In today’s modern world, taking a photograph is not as simple as it used to be. Half of the work in digital photography is done post-shoot – if not more. Photographs are no longer just taken – they are created by master designers, for a world of increasingly demanding consumers.
Everyone wants to look their best, even if that isn’t exactly natural looking – and who can blame them? With such high standards and ideals for what is considered beautiful, photographers have an increasingly challenging job of editing photos.
Thankfully, the photo editing community is growing each day and more and more people are sharing tips and tricks for editing photos. Below are five photo editing tips from the pros, to make each job look like it was done by a seasoned professional.
1. Develop A Signature Style
There is no right or wrong way to edit photographs. What looks like trash to one person gets framed and hung up in the pride of place by another. Photo editing varies widely, depending on the digital artist.
That is why some photos have an ethereal quality to them, while others are dark and sombre – it is all about personal style. Decide what your signature style is, and how you prefer your edits to look, and then stick with it. Consistency is needed when developing a signature style that people can rely on.
2. Choose Your Software
There are so many photo editing programs to choose from these days that you will have your pick of the litter. Most professional editors use software programs like Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop.
Many programs offer a free trial period to give you a taste of what they offer, and if you are happy with the results, you can buy your program of choice. Nothing can stop you from using more than one editing program – it is entirely up to you.
3. Use Presets and Tools
Most photo editing programs come with a wide range of filters and presets. Presets are like photo editing instructions that mix up a combination of settings to achieve a specific look from your edits.
Editing tools are so handy in photography world because they allow you to save time on your edits. Some of the most useful ones are free including this free background remover, which lets you clear up the background noise in your photographs with ease.
4. Crop Your Best Shot
Cropping is a great way to change the entire look of the photograph. That process can remove unwanted subjects or detail from an image, change the aspect ratio and enhance the overall look of the photo.
Cropping an image will remove distracting elements and allow the viewer to focus on and appreciate the subject.
5. Play With Colors
Some of the world’s best photographers are celebrated for their love of vibrant colors that bring photos to life, whilst others prefer a more muted and subdued color scheme. Whatever style and colors you choose – ensure that you play around with them during the editing process.
You would be amazed at how much color can change the overall look of a photograph.
