1. Always Start with a Quality Source Image
Editing can enhance a good image, but it can only do so much with a poorly lit or blurry original. Start with the best source material you have.
2. Crop for Composition Before Anything Else
Apply the rule of thirds. Place your subject off-center and eliminate distracting elements at the borders before adjusting colors or exposure.
3. Adjust Exposure and Contrast
Brightening underexposed photos and adding a touch of contrast makes images look more vibrant and professional. Aim for a balanced histogram.
4. Fix White Balance for Natural Colors
Photos taken under indoor lighting tend to look orange (warm). Correct the white balance to make skin tones and whites look natural.
5. Use Selective Sharpening
Sharpening adds clarity to eyes and fine details. Apply sharpening selectively to the subject, not the entire background, to avoid a noisy look.
6. Don't Over-Saturate
It's tempting to crank up the saturation for vibrant results. Instead, boost the vibrance setting, which enhances muted colors while protecting already-saturated skin tones.
7. Remove Distracting Elements
Use background removal to eliminate cluttered backgrounds, or use a clone/heal tool to remove unwanted objects like power lines or trash bins.
8. Resize for Purpose
Resize your photos to the exact dimensions needed before uploading. This saves bandwidth, speeds up your website, and preserves quality on the intended platform.
9. Export in the Right Format
Use WebP for web use, JPEG for email or social media, and PNG for anything requiring transparency. Avoid saving and re-saving JPEGs repeatedly, as quality degrades each time.
10. Save Your Original
Always keep your original, unedited file. Edits are interpretations, and you may want to go back to the source for a different treatment.
