Elegance in Contrast
Black & White Background Mastery for Pets & Equine Using Krea and Photoshop.
"AI is revolutionizing photography, not as a replacement for creativity, but as a tool to enhance it. From streamlining editing workflows to generating imaginative elements, AI empowers photographers to focus more on storytelling and artistry."
Originally photographed in the studio. I wanted a dark, dramatic lighting style. To change this traditionally to a high-key white studio image would have been very time-consuming.Instead. I used Krea.
Black & White Background Mastery for Pets & Horses Using Krea
One of the most requested editing styles in modern pet and equine portraiture is the clean white background and the dramatic black background portrait. These timeless looks create powerful, emotional artwork that feels elegant, expensive, and are completely focused on the beauty of the animal. In this brand-new class, Judy Reinford will show you how to create both styles using Krea and Photoshop in ways that are fast, believable, and designed for today’s portrait clients. You will learn how to transform ordinary photographs into stunning studio-style artwork without needing a traditional studio setup. Whether your image was photographed outdoors, in a barn, at a horse show, or even in difficult lighting, you will learn how to build polished black and white background portraits that look intentional and refined. This class is perfect for pet photographers, equine photographers, digital artists, and anyone wanting to create cleaner, more artistic portraits for clients, competitions, or wall art sales. As always, the workshop will be recorded for future watching.
What You Will Learn:
• Creating rich, dramatic black backgrounds for pets and horses
• Building soft, high-key white background portraits that feel elegant and modern.
• Using Krea to simplify masking, cleanup, and background transformations
• How to handle difficult edges like fur, manes, whiskers, and flyaway hair
• Creating realistic lighting transitions so backgrounds feel believable
• Enhancing depth, contrast, and texture for luxury portrait finishes
• How to create studio-style looks from outdoor photographs
• Fine-tuning portraits in Photoshop after working in Krea
Why Is Learning This Is Important?
Black and white background portraits have become some of the most profitable and requested styles in pet and equine photography because they remove distractions and place all of the emotional focus on the animal.
A dramatic black background can create strength, elegance, and mood.
A clean white background can create softness, simplicity, and a modern fine art feel.
When paired together, these styles give photographers an incredibly versatile editing workflow that works beautifully for wall art collections, social media marketing, competitions, memorial portraits, and luxury client products.
In this class, Judy will show not only the technical process but also the artistic decisions that make these portraits feel professional instead of artificial.
Perfect for pet photographers, equine photographers, animal artists, Photoshop painters, Krea users, and portrait photographers wanting cleaner edits.
Judy Reinford
Judy Reinford M. Photog., M. Artist, CR., CPP, MAI
Judy's passion for photography began when she was just six years old. She vividly remembers spending hours in the darkroom with her grandpa, the gentle glow of the red light casting a warm hue over the developing images. There was something magical about watching photos come to life in the developing tray. Her grandpa’s instructions, “don’t turn the light on,” and the silent anticipation as the image emerged, left a lasting impression on her. That early experience in the darkroom sparked a fascination with the art of capturing moments and transforming them into visual stories.
In 1989, Judy graduated from Kutztown University with a BFA in Communication Design and Fine Art Photography. She began her career in photography at Hess’s department store, photographing everything from china to jewelry to bed linens. Judy's interest in pet, equine, and zoo photography developed through her involvement in PPA print competitions. This led to a passion for fundraising and donating her finished work to zoo gala silent auctions. She is currently on the board of The Lehigh Valley Zoo Gala Committee, underscoring her dedication to animal conservation.
Judy's studio specializes in pet and equine photography, offering on-location or studio sessions (though they haven't had a horse in the studio yet—just dogs). Her services include digital mixed-media paintings and fairytale composites of both pets and people. Over the past three years, horses have become a significant passion for Judy. She resumed horseback riding in the summer of 2020 and finds photographing these gentle giants, either alone or with their owners, a rewarding experience.
Her teaching seminars have gained national attention, attracting attendees to PPA Community Partners and Photography Guilds across the country. Even small events have seen participants flying in from afar. Achieving the titles of Master Photographer and Master Artist through the Professional Photographers of America (PPA) was an exciting and challenging journey for Judy. PPA offers these prestigious degrees to recognize the significant achievements of its members. Determined to attain both degrees simultaneously, she completed the rigorous process in less than three IPC competitions, a remarkable feat.
In 2023, Judy embraced the future by becoming an educator in the field of AI, teaching the positive aspects and potential of this technology. She is excited to explore how AI can enhance creative processes and push the boundaries of traditional photography and digital art. This new area complements the extensive Photoshop techniques already covered in her online and in-person workshops. I see the future of photography and art evolving rapidly with the integration of advanced technologies like AI. These tools are opening up new possibilities for creativity and expression, allowing artists to push boundaries in ways that were previously unimaginable. I believe that AI will become an integral part of the artistic process, enhancing our ability to create, edit, and share our work.
In this evolving landscape, I hope to be someone on the cutting edge of these advancements, helping to educate and guide students in using AI in a safe and beneficial way. My goal is to demonstrate the positive potential of AI in art and photography, helping others to see the good it can bring to our creative endeavors. By incorporating AI into my workshops and teachings, I aim to provide students with the knowledge and skills they need to leverage these technologies effectively, fostering a new generation of artists who are both innovative and responsible.
PPA 2026 Diamond Photographer Of The Year
5 Time Diamond Photographer
5 Time GIA Nominee
ASP IOD Image Of The Year 2025
ISAP Photographer Of The Year 2024
ASP Images Of Distinction, Best In Show Spring 2024
IPC 2024 Double Gold Medalist
2019-2022 PPA International Diamond Photographer Of The Year – Photographic Open
2023 PPA North Carolina Photographer Of The Year
2023, 2022 & 2020 Animal Image Makers - Best Equine Image
2023 Animal Image Makers - Best In Show
2023 Animal Image Makers - Master Of Animal Imaging
2021 Animal Image Makers - Accredited Professional Of Animal Imagery
PPNC Photographer Of The Year 2023
TXPPA Best Other Domestic Animal 2023
ASP 2nd Place Best Animal Portrait 2023
5 Time (2019- 2023) ASP State Elite Award
2021 MPI International Image Challenge - Digital Art Photographer Of The Year
2020 MPI International Image Challenge - Fine Art Photographer Of The Year
2020 - PPA International Platinum Photographer Of The Year – Master Artist
2019 WPPI Second Half Competition Third Place Animal Portrait
2019 ASP Bronze Medallion
2020 Imaging USA - Image Excellence Award
2019 ASP District Award 2019
Imaging USA - Craftsman Degree
2018 - PPA International Gold Photographer Of The Year – Photographic Open
2018 - PPA International Gold Photographer Of The Year – Master Artist
2018 ASP State Elite Award
2018 - PPA Northeast First Place Animal Portrait
2018 Imaging USA - Master Photography Degree and Mast Artist Degree
2017 - PPA International Gold Photographer Of The Year –Photographic Open
2017 - PPA International Platinum Photographer Of The Year – Master Artist
2016 - PPA International Silver Photographer Of The Year –Photographic Open
2016 - PPA International Gold Photographer Of The Year – Master Artist
