Tuesday

Your Photo- My Edit

I had an “open call” for photos a few weeks ago, and you guys sent me some fun ones!  A few of the photos were perfect as is, while others needed a lot of love (Ha!).  I chose this picture from Jess because it was right smack in the middle.  I also chose this one to show you that, with a little tweaking, you can salvage a photo and bring it a little more life with the “unsharp mask” tool.

 Edited Version:Cute Girls Edit

 

Original Below:

Cute Girls Original

I am not a fan of overly Photoshopped edits.  I wanted to keep this picture close to the original, yet give it some pop.  These are the steps I took to clean up this adorable photo:

1.  Imported picture into Photoshop Elements 7

2.  Duplicated the layer in layers palette.  Edited with soft light at 20% to add contrast

3.  Selected only the irises of the eyes with lasso tool and upped the contrast to +7… then with the eyes already selected, I chose “unsharp mask” to sharpen the eyes (Doesn’t it seem weird to select “unsharp” when you need to sharpen?  I’ll never get it).

4.  Enhanced lashes with the “burn” tool (lashes are always my favorite part).

5.  Cropped the picture just a little

6.  Used the lasso tool on the left to select each face, then used “unsharp mask” (under “Enhance” at the top of the screen) to help get rid of some of the “fog” in the picture

Here’s a screen shot so you can see what this step looks like:

screen shot

 

Total time spent was only about 10 minutes, maybe less if I didn’t have my two year old “helper” in my lap. 

Sigh.

Final

These girls just make me smile.

 

Encourage one another,

35 comments:

Morgan said...

Adorable photo and nice edit job! I'm like you, not big on those overdone edit jobs where it's obvious it was photoshopped. It's amazing what the little things can do though.

Stefanie said...

Love it.. and I love those beautiful blue eyes, you really did salvage this picture and make it frame-worthy!
I'll be submitting one of my pics on your next photo edit call!

Melissa @ Southern Mommas said...

this is super cute! great job

Tiffany said...

Can you tell me how to use the burn tool on the lashes?? I didn't know about this trick! {wink} This edit is perfect!

Kim at Polka Dot Thought said...

Beautiful! Great job--I too love the burn tool for the lashes. My favorite part--really makes it pop!

Pineapple Princess said...

Tiffany,

Good question! I'll make sure to do another tutorial and show you how to do it. It's the little details like that that can really help a picture!

Laurie said...

Love it. Just enough, not too much!

My Trendy Tykes said...

Great edit!

angie said...

As always, just awesome! You are ridiculously talented!!!!

Wanda said...

I really love this edit. You kept the beautiful softness and added such a clarity.

Camille said...
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Gardenia said...

It looks just right. just enough here and there. love the eyelashes tool!

More Than Words said...

Wow, that is great!!!! What a difference a little editing makes!

jules said...

Their eyes are amazing. Thanks for sharing...

Leah Maya Benjamin said...

gosh dang if I could just use mine like that. I have so many pictures that are like that but I just ahven't figured out elements enough, although that didn't look so difficult. Thanks for showing the screen adn how you selected the face I'm just never sure how to do that.

The Little Miss said...

I would love to learn how to do this! Sometimes it just seems so complicated but the result is fab! Love your blog!
If you would like come check out my blog and enter my current giveaway at littlemissheirlooms.blogspot.com
I hope you decided to follow me because I try to bring my readers a new and AMAZING giveaway every Monday!
Xo
Priscila

Wanda said...

I love the Love Shack! I'm visiting from Lynnette. Your blog is adorable!

Great photo work too sister!

He & Me + 3 said...

Wow...great job. I love that you included how to do it.

*Jess* said...

I'm thrilled! Thank you SO much! I can't wait for your tutorial! I have to admit that Photoshop intimidates me a lot! I'll just have you edit all my photos from now on! (wink wink!)

Sherrie said...

That is amazing! I really want to learn more about digital photography and editing. I know the first step is to get Photoshop. Thanks for sharing! Oh.. and have I told you how much I love your blog design, blog header and cute little button? Awesome!

Jamie said...

Love the pic! I'm a stinky photographer. I wish I was better...I just blame it on the camera.

Great blog, by the way!

Jaimee said...

Beautiful picture!!! And even more, your beautiful edits. You are very talented, my friend.

Camie Marie said...

Wow. Those eyes! Beautiful. Thank you for paying me such a wonderful compliment. I am humbled, especially since you've opened my eyes to this amazing world I'd forgotten to enjoy so much! Thank you!!

Kristi J said...

i'm so sending you one of my pics next time so you can make it look better :)kristi

Joanna said...

Seriously, you are so inspiring. I'll shop for you, and you edit my photos. Fair trade? :) I agree that overly edited photos lose the fun...and I'm totally guilty of that. I haven't quite learned how to master all the beautiful subtle edits in Photoshop. Tutorials would be fabola.

LETO said...

Wow great job on the photo!

amanda said...

that is so cool!! love the editing and i'm totally going to have to try it.

Mommy said...

Thanks for sharing the step-by-step....love the edit!! Great job!

Grizzly Bear said...

THAT LOOKS GREAT!

Amanda said...

You REALLY made those perfect little eyes pop. And your edit truly did the picture justice... I SOOOO need to learn to have a lighter editing hand... you did such an amazing job, and it still looks totally natural!

Great job girl!
Amanda

Melissa Stover said...

i love photoshop tutorials. thanks for the tips.

Melissa Stover said...

i just cannot figure out the eyelashes. i use elements too.

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