Gone are the days when photo editing was solely confined to applying filters. But present-day requirements revolving around photography have become very specific (owing to social media). Everyone wants drop-dead beautiful images that bring out real colors and aesthetics.
Whether it’s an amateur or a Professional Real Estate Photographer , every artist might have searched “How to edit photos like a pro” on the internet, and it’s pretty normal! But because we have so many levels of photo editing, from basic retouching to granular adjustments, not everyone gets the right trick they need to enhance their shots. In fact, big brands and businesses choose professional photo editing services to vet every photo that goes on their profiles, website, or any digital space.
However, for small businesses, photography agencies, or hobbyists, that may not be a feasible choice. So, if you want to turn ordinary pictures into something surreal, you must put in some effort.
Don’t know where to begin? Here are 12 proven photo editing skills that every photographer must follow.
Table of Contents
Saturation
Adjusting the saturation skill is a must for photographers looking to enhance the color of an image. The tool is highly beneficial for wildlife and nature photographers as it sweetens the color impact of images, making them look visually appealing. Avoid using it excessively to create an unnatural and artificial look in photographs.
Cropping & Resizing
Though they are not uncommon in photo editing, many enthusiasts still make mistakes when using them in their images. When cropping or resizing, it is natural to get blurry images, negatively impacting the overall aesthetic. Thus, it’s recommended to set the image resolution first and then make the required size.
Color Temperature
No photographer would like to generate a color cast image. Honing the color temp adjustment skill is incredibly helpful in neutral color selection and makes the image cooler or warmer. With hands-on experience using this skill, pros can impart a natural look to their images.
Removing Background Objects
Removing unwanted or background objects is one of the sought-after skills that every artist should possess. For instance, in some photographs, the noisy background can be distracting and significantly ruin the overall image quality. With background removal skills, a camera person would know where to keep the background and where not to.
Layers
Using the layer in image editing may open a new door to creating stunning images. Expertise in creating two or more overlays with varying transparency may help an expert create a new image combining these layers. A cameraman also uses layers to put objects on each other or an item in a different location. Even in the corporate sector, companies outsource image editing services to a pro skilled enough to deliver eye-catchy images.
Brightness & Contrast
Adjusting the brightness and contrast level may increase or decrease the image’s overall brightness. Whether it’s about adding extra light or softening the visual impact, choosing the correct brightness level may dramatically impact the image.
Contrast, on the other hand, helps to see the minute details of an image. Low contrast can hide the details in highlighted sections of the image, while high contrast may hide the details in dark areas.
Curves & Levels
Curves and levels help add some light to mid tones. For instance, if a person is standing in a photograph, using the levels can lighten up the skin tone without enhancing other elements. The former, however, is more flexible that helps transform the physical characteristics of an image.
Sharpen
If a photographer wants to make small features stand out, attaining this skill will serve the purpose. Using the tool may help to sharpen the features of human-like eyes and hair to attract the viewer’s attention. A pro can also increase the edge contrast of an image to make features stand out.
Adjust Shadows
Using the tool will help fix dark and bright areas of the images. While increasing the shadow lightens up the dark regions, reducing the highlights will darken the bright areas of the image. Thus, every camera person must work with these tools to effectively forge a well-balanced image.
Channel Mixer
An image consists of many colors like red, blue, orange, green, and more. When it comes to adding a visual appeal, you should know how to adjust the balance of each color. Acquiring the skill helps change the amount of red, green, and blue or mix two different colors in the image to highlight the striking features of an image.
Converting to Black & White
Converting the raw file will help you get amazing image quality in black and white color. For pros looking to convert their image into mono, knowing the black & white adjustment layer is an incredible option.
Creating Own Preset
If any artist wants to create brand value, having their own preset is inevitable. With a predefined style or image pattern to follow, having a customized preset would help save time and allow an expert to capture more shots within the stipulated time.
Final Thoughts
Photo editing is a skill that needs patience and time. There is no shortcut to getting overnight results. Plus, consistency is key to acing the pro level. Hopefully, practicing these 12 professional photo editing skills will help amateurs and professionals try new ideas and enhance their photos. However, for small businesses trying to mark a bigger space in their niche, I suggest going for a renowned photo editing company.
Author Bio
Kathy Butters is a content strategist currently working at PhotozWorld, a leading photo editing company providing dependable and affordable services. As a creative writer and a photography enthusiast for more than 10 years, she loves to share her passion for image editing with other professionals. Her write-ups usually cover topics surrounding tips or best practices for image editing, photo retouching, portrait editing, photo correction, and more.
Furthermore, she educates companies from different niches and industries on how they can take their business to new heights with high-quality pictures. For more than ten years, she has been actively sharing interesting articles and blogs to help retailers, merchants, entrepreneurs, and other online businesses leverage the power of photo editing through her write-ups. Besides writing, Kathy is also fond of photography and turning her shots into sketches.
