The Power of Stitching Photos in Photoshop
Want to know the easiest way to stand out and get your Composite Photography noticed?
If you’re like me, you know how important it is to get your work seen by as many people as you can. In fact, your survival psychologically, financially, and creatively depends on people noticing and appreciating your work.
Do you agree?
That’s exactly why I spend so much time and work so hard stitching my scenes together in Photoshop. Because very few other photographers are willing to do it, which makes it easier for me to create images that get attention.
I love this saying, “Do what others aren’t willing to do, so you can do what others can’t do.”
Now, let’s check out my most recent stitching job.
A Unique Portrait Scene
I was recently commissioned to create a Uniquely Different Family Portrait for a local family here in Dallas, and during their Discovery Session it was determined the scene for their portrait would be set in their kitchen.
Kitchens are such a great setting for a family portrait but their super difficult to photograph and stitch together.
Here’s one of the original photos I captured using my Canon 6D with my favorite 24mm – 105mm.
As you can see in the above example, my 24mm lens, while wide, isn’t wide enough to capture the entire scene I need for their portrait.
Could I use a wider lens?
That’s one of the most common questions I get when talking about stitching scenes together and the answer is…
I don’t know… Maybe!
Actually, that’s something I’m going to experiment with here in the near future but I honestly don’t think it’s going to deliver the same look and perspective I get when stitching my scenes together.
I’ll make sure to post a video showing you what I find out on that test.
Creating Epic Scenes
If your goal is to take your Compositing to the Next Level, I truly believe there’s no better way than with knowing how to effectively stitch a scene together in Photoshop.
Here’s my stitched together scene using the photo from above and several others.
Have you ever heard of the “Uncanny Valley”?
The Uncanny Valley is that place where we know your Composites aren’t real or fake, and we’re not quite sure where to place them.
Anyway, when you stitch your scenes together like this, you’re exploiting the Uncanny Valley, which people notice.
They know it’s not quite right but they’re not sure what it is.
Scene Stitching Breakdown
So you get a better idea of what a stitched together scene looks like, I’ve put together this color coded example so you can see the 12 different photos I used.
Now, you might be thinking that’s too complicated and takes too much time, and it is complicated and it does take a bit of time, but if it were easy you wouldn’t be reading this article because everybody’d be doing it.
Remember, “Do what others aren’t willing to do so you can do what others can’t do.”
Our Final Stitch
By no means is stitching your scenes together the only way to get your Composites noticed and I’m in no way suggesting you have to do it.
I’m simply pointing out a way I’ve found to separate myself out from the masses of other Composite Photographers doing amazing work.
Here’s a question I want you to ask yourself right now, “What makes my Composites different?”
Great idea and I agree if it was easy everone would be doing this process. I’m interested in how you can place the family in the kitchen and make them look natural.
Thanks so much for the comment. Once I have the portrait complete and delivered to the family, I’ll post a follow up so you can see how the family fits in. Naturally! LOL