Visual marketing is the way things are going to be in the future. There's no doubt that photos have a major impact on traffic, shares, and rankings. Your marketing strategy's crown jewel should be photos. With few pictures, an impressive website is unlikely to receive many shares, traffic, or viral promotion.
It can take a long time to create visually appealing photographs using a photo editing program. We don't all have perfect talent or design skills. However, if we want our website to be noticed and posted, we'll need the images. While learning how to edit photos can be intimidating, there is always a way to get around it.
When you also realize how important it is to know how to edit photos, you'll notice a difference in the images you use on your website. It would potentially move 50% less traffic without visuals. Therefore, we should make it a priority. We'll go over how to edit photos like a pro, some photo editing basics, and what to look for in a good photo editing program used by professional photographers in this post.
Basic Photo Editing Tips: Beginner-Friendly
Every professional photograph you see on the internet has been altered digitally in some way. To build a unique universe, the images are often totally altered. However, most of the images are altered to correct flaws or make them more visually pleasing.
1. Select a Photo Editing Program
With so many photo editing programs to choose from, editing digital images have never been simpler. Others are basic and only allow for minor adjustments, while others are more complex and allow you to alter any aspect of an image.
Adobe Lightroom, Adobe Photoshop, and Capture One Pro are used by most professional photographers. You can try these services for free, and then purchase them if you like the outcome. Adobe apps are available as a subscription service, with Lightroom and Photoshop included in the photography kit.
2. Create Your Personal Style
There is no one-size-fits-all method on how to edit photos like a pro. Professional photographers edit their images in various ways. Some photographers enjoy experimenting with color saturation and vibrance, while others prefer black and white photography. Some people prefer pictures with many lights and whites, while others prefer dark and moody images.
It's all about your own style when it comes to how to edit photos. See what catches your attention on social media and in other photography portfolios. Try to figure out what it is about the pictures that appeal to you. You may not know exactly how to achieve the perfect look if you're new to post-production. However, the first step is to figure out what you enjoy.
3. Make Use of the Automatic Modes
The algorithms for automatically post-processing images improve as a photo editing program improves. These allow the software to evaluate an image and make recommendations for improvements. The outcome may shock you. An icon typically indicates the auto choice resembling a magic wand.
The auto tool in a photo editing program is bypassed by most experienced photographers. If you don't like the outcome, Lightroom is non-destructive editing software, which means the original picture is never modified and you can still go back to it.
4. The Colors Should Be Vibrant
Following automatic mode on our how to edit photos guide, let’s talk about the colors in our images. Several professional photographers prefer a color scheme with many vibrant colors, while others prefer a color scheme with many subdued colors. Changing the colors in your pictures would make them look professional, regardless of your style.
This can be accomplished with various tools. In most photo editing applications, you can change the contrast, saturation, and vibrance. Since it defines the relative difference between lights and darks in your picture, contrast visually alters colors. Your photos would appear flat if you shoot in RAW format on your camera. The first step in adding dimension is to increase contrast.
5. Crop the Image
Cropping an image removes the image's unnecessary corners, rendering it smaller and enabling the main subject to take up a greater portion of the picture. Since newbies tend to leave so much room around their main subject, this is one of the most valuable photography tips for beginners.
6. White Balance Should Be Adjusted
Next, on our how to edit photos guide, you should be fully aware of white balances. The term "white balance" refers to color levels rather than exposure levels. You can change the white balance to correct an image's general color tone if you find it unappealing or unrealistic. Since JPG files capture much less digital data than RAW files, they allow for little white balance alteration during editing.
To better adjust the picture for the lighting conditions when it was taken, most editing programs allow you to choose from preset modes like "daylight," "flash," or "cloudy." Many also have a “temperature” and “tint” slider that you can adjust to fine-tune the optimal lighting cast on a picture.
7. Be Mindful Of Sharpness
Sharpening a picture gives it a cleaner, crisper appearance. Multiple sharpening methods are used in several programs. Begin by changing the sharpness level. Begin at 50%, then change the level high or low to achieve the desired intensity.
Test with the additional sharpening capabilities in your editing software to see what impact they have. A "clarity" or "structure" tool is one choice. It draws attention to the edges of objects in the shot, giving the picture a more vibrant appearance.
8. Remove Any Imperfections or Spots
Last on the list on our how to edit photos guide, in every form of photography, paying careful attention to the details of a picture is important. You can need to delete any spots or background clutter to ensure your picture is flawless.
Editing Photos Using Your iPhone
Are you interested in learning how to edit photos on an iPhone? The easiest method is to use the iPhone Photos app's photo editing program. You can improve your photos without leaving your photo library, with one-tap edits to advanced color and saturation settings.
1. Open the iPhone Photo Editor
So, how do you use the iPhone Photos app's picture editing tools? To edit a picture, simply open it and tap “Edit” in the top right corner of the page. There are three icons at the bottom of the screen in the iPhone picture editor. There will be four icons if you're editing a Live Picture.
2. You Can Adjust Sharpness, Color, and Brightness
Knowing how to edit photos on an iPhone helps you turn a dull picture into something spectacular. Please ensure the Adjust icon (dial) at the bottom of the screen is selected to make changes to your picture. A row of adjustment tools will appear beneath your picture. To see more tools, swipe over.
3. To Change the Color Tone, Use a Filter
When you're learning how to edit photos, filters are a simple and fast way to alter the appearance and feel of your photo. You can change the color tone of your image with a single tap using various color and black-and-white filters. Tap the Filters icon (three circles) at the bottom of the screen in the Photos app's Edit mode. Swipe through the thumbnails of the filters beneath your picture. When you adjust the filters, note how the colors change. Drag the lever at the bottom of the screen to change the filter intensity once you've selected a filter. Choose the original filter to delete a filter.
Making Your Work Count
If you’re a photographer, there’s good news waiting for you after finishing this guide on how to edit photos. One way of marketing your work is through a photography portfolio. And we’ll be sharing the tips and tricks you should on how to make your photography portfolio with a free website builder.
1. Choose a Reliable Website Builder
We want to help you promote your photos by setting up a website for your Photography Portfolio. There are many website builders available on the internet, but most of them require technical knowledge to fully use and do not provide a free alternative. However, Strikingly can easily provide all the elements your website needs, it’s free to use, and a user-friendly website creator. In less than an hour, you will get your website up and running.
This image is taken from Strikingly’s Website
2. Choose Your Template
Our community of world-class website developers has created a growing library of templates that are suitable for practically any niche subject or field. Modern website templates allow you to express yourself and show off your artistic skills.
This image is taken from Strikingly’s Website
3. Upload Your Pictures
With various layout choices, you can show off your best work. Create separate gallery sections for different genres and subjects on your website. Build photography portfolio websites that are a perfect reflection of your personal style.
This image is taken from Strikingly User’s Website
4. Tell Us About Yourself
A good story will pique the interest of your visitors. Write a brief description of your background and photographic interests. Tell people how you got into this business and what services you have.
This is image is taken from Strikingly User Website
5. Include Your Contact Information
For the last tip in this how to edit photos guide, don't forget to provide a feedback form or contact form so that users can contact you with questions. It’s important that your prospective and existing clients know how they can communicate with you.
This image is taken from Strikingly User’s Website
Final Thoughts
Professional photographers use all available resources to create distinctive and unforgettable images, as well as to correct image flaws, including non-straight lines and unwanted spots. Editing your photos also gives them a more professional appearance and a distinct theme, which helps visually tie your website and social media together.
Don’t forget to use this how to edit photos guide whenever you need assistance in editing your photos. Lastly, your online portfolio should highlight your artistic abilities, without stressing you out with complicated coding languages. Having a photography website has its own set of advantages. By including the Simple Store section on your webpage, you can offer photo prints or digital downloads of your work. With Strikingly, you will make your talent stand out.
