Atlanta portrait and wedding photographers Craig & Cathy Willis

770-439-6065

For my photographer friends...



Mentorship & Apprenticeship Training with Craig

Professional Photo Talk Photography Group


Adobe Photoshop and Nikon Capture Tips for Photographers

Nikon Capture Multi-Image Color Management

Color by the Numbers / Kodak Color Chart

Density and Color by The Numbers Example Two

Perspective Control with Adobe Photosho CS or CS2

Perspective Crop with Adobe Photoshop CS2

Blending Two Versions of The Same Image

File Size and DPI: Confusion Between Nikon and Canon Digital

Photo-Bio details


Early in my photography journey, I sought to study with the best possible working Master photographers of the time, I studied under such greats as Don Blair, Frank Caruccio, Stewert Craig, Rocky Gunn, David Muench and several other world renown photographers.

During a 15 year period, I maintained a staff of 8 to 10 photographers, many of which have since gone on to open and operate their own photography studios around the country. Some of them have earned the title of "Master Photographer" in the PPA organization and have had prints selected to be in the PPA loan collection, and one who even won a Pulitzer prize for one of his editorial portraits.

As a teacher, I prefer one on one training with photographers to better train each individual, and answer their questions that apply and effect them most in their development. I have trained photographers from around the United States at our Georgia studio location, and have traveled to train photographers in their own studio and local area. Some are husband and wife teams which works well also because they both have the same goals and questions that will apply to their operation of their business.

About my background and experience in photography...

In 1973 I worked for a chain of 3 studios named "Portraits by Revoir" and was the chief photographer of 6 total photographers under the direction of owner Dick Revoir. During this time Mr. Revoir also assigned me to supervise or manage all the studios custom color lab operations. After 4 years with Portraits by Revoir I accepted the oppertunity to manage a local camera store. First as one of the store managers then as general manager of the chain, After taking that company from the grips of bankrupcy to showing a healthy profit, the owner sold the stores, and in 1979 my wife Cathy and myself moved from Utah to live in the Atlanta area where she grew up, to work for Miesel Photochrome's Atlanta, Georgia color lab facilities. I was responsible for custom color prints 16x20 and larger, and one of his main Miesel Photochrome clients during that time was the nations top photographer, Monte Zucker, all of Monte's orders took top priority. This association with Monte was a very important releationship in the eyes of the Miesel Atlanta color lab. Even though I really liked working for Miesel, we now had our first daugther, and I needed a higher income that I was not able to earn working with Miesel. So I got back in to retail management, and photographed weddings on the side, and did this for the next 10 years.

In 1989 we decided to open Craig Fine Portraits, and do photography full time, and have never looked back.

In October of 2001, I founded an Internet photography group Called Professional Photo Talk, and still manage the group, and I participate in several others. And during 2007 software developer/photographer Slava Slavik and myself will launch a group of releated photography sites, and new forum for photographers of all levels. More information on this new venture will follow soon.

Although I do charge photographers for this "One on One" training, it is not to earn an hourly wage, one portrait session can net the studio three times as much income for our business in one hour of work, as is charged for three entire days of training, I do the training for love of the craft and profession of photography. By the way, when you do this training with me, be ready to work half days, and when I talk about half days, I am normally talking 12 hours. I will let you get out with 8 or 10 hour days during this training if that is your desire, but during this training we get so involved with the days training before you know it, you have been at it that many hours, believe me, you will get your moneys worth.


One thing to note, and General disclaimer:

One nice thing about Adobe Photoshop, is that there are many ways to accomplish some tasks. Many books are written to help you learn them. What I add to my pages here are topics that I have been asked to cover from someone who asked a question on the PPT message board.

Most of these tips are things that many know, I am sure. I by no means am trying to imply that I discovered any of these little tips and that no other photographer has ever discovered it, because I am sure that is not the case. However I have learned most of what I know of photo editing programs by the same method that a child takes on a new video game, or a musician learns to play their instrument, practice and exploring daily, along with things that I have read written by other photographers, that is the method that I like to use personally.