Thursday, April 8, 2010

Before and After...


It happens to be Thursday!
Already.
Time for another before and after photo party.

This week I thought I'd leave my textures in their file.
Shhh...don't tell them.
I sort of use them like a crutch.
Without them, just call me "limpy".
I don't do a lot of actual "editing" on the photos of my kids.
I usually just adjust levels, and do a little layer blending and sharpening.
I feel like their little faces just don't NEED a lot.
But I am a bit biased.
Portrait editing is just a tad time consuming.
So I don't do it a lot.
This week I thought I would give it a try.
I emphasize "try".
My favorite portrait model is S-girl.
She loves having her picture taken.
She is quite the "poser".

eyes lips before
Here is the before.
Isn't she a doll?
Please, could someone get her some lotion?
Obviously her mother is oblivious to her dry skin issues!




eyes lips bw copy
Here is the after.
It is a tad dramatic for my taste.
In fact, it sort of scares me.
It looks as if she is not thrilled about the lack of lotion.
But there is another reason why it scares me.
We are not letting her out of our sight until she's 23!

Wowzers!

Visit
Pixel Perfect for more before and after photos.

**This picture was edited in Photoshop Elements.
1. Adjusted levels to brighten the picture
2. Used a new sharpening technique that I learned from an Elements book I got from the library.
3. Cropped to straighten.
4. Used Coffeeshop's Baby powder room adjustments.
5. Then added a duplicate layer and changed the blending mode to screen and lowered the opacity to taste.
6. Converted to black and white and added a slight vignette.

And all of this only took about 20 minutes. Thanks to The Coffeeshop!

p.s. After visiting Monica's site today I was surprised to see that there had been a vote last week! Yes, I'm a real blonde. It was a crazy week/weekend for me. I had written my post the night before and quickly linked it up the next day. I am sorry to say, I didn't read Monica's post thoroughly. Yes...once again, bad blog manners! It was spring break and the day was so full! Anway, thanks so much for your votes. You all are too kind. I'm just learning like the rest of you!

34 comments:

Nat's said...

WOW...

Your editing skills are awesome!

And only 23...I would keep her locked up until atleast 30, and invest in a shotgun...or two!
:-)

Thanks for all the editing tips...I only recently got my 'big girl' camera and there is so much to learn, the editing boggles my mind...I'm not really PC savvy at all!

Victoria said...

wow - she is beautiful!!! And I personally...love the edit. It is a little ghost like, but I like it for this photo. The clarity is amazing, great job!

Brianne said...

Oh my word! I can definitely see why you would want to keep her locked up until she's 23! She's gorgeous! Those eyes are just beautiful. Gorgeous conversion as well!

Kim@stuffcould.... said...

I love your pics,they are pro!
kim

Carrie said...

Oh, My Goodness Sakes!! What WILL she look like in 20 years?!?!

She's gorgeous!

*&*

You did a great job on the edit!!!

Thanks for the tips!! ;)

Eileen said...

Julie,

I'm telling you, I'm going to start sending you my pictures! FInish up with you homeschooling year early so you can get going on my projects.

Thanks, Eileen

P.S. And as always, S girl is simply stunning (with or without lotion!)

Angie said...

OMG! Wow! What a great before and after! It just shows you what they do in magazines...I think I will show this to my 12yr old...to teach her that people in mags don't look like that in real life!
Your daughter is gorgeous! But the after pic makes her look to mature I like the before better!

Laura said...

Oh, I love it! So dramatic and beautiful! Absolutely gorgeous! It reminds me of the movie Memoirs of a Geisha :)

Sandra Burns said...

. . so far THIS is my favorite, no textures needed! Great job!

laney said...

I love the edit! She isn't angry she is smiling with her eyes! I heard Tyra Banks say that yesterday on her show not that I watch it. :) It was the channel that was on when I was folding laundry...honestly!!! Great job!

Amy J said...

Great edit! You're definitely in trouble...she's such a pretty girl!

Shannon K. said...

If you have a strong aversion to guns, this may end our love affair...but I have a shotgun you can borrow :) Not kidding. I plan to have Andy sitting on the porch cleaning it for every date that makes his creepy way to our door for Addyson.

Julie, that picture is amazing! I don't think it is too dramatic at all. In fact, that may be just what I absolutely love about it!!! She is certainly a beautiful little girl.

Christy said...

She is beautiful. The edit is perfect for the shot.

kim said...

she is gorgeous & you did an amazing job! love the processing and love the dramatic feel!
found you on Pixel Perfect :)

Pam said...

Very beautiful! Dramatic and yet soft all at the same time.

Tracy said...

I love it, but I love dramatic shots and washed out colors. Beautiful!!!

Courtney said...

What a beautiful and dramatic edit!! Love it!

Krista Lucas said...

gorgeous. i love that you took this so close up, and the black and white makes it so lovely. nice!

krista @ kristalucasphotography.wordpress.com

Heather said...

what a beautiful photo!

Anonymous said...

She is jaw dropping beautiful! Oh my gosh! What a picture! Her big brothers are going to be working overtime keeping the boys away from her!
The edit is very dramatic! Perfect for this simple shot! I love her little mouth in this! Darling!
And thanks for the RAW info! Can't wait to try it!

Sassy Salsa girl said...

Well its official, I suck at all things photo editing. Who new editing would make such a drastic difference! Very impressive. What a beautiful girl before and after ;D

Laura said...

WOw, I seriously LOVE it! And oh my goodness she is beautiful, you are SO in trouble!!

Cleo said...

WOW!!! Was unaware what a difference a bit of editing can do! My experience, thus far, has been limited to changing the color (to sepia or B&W) or cropping. Thought that was about all there was available! Boy am I the horses butt! ;)
S-Girl is something...I agree. My husband is gradually increasing his gun collection. ;)

flat yeast bread said...

Awwww! I think this is my favorite, for sure my favorite so far!

Sonora said...

This picture has the WOW factor! Holy Cow! She is so beautiful and the editing is phenomenal! I wouldn't let her out of my sight either!

TheFitHousewife said...

Wow, what a gorgeous photo of your little girl! She is stunning!

You're right, you better keep her locked up for a long time!! At least she has older brothers to protect her!

Anonymous said...

Holy cannolli! What a beautiful (and dramatic in a fabulous way) shot that is! She is precious!

Toni @ Hemp & High Heels

ellieshine said...

G.A.S.P. she is stunning! this is stunning. Wow you do beautiful work. Someday I will learn photoshop . . . (and how to use textures).

Pixel Perfect said...

Dramatic and beautiful!! Great work!

Pixel Perfect said...

So dramatic and beautiful!! Great job!!

Jenn said...

OMG! After seeing your picture this morning I had to download and install this action! I can't wait to try it out. This shot is beautiful! You did a wonderful job with the edit! It's next to perfect.
Love your blog too!
Jenn :)
www.5andahighchair.blogspot.com

He & Me + 3 said...

No doubt. She is beautiful! Seriously, she looks like a model on the cover of some magazine. Gorgeous. Love her eyes.

..Soo.See.. said...

BEAUTIFUL!!! She's just so gorgeous (even w/o lotion. Lol j/k) But seriously, you did marvelous!! Dramatic, but still good!

Tanya said...

Pretty girl! Love the photo!

Related Posts with Thumbnails