Saturday, May 5, 2012
The three adjustments I always make in Photoshop
3:58 PM | 
Posted by
carrie |
The comment I get the most in my digital photography classes, online and in a Facebook group that I am involved in that offers digital photography tips for mom who want to take better photos of their kids is:
"I have just started editing photos and I have no idea what I am doing-- I have PSE, but it just looks too confusing to know where to begin- help!" ~ New Photographer
When I began, I knew that I wanted to do more with my images, but it seemed like most of the tutorials and books out there were for the full pricey) version of Photoshop, or assumed a certain level of knowledge before you even got to the beginning of the tutorial.
There are a couple of adjustments that I always find myself making, whether in PSE or Photoshop, and whatever the photo situation. These adjustments can quickly take away annoyances that you didn't even know you had with your image, and can take an image that you are satisfied with, to one you are proud of showing off to anyone.
When you open your photo in PSE, you will see a series of drop-down menus along the top of the screen. Amongst these is the Layer drop down menu. (There are other ways to create new layers, but for those of you that are just beginning, this is the easiest way and the method that changes least between different versions of Photoshop.) You can access all of the following Adjustment Layer by Choosing the Layer drop down and then "New Adjustment Layer." This will make the side-menu for Adjustment Layers pop out. This is where you will find these Adjustment Layers as choices.
The three adjustments I always make in PSE:
Layer=> New Adjustment Layer=>
Levels.
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| Photoshop Levels Adjustment |
All pixels in your image are given a number from 0-255, ranging from completely black to completely white. Say you move the slider to 3 (or manually change it in the field underneath this slider) Where only the pixels with a value of 0 were completely black before, then all of the pixels with a value of 0,1,2 and 3 will then be black.
You can also use the eye-drops pictured here to adjust the levels. Click on the black eye-dropper and move over to your image. Click again, this time on something in your image that is supposed to be completely black. I find that this works best with things like walls and furniture, and less well with black clothing, which may or may not be really black if it has been worn and washed multiple times.
Brightness/Contrast
I tend to like more contrast in my images, so I would move the sliders up about 3-5. Brightness is one adjustment where subtle is better, and this adjustment should only be done after the Levels Adjustment has been made.
As your image gets brighter, you may notice a loss of the fine detail in your image, and this is where Contrast comes in to play. Contrast makes the difference between the light pixels and dark pixels in your image more pronounces, and brings back a lot of the detail to your image. However, once again- less is more as you can accidentally age someone and make the soft face of a young child look harsh.
Hue/Saturation
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| Photoshop Hue/Saturation Adjustment |
The Saturation slider is one of my favorites, because it allows you to adjust not only the overall saturation of the image, but also the saturation of each color component of the image. By default, you will have Master selected in the drop down menu at the top of this palette. You can select other colors to warm up a cool face, or make a background color pop.
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Monday, February 6, 2012
Redeemer Church Family Fun Photos-- {Coon Rapids Event Photography}
The pastor at my church emailed me a few weeks ago with an idea that I couldn't pass up, even though the event in question fell in the first couple weeks of Grad School. Redeemer is currently doing a series on the importance of family, and wanted to do something unique to celebrate the families in our congregation-- a silly family photo booth on site during a normal Sunday service.
It was so much fun to photograph an event where I basically showed up with camera in hand and used their backdrop and props. My husband was working at a show downtown, so Noah had to hang out with Mommie and try to be patient while I worked, which was a bit of a challenge. He loved getting to see more of his friends from the church nursery and had to get in on some of the fun of making a silly face, which at this point as you can see for him means sticking out his tongue.
It was so much fun to photograph an event where I basically showed up with camera in hand and used their backdrop and props. My husband was working at a show downtown, so Noah had to hang out with Mommie and try to be patient while I worked, which was a bit of a challenge. He loved getting to see more of his friends from the church nursery and had to get in on some of the fun of making a silly face, which at this point as you can see for him means sticking out his tongue.
Here are just a few of the families I got to photograph. So much fun getting to know all of you a bit more!
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Sunday, December 18, 2011
Minneapolis Newborn Photography~ Baby Roman
It has become something of a tradition for me to take newborn photos of all of the new little ones from my husband's place of work. If you have followed me for long, you might recognize this little man from last year at about this time of year who I had the joy of capturing his newborn photographs.
Little Mr. Roman is the third baby born since we have transferred out here from MI and is also the third boy-- with the 4th boy to be born in 2012. There must be something in the water down there near Loring Park. I especially love the opportunity to photograph the new little one's in the company family because I also get the chance to get a peek and a snuggle before my own husband or many of the co-workers. It is such a delight to be welcomed into their homes and to get to know more of the M******* A******** family on a personal level. I wanted to share a few photos from our session and let Mom Natalie and Dad Drew see them before the holidays. I hope you enjoy!
I loved their house in Minneapolis. From the trim to the floors, everything was preserved and gave such a cozy and warm feel.
I loved his nursery! So comfy and all of small details made it such a wonderful boyish space, while still being personal.
Yawn! So sleepy and happy looking up at his loving Mommy.
Check out this Paci!
Little Mr. Roman is the third baby born since we have transferred out here from MI and is also the third boy-- with the 4th boy to be born in 2012. There must be something in the water down there near Loring Park. I especially love the opportunity to photograph the new little one's in the company family because I also get the chance to get a peek and a snuggle before my own husband or many of the co-workers. It is such a delight to be welcomed into their homes and to get to know more of the M******* A******** family on a personal level. I wanted to share a few photos from our session and let Mom Natalie and Dad Drew see them before the holidays. I hope you enjoy!
Monday, November 28, 2011
Jess and Jason: Getting Ready {Twin Cities Wedding Photography}
Jess and Jason had a wonderful, intimate, family oriented wedding the week of Thanksgiving. I spent my time before the wedding with Jess and the ladies (and a couple fellas) of the family getting ready for the ceremony.
It was a wonderful time with the kids and snacks and plenty of hairspray. Jess is lucky enough to be getting a sister-in-law who is in school for hair, so she was able to style Jess as well as several other family member's hair.
Every so often Jess's cell phone would announce, "Hi Beautiful, you have a text message," as she was messaged by her nervously waiting groom. Jason spent his time getting ready with his dad, who was also his Best Man.
I totally fell for her shoes-- check out that heel!
Soon everyone took off for the wedding location at the James J. Hill Reference Library in St. Paul, where an anxious Jason awaited his first glimpse of his Bride.
I love this image of the future MIL's fastening Jason and his father's flowers while the Bride's brother and the Groom's sister look on. It is so expressive of how this family has come together for Jess and Jason's big day. It was so wonderful to meet you all and to be a part of your big event!
More photos of the ceremony and the family celebration afterwards are coming soon!
Labels:
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Fridley,
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James J. Hill,
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Friday, November 18, 2011
Jess and Jason {Minneapolis Wedding and Engagement Photography}
My engaged friend Jess and I originally met in a mom's group that we are both not involved in any longer-- however, the fact that she and her daughter Layla (or as my son calls her, "Laya") are both wonderful ladies we have stayed connected for the past several years.Now she and her fiance Jason are getting married this month and I have the honor of photographing their wedding.
I was so happy to hear of their marriage and honored to be asked to shoot their wedding as her friend, but when I learned that they are getting married in the gorgeous James J Hill Reference Library, which won one of Wedding Wire's Bride's Choice Awards for 2011, I was excited for an entirely different reason. The quiet and cozy atmosphere will be perfect for their intimate wedding ceremony later this week.
I hope you enjoy these, and I am so excited about shooting your wedding!
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Fridley,
Minneapolis,
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portrait,
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St. Paul,
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Sunday, September 4, 2011
Nick, Class of 2012 {Minneapolis High School Senior Photography}
Nick's mom, Tami, won one of my sessions in an auction for an organization we are both a part of: MOPS. It was wonderful to meet her and her son for his portrait session in Nick's favorite hang out spot at a local park.
The location was a perfect fit, it was open, gave the opportunity for both natural and urban backdrops and gave us plenty of space to do our thing. When talking about possible sessions, Tami's first impulse had been to select this as a location, but wasn't sure if it would be suitable. Usually this impulse is a good one, and it was wonderful to shoot Nick in a location where he has spent many hours having fun and
was comfortable.
Please excuse my dust as a few of these images have my old watermark as I am switching everything over to my new look.
Hope you enjoy your session preview!
The location was a perfect fit, it was open, gave the opportunity for both natural and urban backdrops and gave us plenty of space to do our thing. When talking about possible sessions, Tami's first impulse had been to select this as a location, but wasn't sure if it would be suitable. Usually this impulse is a good one, and it was wonderful to shoot Nick in a location where he has spent many hours having fun and
was comfortable.
Please excuse my dust as a few of these images have my old watermark as I am switching everything over to my new look.
Hope you enjoy your session preview!
Friday, September 2, 2011
B Family Session Preview {St. Louis Park Portrait Photography}
I had the honor of photographing Liam for his newborn photo session, and it is hard to believe that he is nearly a year old now. He is pulling himself up, crawling, beginning to talk, and caused his photographer to exclaim out loud over and over at his gorgeous blue eyes.
His family and I met at the Westwood Hills for his one year/ family photo session and were lucky enough to be there before the majority of the heat and humidity. It was so easy to find photos to share here, but so difficult to pare down the choices for this session preview. Hope you enjoy!
His family and I met at the Westwood Hills for his one year/ family photo session and were lucky enough to be there before the majority of the heat and humidity. It was so easy to find photos to share here, but so difficult to pare down the choices for this session preview. Hope you enjoy!
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