Tag Archives: Photography Tips

5 Must-Know Photo Editing Tips

5 Must-Know Photo Editing Tips

I LOVE editing photos. It’s my meditation and such a HUGE part of my creative style.

I dare say that image editing is 50% of the process to achieving a signature style.

As a photographer working with just the available light, the conditions are not always perfect enough to achieve beautiful images straight out of camera. (almost never in fact).

Yep, it’s called REAL life! 

Here’s the good news. With the right skills, you can create stunning images that wow potentail clients, blog readers and Instagram followers.

When you master editing you can finally create show-stopping images that people can’t get enough of and it will help grow your creative career tremendously.

Today, I want to share 5 must-know editing tips.

Are you ready? Here we go:

#1. Take Time to Experiment

The number one most important thing to remember when learning something new is to allow yourself to experiment. Learning photo editing is FUN but it’s also a process. You got to start somewhere and then progress from there. So do yourself a BIG favour and be playful. Test, try, re-edit, repeat.

Get familiar with your your photo-editing software, and learn to stop worrying and enjoy editing. Take it one step at a time and decide to learn to master just one editing technique at a time. Great photos will come, some failures will happen but, if you love the process itself, you’ll never see your efforts as time wasted. 

A great way to experiment is to emulate the style of one of your favorite photographers. This is not to copy but to have something to look at as a reference for what’s possible.

When you’re just starting out it can be hard to trust your eyes, simply because it takes time for the eyes to develop the feeling of what to look for. Did you do too little? Did you go too far? Having a photo to look at while practicing can help you discover how bight and colourful or how moody and desaturated your image could actually be.

#2. Edit Only The Best Images

One of the biggest secrets to building a magazine-worthy portfolio is to master the art of curating your photos. When you curate you select the best of the best images. Let’s say you photographed a bouquet of flowers or a cake and you end up with 197 photos of the same object, your finest job is to get those down to 10. Or even better 2-3. I know this sounds scary and in the beginning years this is a struggle for many photographers, so just know you’re not alone.

Rank your favourites images by going through them fairly quickly to make a selection based on intuition and feelings. Maybe set a time frame for yourself of 15 minutes and just do it. It’s really good practice to narrow down fast. Then when you have your curated collection ready look through them one more time and pick 1-3 images to edit.

#3. Watch Your White Colors

When shooting with only natural daylight, your images will often come out looking a bit dull and flat. That is something you will see especially with white areas present in your photo. When you look closely the white color looks more grey or dirty even. Fixing this is key to beautiful, fresh, and stylish images.

To get clean whites you first need to fix the white balance in the photo. If you study your photo closely you will notice that in most cases it will have a color tone affected by the elements in the image, or affected by the daylight conditions. This means if you have the color green in your photo and you took the picture on a sunny day, you photo will most likely be warm in color tones with a green hue. And this will affect the white in the image.

Use the temperature slider in your editing software to adjust the warm/cool tones and try to get it as close to real white as possible. Next, use the basic tools like levels, curves, brightness and contrast to eliminate any grey-ish looking areas.

In my Lifestyle Photography Academy I teach a very unique technique for painting with light. This is a way to paint brightness and darkness into your images almost like a painter painting on canvas – and this is truly the best way to create your own masterpieces. But you can get a long way just using the basic slides and buttons in Lightroom and Photoshop.

#4. Pay Attention To All Colors

I often get asked how I or other photographers achieve their specific style. Maybe you have a favourite photographer and you just love their editing style. You might be wondering if they are using a specific preset. And yes, in some cases they do use presets. I also like to work with presets, but it’s super important to know that presets are just icing on the cake.

So if planning, styling, photographing AND editing the image is like baking the cake. Then the preset is the cherry on top. The entire editing is NOT the cherry on top; that’s the preset. Make sense? No preset will rescue your photos if everything else is not working.

So in order to create a specific editing style you first need to pay close attention to the colors present in the scene you are about to photograph. If you want to create a soft, romantic, pastel look be sure to add colors that support that look. In this case white colors and patel colors will completment this and help you achieve that look in the final editing.

If you are more into creating dark and moody photos, consider using dark colors like brown, black and grey. Colors blend with the available light and that is why it has a HUGE impact on the look and style you create. Color is ultimately an artistic choice, so don’t go in thinking there is a wrong or right answer. The right answer is the one you find aesthetically pleasing.

#5. Rock The Basic Tools

The best gift you can give yourself as a photographer is to learn the nitty gritty of image editing. Don’t rely on expensive presets. Most presets are a hassle to work with because they often need adjustments to fit your individual image. Get acquainted and comfortable with what all the buttons and sliders in your editing program and it will transform your photography like nothing else.

And if you need help I offer high-value, in-deepth editing training in the Lifestyle Photography Academy

Enrollment is currently open for a short while and you get:

  • 32 Lightroom videos (this training alone is worth more than the entire course!)
  • 23 Photoshop video tutorials – including a BONUS section with professional retouch videos.

I also show you my personal workflow for creating both light and airy photos as well as the more dark and moody styled photos. I make it EASY to understand and quick to follow.

You can read more about the program and secure your seat here

Warmly, Christina

Which Camera Is Right For You? A Simple Buying Guide

I get so many questions about what camera I recommend. My answer is always that any Canon, Nikon or Sony DSLR will be a good choice. You can´t really go wrong with these brands. They are similar in quality and in reality it is very few details that separates them. Because I shoot with Canon myself, I will recommend Canon models only in this post. (NB.This is not a sponsored affiliate post, I only recommend what I love and know).

For many people choosing a new camera mostly depends on the budget, and as a beginner it can be really painful to invest in this new toy. Firstly, because it is confusing which camera model to choose. Secondly, because it is a costly affair to get started with photography. But as you get more and more into photography you begin to comprehend what you pay for and why.

What Makes A Camera Expensive?

So what´s the difference between the beginner-orientated price-range camera and the expensive camera in the advanced/pro category? The differences may be hidden in many small details, but the main reasons are:

ISO: ISO determines how sensitive the image sensor is to light. The more expensive the camera, the higher the ISO. When a camera has a high ISO number it will perform much better in low light conditions.

AF-POINTS: A Camera in the higher price-range often have (but not always) more focus points (AF-Points) to choose between which basically means you can be very selective with where you place your focus (which will be the sharpest area in the photo). The autofocus systems is also extremely rapid and more accurate in a more expensive camera.

FULL-FRAME VS CROP: Another important thing to look for is; does the camera have a crop sensor or a full-frame sensor. The expensive camera often is a full-frame camera. The cheaper models a crop camera. The difference between the two is this: when you look into the cameras viewfinder you will see much more of the scenery in the frame than with a crop camera. This might not matter for some people, but if you often work in small spaces a full-frame camera can be your best friend.

The Camera Will Not Make You A Great Photographer

Before I start recommending camera models I just want to make it clear; the camera will not make you great – only practice will do that. It’s like golf: winning is all about the golfer, not the club. You can shoot great pictures with any camera, even a toy camera or your iPhone. What matters most is the passion and creativity that you as a photographer bring to a shoot. My personal motto is: never put gear before creativity. Which is also a great way to save money.

Take a look at the two photos below. One is taken with my old iPhone and one it taken with my Canon DSLR.

When you look at them you can hardly see the difference and that´s because it is the creative aspects such as use of light and shadow, the storytelling, the styling, the composition and the editing that matters much more than the camera.

Join me for a transformational journey focusing on creativity, finding your personal signature style, exploring visual storytelling, creating atmosphere with light, styling with props, composition and finally the icing on the cake; image editing!

On A Budget? Buy A Used Canon Camera

If you´re on a budget don´t hold back from buying a used camera. Many people sell older Canon models that hardly have been used, so you can get a really good bargain. Look for some of the older models like the 80D or the 600D. They are not on sale in stores anymore, but they are still great cameras. You can of course also look for never models like the 6D, 7D and the 5D.

Best Camera For Beginners

Canon EOS 200D (Rebel SL2)

The Canon EOS 200D, known as the EOS Rebel SL2 in the US is one of my favourite cameras. I use this mostly for video and self-portraits. Because it has a flip screen it makes it so much easier to see what I´m doing when I´m in front of the camera. It also takes excellent photos. If you get this camera along with a 24mm lens you have the perfect camera for interior, travel and still life. And if you get it with a 50 mm lens you have a great kit for portraits. This is also one of the smallest DSLR´s on the market which makes it super easy to bring along when you travel. NB: This model is a crop camera.

Tip: Avoid buying this camera with the kit lens. Go for the body only and then invest in a prime lens like the 24mm or the 50mm.

Price: about $400-$500 (body only) depending on where you get it, so make sure to do a good search before you buy.

Canon EOS 800D (Rebel T7i)

Another great beginners camera is the Canon EOS 800D with 45 AF points, which makes it easy to place the focus exactly where you want it. The downside with a camera like this is that like most low priced DSLR´s it has a built-in flash, that pops up when you shoot in lower light situations. You should always turn this off in the camera settings and instead invest in a prime lens like the 50mm f/1.8. This lens will help you get more light into the frame without needing the flash. NB: This model is a crop camera.

Price: About $700 (body only)

Best Camera For Advanced Photographers

Canon 6D & Canon 6D ii (Full-Frame)

The Canon EOS 6D is one of the smallest full-frame DSLR cameras in the world. A full-frame will allow you to get more of the scene into frame compared to the crop cameras above (super helpful when working in small spaces). That´s also why it is more expensive. This camera is a medium priced camera that comes close to the type of camera used by the professionals. The only downside is that it only offers a 11-point AF system, giving you less options to set the focus point where you want it. On the positive side it shoots well in low light conditions as it goes all the way to 25,600 in ISO. The newer version of the 6D is the Canon 6D ii and that model comes with a 45-point AF system, but it a lot more expensive.

Price: $700 (6D body only) $1500 (6D ii body only)

Canon 7D ii (NOT Full-Frame)

This camera is truly a workhorse. It has an incredible 65 (AF) autofocus points which is a dream for every photographer because it give you the ultimate flexibility for where to place your focus. It also produce video like a professional camcorder. Downside; it´s not a full-frame but a crop camera.

Price: About $750

Best Camera For Going Pro

Canon EOS 5D Mark II (Full Frame)

The Canon EOS 5D Mark 3 is the camera I shoot with daily and I love it. It is just perfect in every way. This full-frame camera shoot well in low light (ISO 25,600), focus fast and offers 61 focus points. The Mark III is actually fairly old at this point in 2019. I got it back in 2012 when it first got out and I´ve been using it every day since. Downside is no Wi-Fi for uploading photos directly to the internet, but that´s not something I would do anyway because I like to get my photos on to the computer and edit them there before I post them online. When you decide to invest in a camera like this you should be at a point in your photography journey where you shoot a lot of photos. The Canon mark 3 is the perfect camera is you´re going pro.

Price: About $2000 – $2,400

Canon EOS 5D Mark IV

The Canon 5D mark 4 is the newest edition of the Canon 5D Mark 3 model I mention above. They are more or less the same camera but the new edition have minor improvements. This is going to be my next upgrade, but I´m still so pleased with the 5D mark 3 that I feel no need to upgrade yet. If you are going to make a long term investment into your professional photography business I will recommend this model. You will for sure have a great camera for the next 10 years.

Price: About $3000

So what else do you need to get started?

Photography Gear Musthaves:

  • A Camera that you will actually USE, which it not necessarily the most expensive one.
  • At least one good lens. I recommend the 50mm f/1.4 as the best all-round lens.
  • A good quality memory card.
  • A computer, which is regularly updated + cleaned from un-used programs and files.
  • An external hard disk to store files and photos on (you don´t want them to slow down your computer).
  • An editing program like Lightroom (or Photoshop)

Chalk Paint: The Perfect Backdrop For Photography

Chalk Paint: The Perfect Backdrop For Photography

I often get asked about the walls in my studio and what type of paint I use. So today, I´m sharing my secret with you; I use chalk paint!

I absolutely love chalk paint. It makes the best backdrop for photography. Chalk paint has that beautiful texture I adore with softness as well as depth. It´s also the most matte paint you can get and super calming to the eyes. Plus it adds atmosphere and mood which helps with the storytelling.

It´s super easy to apply chalk paint to your walls, just make sure to use a large brush in good quality. One layer is often enough and it takes just a few hours to dry.

Because I use chalk paint a lot (I should be sponsored, haha) I have developed a love affair with a few brands and those are the ones I recommend: Kalklitir (they ship internationally) and Lady Minerals from Jortun (Scandinavia) and Annie Sloan (Europe).

Below you can see some more examples. Keep in mind that the color of your chalk wall will change depending on how you edit your photos. If you add a preset, raise saturation or darken the image, the wall color might change. But this just adds to the creative fun.

Chalk Paint: The Perfect Backdrop For Photography