Whoa! Even at the "proof" stage -- those already look so stylized. Did you have to work with Fotofafa a while in order to pin-down this distinct proof look? Or would someone who began working with them today be able to expect a similar outcome? They just look reallllly good for only being proofs -- I am astounded! Other examples from other companies just don't look so artistic at this stage, so I never trusted outsourcing. But THIS might change my mind!

Anda, Thats the best part about Fotofafa, they can cater to your specific needs (if you like your images warm or cool, contrasty or not), they can save those preferrences and make your images look how you want them to look. You should check them out!

very nice! thanks for sharing :)

:) This might just make spending more time with the kid possible. Thank you.

Amelia, kudos to you for being honest and open about how you run your business, but also for allowing us all to give ourselves a break. I have always sat there and thought to myself, "How do the Lyons DO this time and time again? Have all of those shoots and have every image look so fabulously processed?" I am really considering outsourcing and I feel like this is the answer (I did contact Kenny before!!!). Thank you so much for being so gracious with your workflow!!!

Must say, I've never thought of outsourcing. These look fab!

You had mentioned Fotofafa in an earlier post and I checked them out... I'm sold. Hook, line and sinker. Thanks for the great tip!

Thank you for sharing your talent and "secrets" to your fellow photographers.

Thanks so much for sharing this! The proofs looks awesome...

That's what I have been wanting to see. Before and afters!!! Yes!

NICE!! I've tried out another company before and was really unimpressed, so I kinda gave up hope on outsourcing post processing. But not anymore!! Thanks for sharing!

Thanks for this post! This might just save my life!

Thats awesome! My question is, how many images are you giving out to non-wedding shoots. Like the ones featured in this post. Because it almost doesnt seem worth while is you are giving out on like 30 photos or so.

Thank you for sharing. I've also had mixed experiences and I've been hesitant to give up control again... as much as I want to, I haven't been able to trust as much as I should. I really am inspired to give these guys a shot. Looks like they do a wonderful job.

Hey Millie, I actually deliver 120-150 per portrait session and 700-900 per wedding. I normally shoot 500-700 per portrait session and 3,000-ish per wedding. I use Fotofafa for both portrait sessions and wedding because it saves me so much time! It is definitely worth it!

Kat, I understand about giving up the control. This is definitely difficult for an artist to do, but for proofing, I feel it is a necessary thing to outsource. The upside of this is that you WILL have more time to spend elsewhere (with your family, or focus that extra time in marketing and getting your name out there, etc). I am so glad that I learned how to give up some control. And rest assured that Fotofafa will listen to your specifics and do their best to apply those preferences to all of the images you send in. Hope this helps!

Great blog, really like the pictures!

Great tip for outsourcing. I think it's finally getting to the point where it's cost effective, with a high quality.

Beautiful images (as always), but I don't think I could relinquish that much control... though maybe I should.

does that mean that you only process the photos that you blog ? isn't that a problem , if clients expect to get from you the look that they see on the blog ?

Hili, I'm always 100% honest and upfront with my clients. The images they get to see online are only "proofs"....contrast added, color corrected, white balance perfected, this is why it is called a "proof". Then I let them know that anything that goes to print (whether it be images in a wedding album, or a large print) will go through the "artistic edit" so it will look like a work of art when it's in their hands. I simply explain that not all 700-900 images from a wedding will ever go to print, so it is pointless to artistically edit all 700-900 images (the same goes for a portrait session), then after I explain this they understand the reason why the proofed images look slightly different than the ones that they see on our blog. I haven't had a complaint yet from any one of my clients because took time to educate them on the process. Hope this helps.

I actually recognized a couple of your images from their website while inquiring in the past and thought if Amelia uses them, they must be grand. Thanks for the share!

Thanks girl for blogging about this! Huge help...one day when I get busy enough with our portrait sessions I'm totally going in this direction. OUTSOURCE...OUTSOURCE...OUTSOURCE!!! I'd like to have my life back...please!

thank you for the info it's really helpful!

hi amelia, thanks for the long answer. i was wondering about that. : )

thanks for showing these! your work is amazing, even raw!

Thanks so much for sharing - great job

Thank you, thank you for this review!! I am currently MISERABLE with my endless late, late hours, and watching my family suffer from seeing so little of me. As a full time stay at home mom and homeschooler and trying to balance work at the same time, this is EXACTLY what I need. I always thought, "No way! No one can touch my images!" I am sooo edit picky. But Fotofafa looks very trustworthy, which I never thought I'd say about any outsource. Thanks so much for this. You (and them) have been the answer to all of my problems right now --- literally :)

Okay, I'm sure I'm not the only one that thinks this looks too good to be true?!?!?! WOW...........this seriously may be the key to a new life (I mean A life) for me!!!

hi amelia, just wanted to say reading your genuine, thoughtful comment replies in this blog entry has made me even more interested in hearing you teach at one of your lyon shops! however, being a sophomore in college makes that a little difficult to do. so i guess that will have to wait. hopefully you'll still be offering those in the future!! you're an inspiration for an aspiring photographer like me. God bless. :)

hey... i really like your toning techniques just wondering how u made them... we really like to try different style this time hope you can help us. tnx :D

Love, love, love this idea! I need something that will help me spend more time with my twin girls and husband. Thanks!

Love the lighting, Amelia. LOVE the LIGHTING. Everyone should wear hats for shoots. Wouldn't that be great? That would be great. I'm gonna start this thing. Hats, people, wear 'em.

I love the windmills in the background... and the mall was such a great find! Beautiful portraits!

Man you guys rocked this session i LOVE it esp the windmill shots your stuff has always been a daily favorite of mines...

I freaking love Justin's shot! I have a slight obsession with windswept hair! and love your favorite too.

Love all of these images! You are so TALENTED!

woweeee! I love this session! My fav is the one with Mike up close in the abandoned mall lot and Lindsey out of focus in the background...beautiful composition! All of these are great! bravo!

can you shoot me and my wife and my baby please?! k.... thanks!

Oh My. These are so Fresh! Love them and how you incorporated their style into a truly fun landscape~

Wow. Amelia. Justin. These are insane. Thank you so much for your beautiful work. We LOVE LOVE LOVE all of them!!!!! You are incredible.

wow what an amazing set of images....i love the one with the windmills in the background, her hair blowing in the breeze...epic! great job :)

Gorgeous!

Wow. These are beautiful! The colors are just so soft and yummy. I love her headpiece, and her shoes:)

I love what you have done with the light here, especially how you played up all the details surrounding this adorable couple. Beautiful!

Amazing shoot, I love the feeling of these images. Lindsey has great style too!

sigh... you make it look so easy. what a fun and beautiful couple. soooo impressed you trekked to the windmills---i've dreamt about it but lacked the gumption, but not miss amelia lyon and co., so awesome.

LOVE EM! Especially out by the windmills!!! And I love the hair pieces!!!

Awesome stuff Amelia & Justin!! Fabulous shoot. LOVE LOVE LOVE the pink hair piece, love the color pop it gives to the photos!!

I love her headbands and outfits. The photos in the parking garage are so great. Wow, the dramatic lighting is amazing.

loooove the last couple shots. great shoot!

Oh my goodness.. i NEED you guys to have another workshop so I can come learn how you do your lighting. It is freaking amazing!!

This is SO AWESOME....I think I just died. Those desert shots! Beautiful work!

Oh- Love!! What a great couple in a great location! Love those shots with windmills... so great and inspiring. :)

love the windmill shot. Also amazing to follow justin's updates from Haiti, our prayers are with him and those affected.

love love love!

these are really pretty

Gorgeous. My faves are the windmill shots. Nice work!

Wow, these are FANTASTIC!!!!!

I love the windmills in the background! Did you do a family portrait shoot there before?

you guys are still the best.

I LOVE IT! it's crazy that everything you do is perfect. I love the shot Justin took with the little wisps of hair flying in the wind. plus your off camera flash is spectacular. nice.

I love this engagement session! It is very creative and passionate. Fantastic images!

Thanks for the recommendation! Will definitely check them out.

What a great shoot and good looking couple! I love the lighting!

I adore your work. I never comment but man your stuff is cool! I hope my stuff is that cool someday. I think the windmills brought the comment in me out :) i just did a blog post and my last picture was of the windmills on the way home from CA. I've always thought it would be a wonderful place for a photoshoot... thought confirmed, by you! always a pleasure to check out your stuff. thanks. jill

WOW!!!! SWWWEEEEETTTT!!!!!! these r GREAT!!!! no.6 is to die for......... "A MOMENT IN TIME"

The light in these photos are stunning and the last few are amazing. Also, I want her SHOES. beautiful.

The desert and windmills was oh so totally worth the trip! Wowsers. These are amazing.

Thanks for the pics and the recipes. My favourite pic is the side portrait of Lindsey with the off-lighting. Regards, Carl from T.O.

Very romantic photos, love the tonal quality!

we should help them .now they are in trouble.cheapsexyshoes

I like these photos,they are beautiful.thanks for sharing .