Whether it’s adding in special effects or cleaning up existing images, professional-level photo edits can take time and skill to produce – but there are plenty of tools and strategies you can use to make the process easier.
In this article, we’ll share some of the best tips to professionally edit and manipulate your photos, and get them ready to enhance your social media pages. Keep reading below and learn how easy photo editing can be!
- 1 Choose The Right Photo
- 2 Review Each Platform’s Specs
- 3 Choose an Editing Software
- 4 Basic Techniques for Image Refining: Crop and Straightening
- 5 Clean Your Shot From Minor Flaws
- 6 Color-Correct Your Photo and Adjust the White Balance
- 7 Add Character To Your Photo – and Make Sure It Matches Your Grid!
- 8 Add a Unique Touch With Sharpening and Blurring
- 9 Add Text or Watermarks to Your Images
- 10 Know How To Post Your Photos Professionally
Choose The Right Photo
In today’s environment, learning to work with social media is vital to growing your business, establishing a presence online, and building up your personal brand. And, while editing is important, choosing the right content to post is just as crucial! So, let’s start by clarifying how to choose the right photo to post.
When selecting the best photo to edit, always try to find one that captures both the subject and story. Look for interesting elements like shape or texture, vivid colors, and framing that gives context. Remember there’s no one-size-fits-all solution: it all depends on the mood you’re trying to create – but quality truly matters!
Review Each Platform’s Specs
Before you begin editing, it’s important to understand the specifications of each platform that you’re posting on. Different platforms have different sizing and framing restrictions so make sure your photo fits within the designated requirements. Resize if necessary and use the right orientation for optimal viewing. As always, be mindful of image quality – ensure your photo isn’t pixelated or too grainy!
Choose an Editing Software
When it comes to photo editing, there is a variety of software out there. Depending on your needs and budget, you can choose from free options or invest in paid software that better suits your needs. In any case, if you’re new to photo editing, it’s best to start with an easy-to-use online photo editor that is highly intuitive and straightforward.
Basic Techniques for Image Refining: Crop and Straightening
Cropping your photo is an essential way to cut out distractions and create a more impactful image. You can also use this technique to adjust the composition and focus on the important elements of your image, while also playing with the Rule of Thirds. Straightening can also help you make a not-so-perfect image suitable for your social media page by creating a more balanced and level composition.
Clean Your Shot From Minor Flaws
With easy-to-use editors, you can remove any dust spots, lens flares, or other minor imperfections. For example, you could use the dodge and burn tools to brighten or darken certain parts of the photo, or you can use the blemish tool to get rid of pimples and other imperfections.
Color-Correct Your Photo and Adjust the White Balance
The colors in your shot should be balanced and adjusted to get the best out of your image – but it is never so easy to get all the colors and exposure right when taking the shot. Luckily, photo editing can help you to adjust the brightness, contrast, temperature, and white balance. Depending on the mood you are trying to create, these settings can help you enhance a bland photo or make a shot more realistic and natural.
Add Character To Your Photo – and Make Sure It Matches Your Grid!
Some photo editing tools – such as saturation, contrast, or black-and-white settings – can help you add more character to your photos and align them with the overall mood and pattern you are trying to create on your grid.
Pro tip: looking for a unique but trendy theme for your social media pages? Try film photography!
Add a Unique Touch With Sharpening and Blurring
When it comes to adding a unique touch to your photos, sharpening and blurring settings can help. Sharpening helps to make details stand out and adds depth, while blurring can be used to emphasize a certain element of your photo.
For example, you could blur the background of a portrait to make the subject stand out, or sharpen a landscape to emphasize the details. Experiment with these tools to create a unique look that will draw attention to your photos!
Add Text or Watermarks to Your Images
Although not all your photos will need to carry a watermark, you should consider adding some text or a logo on the best or more meaningful shots. This allows you to give your social media page a more uniform and professional look and protect your photos from getting stolen.
What’s more, if one or more of your photos or videos go viral, a watermark is an excellent way to advertise your business!
Know How To Post Your Photos Professionally
Lastly, don’t forget that posting your photos professionally on social media requires planning. Consider the color of the background, the type of post, and the caption. Use hashtags to increase visibility and engagement.
Make sure to post at the right times when your followers are most active. Balance the number of posts you share, and use analytics to track their performance. And, remember to stick to the posting requirements of each platform to avoid getting your carefully-edited photo distorted or pixelated!
