How to Make a Killer Promo Shot – Digital Artwork

Do you own a Nightclub in Ibiza?   Want to make your own Promo Artwork, SIMPLE !   Just follow my 4 step plan !!

One model,  One camera, One Studio , One computer , CS3 or 4 (photoshop) and10 mins ! Thats all you need , Sorta…

Its been a while since my last Photoshop blog, so i wanted to create something fun for everyone !!  Because I am nice like that.. I thought summer style Party Promo Club might be just the thing to bring summer here ! Lets make a HEDKANDI STYLE PHOTO !!

So then STEP ONE !!

Find a model, my lovely model was Nicola Stevens, My photo was taken f4.8 @ 135mm,   A little light from either side and a blue gel from the back. A fan was used to lift the hair.  The photo was kept darker to enusre no detail was lost . I knew there was going to be loads of post pro , so i was not too worried about make up. It was more of a snap than a proper Photo Shoot…..

Once you have your photograph, Pop into into photoshop direct. Edit up the skin, Make up , body shapes, and all the stuff that you want to do. I use a few ticks using lens blur layers after a good going over with the stamp tool Blur sharpen, repeat…   If you do wanna know more about this, section…  fire me an e-mail or get a make-up artist !!

STEP TWO !!

Create 2 new layers -

Make some funky over lays and pretty patterns.  This is very random and hit or miss.  I kept very simple and created two quick elements that sit into my comp.

These elemets very very simple and created using the Brush tool and some very simple layer styles, a simple inner glow and outer glow, A flip into screen colour mode and your done.

Lets work on the lighting cord. (Pen tool> creat wiggle>remove sections behind arm>add layer style)      I used a custom shape brush and a Wacom Tablet set on the airbrush mode to let me fade in and out,  a nice soft brush does work well here.

Here I again made a custom brush for my fake Bokeh effect. (create brush shape>edit brush settings>paint>done !!)    Once you have your settings for the brush its half the battle.  You dont have to make your own brush.. but i think its cool.  The settings…  F5 will make your brush manager pop if you have not got it open. play around with some stuff in there like size and shizzle.. I dont really want to say what i used.. just play and see. Its a very very Powerful tool.

After you have made your layer,  add about 3 or 4 more layers..  paint some whacky colours on there (one colour per layer)  , Pop them into colour mode (blending layer)  and see your Bokeh colour up !!  This should start to colour your background photo now too..

STEP THREE !!

Colour up your photo and merge it all !!

You should almost have your comp done.. A few more colour layers set to Colour blend mode and some more whacky colours should start to build up the over all photo..

Dont be worried if your photo looks like this  !!  its cool..   Build it up duplicate the layer, add some Lens Blur, Screen mode , sharpen this.. add that and add back in your  elements you make and Bingp Bango

Watch it all come together..

STEP FOUR !!

Opps.. ok .. so only 3 steps..   Erm..  ADD MORE LAYERS , work some cool layer styles and build build build !!   Dont be worried about trying things !   I have about 20 odd layers in mine.. some pure blue layers, some blurred up layers.  Lots of screen mode layers. God Bless the Alpha Channel !!

Thank you !!  send me your versions !!