Let's talk about editing.
Have you ever had the moment, "if I had a camera with me, it could have been a great snapshot.." or you are in a rush and "Okay, let's take a photo of the moment without thinking about lights or focus."
When you are not with a camera, as we know, we always can take photos with your mobile phone and edit later. Today, I would like to introduce some app and how to use them making pictures look good and add your photos a little bit of the sense of the next level.
(*Please note that this blog is not only about 'photography.' I want to provide tips for snapshots people take every day for their fun and use. When it comes to photography, ISO, Aperture, Shutter Speed do matter, and we do not want to take a shot by thinking we can edit later.)
Since I use an iPhone, I'd like to focus on how to edit photos taken by iPhone and editing tool/app we can use to make them look like Instagrammed or pro-angle look.
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Shoot
I usually take snapshots for food, table setting, and a part of natures. I shot photos above at home. I typically make a picture from the top and see the whole space with food and other table decorators.
It's just because, in the view of editing, that angle gives you a simple process to crop the photo if there is any additional object are on, which could ruin your photo look.
Also, in color/white balance wise, you can see the whole balance of the primary object and other additional decorators.
Moreover, the angle gives an object itself more standing out and provides the audience feel it.
Of course, you also can take a photo from different angles like the photo in the middle.
When you take a photo from the angle, make sure the background. You do not want to spend time on editing it with Photoshop. So usually, I put the object in the dark color background and decorators that matches with the primary purpose.
For example, if an object is sweets, then put some dried flowers, candles, a flower pot, a folk, a mug cup...something relates to the images of the object. The additional objects should come from a tool you want if you are served it at the restaurant. Something makes you feel good for no reason.
*A little tip is that a candle always works out with almost any objects. That's a magic tool to boost your photo image to the next level.
After shooting, let's go to editing.
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App
I've been using different apps and came to the point where stick with 2 - 3 apps along with a purpose/ image of a photo.
My favorite photo editing apps are 1) Photoshop 2) VSCO 3) edit.lab
Photoshop can be used almost for every photo, and it's easy to edit on an iPhone. I use it to make a picture polished first with 'Enhance' on Photoshop. Let me talk about how to edit on an iPhone by Photoshop next time, and show it in more detail.
Today, I mainly focus on 'how to make photos look classic moody look.' For that, I am going to focus on the app, 2) VSCO.
This app carries much variety of filters and editing tools, and it is the best app to provide classy moody look on the picture. I only receive benefits from them for the free zone, which is limited filters available. But trust me, it's enough just for fun shooting and snapshots.
Before the details of editing, let me give you my definition/thoughts on the classy-moody look.
To me, classy-moody is containing the colors of blue, green, grey, and brownish and the vintage style, but the photo does not look old. Objects still match with 2018. It's a mixed texture of trendy objects and classic tools.
The process below is how I edit for the classy moody look pictures. Here is each action for the final edited version I took on VSCO. Please take a look at each number of adjustment tools. *Click the bottom '<>' to see next photo.
The process is how I edit for the classy moody look pictures.
My tip is that do not use the 'Exposure' fist. Adjust 'Contrast.'
And after 'Contrast,' if necessary, adjust 'Exposure' to darker. It's my personal opinion, but 'Exposure' is just a supplement tool to add a strong sense of lights to a picture, and you do not want to have an intense fire in the classy moody look.
Moreover, if you could adjust 'Saturation' and 'White balance' for cooler/warmer looking. I think that those two tools are the most important for the classy moody looking beside the filter.
In other words, as long as you handle those two, you can create the best snapshot in the classy moody style.
The last tip is that use 'Grain' and 'Fade' to make more the vintage look. Recently 'Grain' is my favorite tool for editing. I don't prefer to use the 'Fade' tool in general, but 'Fade' definitely works out for more portrait snapshots, instead of food and natures,
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Lastly, let's go review.
1. use the angle from the top
2. have additional decorators/goods provides the feeling of the object. *a candle is a magic tool
3. do not adjust 'Exposure' first. Always 'Contrast' first
4. handle 'Saturation' and 'White balance' for cooler/warmer looking
5. use 'Grain' for the vintage look
I hope these tips help your first step of photo editing on your phone.
Please let me know if you have more suggestions or questions that you want me to cover in the next post.
Thank you so much for reading and hope you enjoy your snapshots more!