is a very important. You want your clients showing up looking and feeling fabulous, right? Most clients don’t know what styles of dresses/tops are not ideal for photos and most of them appreciate help with outfits.

I was spending a lot of time styling each family, scouring clothing websites, sending links and putting together photoshop “style boards”, just to have them show up wearing jeans, different shades of solid blue tops and whatever shoes were by the front door. Mom would say, “Oh, I just got too stressed trying to figure out what would match and what colors would look good together”. Or they just simply ran out of time and didn’t get a chance to shop around like they had hoped. I get it, life is busy and walking into numerous stores can be overwhelming. But that is where Style & Select came in for my clients.

No More PDF Style Guides!

My business partner Holly and I created an interactive styling website that does all the legwork for photographers and their clients. Just fill out the questionnaire and your clients are shown a handful of items, that would all coordinate and links to shop directly from the retailers. Say what?! It’s 100% better than sending your client a 40-page PDF style guide because chances are – they won’t read it. Nor does it help them pick outfits specifically for their family. Consider it an on-staff stylist for your business that is 5% of the cost of having an actual personal stylist! It is a great addition to those photographers who have client closets as well.

Ok, so you have lighting, connection and, now, outfits down. Last, but not least, is editing. 

Editing is what brings everything to life! Processing your photos is the fun part. I literally *rush* home after a session, cull and starting adding ROSE presets to my photos because I cannot wait to see how glorious they will look. I become giddy when I see how the ROSE presets bring stunning color and detail back into my photos. The contrast, the punches of colors and the highlighting/shadowing gives my photos 3D looking feel that I can’t turn away from.

Consistency

People around my town know my work because of two things: the way I photograph my subjects and my editing. Which means my work is consistent. My editing is becoming part of my brand and how people recognize me and my work. THAT is a fantastic feeling, to know that people can tell it’s your work just because of the way it’s edited. Which is also what I love about these presets. They are so versatile. We all tweak a few things here and there for our personal preferences. Sven is pure genius, I don’t know what he did to create these presets (and I have bought a ton of presets over the past 5 years), but these are the real deal. They have saved my time and created a look for my brand that sets me apart from others in my area. 

Melissa Jane Photography

How the Rose Presets changed my business for the better.

Before finding these presets by Sven Malojlo, I struggled in trying to perfect my editing style. I always strived for a nice work flow and consistency in my editing but felt I kept coming up short. I remember the day I finally found the group and and fell in love with everyone’s work, and I also remember the day I purchased the bundle of the SMAL, ROSE and WILD presets.

From the beginning I loved all three sets of presets, but over time I found myself most drawn to the Rose set. was able to make these presets my own as they required such minimal tweaks and I really felt that the vibrant yet muted tones were exactly what I’d been looking for.

Since purchasing the presets over a year ago, my business has blossomed. I now work full time as a photographer and I am always told how beautiful and unique my photos are. If it wasn’t for Sven and his presets, I truly wouldn’t be where I am today.

Shannon Melek Meredith | Shannon Melek Photography

When does one call themselves an artist?

” You don’t make a photograph just with a camera. You bring to the act of photography all the pictures you have seen, the books you have read, the music you have heard, the people you have loved.” – Ansel Adams

An assignment from a workshop just over a year ago “Describe yourself as an artist”

Me an artist? I was immobilised by imposter syndrome at the concept of calling myself an artist. Funny thing is, I tell my 7 year old who loves to sketch, that he is creating art, therefore he is an artist. But I really struggled to apply the same logic to myself.

The turning point for me was finding SMAL. For me editing has always been my downfall, I was really struggling to find my editing voice.Once I had the confidence to pursue my vision on my terms, I could create the art I always wanted with the help of SMAL.

The art of storytelling, with real connection and depth. These images were my first realisation that with my vision I can create art. Reliving my own childhood with my little ones, remembering the regular treasure hunts my Dad brought us on. To this day they are still my favourite images. Edited with Smal 01 and Rose 10.

If you love art,love creating art, if your artwork somehow brings a smile to just only one person. You are an artist.

Do you struggle to call yourself an artist? I would love to hear your thoughts. Write it in the comments.

Cathy Murphy | Cathy Murphy Photography