Photo editing can turn a good snapshot into a great one. However, with all of the editing software available today, it is also possible to go overboard and edit your photos too much. Below are some common photo editing mistakes and tips on how to avoid them.
5 Photo Editing Mistakes to Keep in Mind
1. Too-Bright Eyes
You want the eyes of your subject to stand out. However, enhancing the irises too much can look unnatural. Unless you are going for a “spooky” look, apply the dodge tool in an editing software like Adobe® Photoshop® over the irises at 50% opacity to make them shine without looking abnormal.
2. Clearly-Photoshopped Skin
Avoid the fake, plastic-esque look from over-photoshopped skin with a side-by-side comparison. Keep the original next to the edited photo while using editing software to smooth skin texture and disguise flaws, such as acne or scars, without going overboard. The healing brush tool in Photoshop will help maintain natural coloring while enhancing the photo.
3. Excessive Contrast
Use contrasting tools sparingly to prevent blowouts on both sides of the color spectrum. Excessive contrast makes black hues look too dark and white colors blinding. Educate yourself about photograph curves and how they can create too much contrast.
4. Overcropping
Crop small sections of the image at a time to prevent overcropping. This will avoid a final product that looks cramped or doesn’t have enough negative space. Think critically about how you want your final image to appear before getting overzealous with cropping tools.
5. Too Much Sharpening
Use your sharpening tool to define lines rather than adjust the image’s focus. Too much sharpening creates halos and other unwanted imagery features. Use Photoshop’s high pass filter for total control over edge sharpening; do this step last when your image is at 100% zoom so you know exactly how it will look.
Whether you need a new digital camera or other photography equipment to craft stunning images, contact K & R Photographics for what you need. The camera store in Ft. Mitchell, KY, has served the Greater Cincinnati area since 1975 and carries a comprehensive range of equipment and software. Call (859) 341-6986 today with questions.