The US digital photography market has a value of over $11 billion and growing! More people are taking up photography either as a hobby or in a professional capacity. Photos can give us a lot of information, and they are powerful tools for the media and news.
But if you are a newbie to photography, you might not know how to edit photos. It can seem overwhelming to know where to start with beginner photo editing.
But don’t worry! This article provides 4 photo editing tips to get you started. We will cover cropping, color correction, contrast, and touch-ups.
1. Crop and Straighten your Images
Looking at an image that isn’t straight creates a sense of unease. Cropping and straightening centralize the subject and your image will feel higher quality.
Although this can get taken care of during the editing process, it is good if you can take good raw shots. Use the rule of thirds to help you plan your photo compositions. This will save you time post-production.
2. Make Your Colors Pop!
Colors are one of the most important aspects of any image. Adjusting the hue, saturation, and luminance refines colors and stops clashing. You can match the color palette to the type of scene you are photographing.
You may be shooting a colorful city street, so you want bright colors to stand out in contrast to each other. But when photographing natural landscapes, soft and neutral tones are better.
Many editing programs offer automatic color correction. So, if you are struggling, you can use the automatic correction as a baseline. Then experiment with the settings afterward.
You can also try out filters, which can be great if you want a collection of images to look cohesive.
3. Improve Image Contrast
Contrast, sharpening, and structure are all vital photo editing techniques. All these tools can increase the strength of the lines and shapes between light and shadow. Increasing them will give a more dramatic and cinematic look.
It can help to separate objects from the background, making them stand out more. Contrast also looks amazing if you are shooting images in black and white.
4. Tidy Up Your Photos
It is very difficult to take a perfect image when you are doing photography. Most of the time, especially if you are doing outdoor photography, you need to do some spot correction.
Luckily, healing and cloning tools are available. These can help to smooth things over and remove any blemishes.
If you are doing product photography, you may also want to remove background from an image. This creates a stronger focus on a subject and removes any unwanted distractions.
Get the Best Photos with These Photo Editing Tips!
Photo editing is a key step in the photography process. Whatever the purpose of the image is, you can use the photo editing tips above to create amazing, professional images.
If you enjoyed this article, then check out our photography section. There you can find more photo editing ideas, how to improve photo editing, and much more!
