We like to receive and view shared photographs from our friends, family, and others who follow our social media accounts. When we come across an interesting photo, we spend more time viewing it. We like to hear and share stories and news of ordinary and uncommon matters taking place around us. Photographs make up and communicate the visual reality of these stories. A picture is worth a thousand words and your photos tell a story to those who glance at them. So how can we edit photos that send what we view as exciting to others?
Today, technology makes it possible to take and edit photos using our devices. We rarely walk into a studio for family or baby photos because at the click of our device we get our digital photographs. The editing software in your devices not only turns our devices into photo studios, but it forces you to become a photo editor as well. How can you improve your knowledge and skills to enhance your photos?
Training never stops and learning to enhance your photos no matter your skill as a photographer takes practice. The more you use editing software, the more you get to know its editing features. So, what amazing and easy tips do you need to edit your social media photographs?
1. Snap Clear and Sharp Photographs
A rule of thumb, snap clear photographs with sharp images. Try to avoid blurry photo objects unless this is your planned effect for your shots. Stabilize your camera by placing it on a tripod or on a level surface. If you lack a stand or level surface, hold your camera with both hands to avoid the shake of your camera. For better editing choices, take 3 to 5 shots at a go. Later, while studying these shots, select the photo with sharp focused images for editing.
2. Select Your Photo Editing Software
Are you familiar with the photo editing software you wish to use? The market offers various editing software for beginners up to professional skill levels. Some social media photographs editors have easy-to-use features for photographers of all skills. Well-known photo editors such as Adobe Lightroom, Google Snapseed, and VSCO form excellent platforms to enhance your photos.
3. Remove Blemishes
Now you are ready to edit. Study your photo for objects and imperfections you want to remove. Clear away the red light in the eyes of your photographed model. Maybe get rid of the skin defects, such as pimples or blackheads of a photographed face. How about an object you don’t want to see in your picture?
Use a blemish removing software, like Facetune’s blemish remover app that helps you hide the skin imperfections for natural-looking results. Naturally, unless we have baby skin, our skins have their natural pores and curves that define us. For natural looking photos, try to avoid getting rid of all the skin bumps and blemishes on a photographed face.
4. Fine-tune Your Photo Highlights and Shadows
Depending on the time of day you took your photo in natural light, your photo subjects might appear too bright or dark. It’s easy to correct the brightness and contrast using your photo editing software. First, save a copy of your original photo as a backup in case the finished product of your edited picture is not to your liking. When adjusting the brightness, contrast, and exposure of your photo, make step-by-step changes. Start with fine-tuning the contrast of the photograph, then change its brightness. Too many highlights or shadows lowers the quality of your photo.
5. Re-size and Crop your Photos
Use your photo editor to crop out unwanted objects around the principal subject of your photo. Carefully re-size your photo to avoid making the images unclear or shadowy. The more you increase the size of a picture, the blurrier it becomes. It is better to decrease the size of a picture as you will not lose out on the clarity of the images.
Snap Away
Beauty is in the beholder’s eye. Since you want to share a story through pictures, edit your photos to what you really like. Keep in mind to have sharp edited pictures. Avoid over-editing your original photographs. A little editing goes a long way. Your primary aim in editing is to improve your photos and focus on the picture subject.