I’m thinking today is feeling like a photoshop before & after kind of day, don’t you think?

I’ve always loved seeing other photographers before’s & after’s. I love looking at where the creative process in photoshop takes them and seeing the end result. Hopefully, you enjoy it as much as I do

The one on the left is straight out of the camera or SOOC and the right is the edited image.

Whenever I edit a picture I usually start with the same basic actions from my set of actions:
- Lighten
- Color Boost
- Make it Pop (and adjust the opacity to my liking)

Depending on the picture I will make a few adjustments to the color and contrast using curves.
I also like to use portaiture on some of my images.
FYI-curves is my most used tool in photoshop.

Some of my other favorite actions to use are:
- My Feeling Blue
- Totally Rad’s Pool Party
- Pioneer Woman’s Seventies (I used this on the first  image with the opacity turned down to about 30%)
- My Vintage Gold
- Totally Rad’s Yin/Yang (love this one)
- Totally Rad’s Claire-ify

For black & whites:
- Totally Rad’s BAMF 16-bit
- My Delicious B&W

Sometimes I like to make a duplicate copy of one image. I will run the BAMF 16-bit action on one and my delicious B&W on the other. Then I will merge the two images and adjust the opacity of the layers until I get the desire B&W look I’m going for. Did that make any sense? Clear as mud, right?

Until next time……

I must say that I’m so lucky to be surrounded by so many talented photographers!
I loved all the pictures you sent me, which made it really hard to pick favorites.
Thanks so much for taking the time to send them in!

Now how about a few of your Delicious B&W’s? I will resist the urge to say, “cute & love” for every single picture. I make no promises that I will succeed. I might have to get out my thesaurus for this post.

Sweet Bliss Photography- Jenny B– 
Be sill my heart! I could possibly eat that little chubs right up. And I love me some good bokeh.

Mari Thompson–
How perfect and sweet is this?! My kids never look this sweet… or this perfect. Especially when holding an ice cream cone.

Ransonet Patterson–
Love the contrast of the B&W!

Sarah Blamires–
I just adore this shot, five little kids (and Dad) all in a row. There’s nothing to distract or take away from this photo- it’s all about the family. Just the way it should be.

Kimberly Taksony–
Love the little bit of edginess in this one.

Photography by Merilee–
So, so cool!

Jen Chandler– 
I can almost hear this little girl squealing with laughter.

Kristie Ferronato–
This picture makes my eyes happy. I’m serious. Eyes have feelings too you know.  The composition and the depth of field is perfect!

Ellie Cutler–
Ummmm, I love this one. Those expressions are priceless!

Chell Leighton–
You can never have enough pictures of babies… too sweet!

Sarah Blamires–
I love how the texture of the sand pops out in this one. How do kids manage to fall asleep in the most awkward places? Except for my children of course. They will only fall asleep if they are in their bed. It’s a curse.

Aimee Fredy–
Those eyes melt my heart. And just so you know, the color version of this one is equally as stunning.

Sweet Bliss Photography- Jenny B.–
Everything about this one screams PERFECTION! I love it!!

Thanks again for sharing your talent with me!
Ginnie