Post Processing Effects

This is a bit belated for me to say Happy Valentines Day, but I've had a few shoots in a row that have kept me busy. I just finished the photo project I started, and the results are below. For each picture, I took a different action or effect tutorial to learn some of the amazing things I can do with my new toy - PHOTOSHOP!! For those of you who want to learn, I got mine from Coffee Shop and Pioneer Woman. I guess you can say that taking the time to learn Photoshop is like a Valentine's Day present (and beyond) to myself. I feel so grateful to be at a point in my life where I can develop my talents and love for photography.


Textures - there are all sorts of textures you can add to photos to create an old "oil painting" feel.

Color Filter - this one was done with a color filter which in this case, I filtered the blacks to be a slightly lighter color. This was done in Aperture. It's interesting, but needs something else.

Color Pop - this one was out of focus but I added a sharpening and color pop effect that saved it from going into the trash bin. I love that it shows pure joy and those sporadic teeth.

Vintage - I almost think it looks like an old newspaper photo or something, but I added in a muted color rather than having it black and white. It diminishes the quality of the photo but I think with an added texture and maybe a more colorful photo, it would be very cool. 

Color Pop/Softening effect - I love how she puts up her hands now and says "I don't know?" and love the way this picture turned out. This effect softened up her face without losing quality and made it a bit more interesting. 

Sharpening - the photo was a bit blurry everywhere except the focal point due to the lens I used. I just sharpened it a bit and made it more contrasty.

Black & White with color - Now that I see it here, I would mute the pink a bit more as it looks to stark. I actually don't like this picture much at all (composition, framing, that ugly toy car that I love because she loves, laundry basket, etc.)

My New Toy...

I've been playing, tweaking, and learning a lot this week, and I hope it shows positively in my photographs. Here's a sneak peek of one of the cutest boys in Europe. More of him and his adorable little brother to come.

Quadruple the M's

There was snow on the ground and sometimes pouring rain during this shoot! The girls were such good sports, listening to my half-English, half-German phrases. We had fun though despite the weather.

Adorable 1-Year-Old

Baby boy just turned ONE!