33
Over the past few months I have had people ask me how I get my images to look the way the do. While there are many amazing products out there that help you achieve unique looking color tones and effects, I started out learning the basics through photoshop. I learned how to use my photoshop tools to create actions. Actions are a set recording of a mix that you create in order to get the same color tone on every image. It takes a long time to develop the eye and skill to create actions, that is why there are companies out there where you can purchase pre-created actions.One mistake that people make is they tend to use that action at 100%. I like to tone the opacity down and mix and blend various actions on top of one another to get my own unique look while using other peoples actions. Phew...long explanation, I know. If any of you still have questions feel free to email me!!
This photo is of Stacey from LOVE&PHOTOGRAPHS. I put a before and after image up so you can see what actions can do.
BEFORE
AFTER
How I achieved this look:
*Dodge and burn where needed. (this means to lighten and darken areas that are uneven)
*Clean up other blemishes.
*Sharpen the eyes
*Desaturate the image
*Used a black and white action at 100%
*Used a red sepia tone at 30% (this ads warmth to a black and white)
There you have it!!!
Here is another one that was requested
BEFORE
How I did it
*I first cropped the image to make her more of the focal point
*I removed blemishes as needed
*I dodged and burned to make certain areas pop
*Then I added the color toning. I used a rich sepia at 15% opacity
*I then added a purple screen filter at 30%
*I used a sharpening tool for her eyes and hair.
There you have it!!
AFTER
Trackbacks
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry:
How you do it?!
. TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://vogoimage.com/darkroom/mt/mt-tb.cgi/32
Comments

Will you do a before/after of the 1st picture of Stacey in the post below? It's definitely my favorite and belongs in a magazine. What post processing did you do?
(10.06.10)You are so nice to share. Thank you! I was trying to guess how you did it and I was way off :)
I'm happy i found a new photo blog to keep up on, your work is great! You have a new fan.
(10.06.10)