How I edit my photos, start to finish

[Camilla and Darwin]

Hey all, I decided to make some videos about how I edit my photos from beginning to end in the hopes that it may be useful. I am definitely not the best video maker in the world so I apologize if I don't explain things super well. I have found that watching videos is very helpful for me so if you have any specific techniques or methods you would like help on I'm happy to make one. Disclaimer: This is just the way I do things - but there are truly so many ways to get to the same end product!

Here is a video on how I use the RAW editor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlNJoIHQ3J8

Here is my video on using layer masks (a MUST in editing, in my opinion) that will help make the other videos more clear.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvkpeV148Ww

How I edit dogs, I have 2 videos, one I made for Laurie so it has mention of Fudge and Vern, and one I made just today for everyone. I included the one I made for Laurie because it involves removal of leashes which may be useful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTNAF9BbPQM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqOvP0Zw5Ro

Here is how I edit my portraits (this is an unlisted, private video due to the fact that I'm showing someone's face close up, so only you guys who have the link can access it.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qzybS9a3T0

Landscapes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UopEB9EmoM

Adding catch lights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yu-_8C0eCy0

Let me know if these were useful or if you have any requests! I'm currently working on a project with DH - it's a photography e-book and I'd love to know what specific areas videos or tutorials would be helpful on.

link to greater than gatsby actions (all of their sets are great, this is the one I was referencing)

http://www.greaterthangatsby.com/retouch-necessities/#tabs-2

link to pioneer woman actions

http://thepioneerwoman.com/photography/2009/08/pioneer-woman-action...

Note: Adina has crop specifications for the calendar, so when editing your photos keep that in mind. She has said before that uncropped images are preferable because it leaves her more room for tweaking if needed. Reviewing the calendar requirements is a very wise thing to do.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Joanne, I figured it out with Nancy's steps. I understand how to copy and paste, but when I went to edit....under that....the field copy is not allowed. That's what I meant. Sorry for the confusion. Thank you for trying to help me. LOL

[Nancy and Georgia Brown]

Go to the photo that you like the catch lights in.

Use the lasso tool and draw around the first eye. Zoom in to the photo and get only the eyeball and no extra parts. Use the shift key to add the second eye to your selection. ( you could probably do this with just one eye, but I like them being a little different--makes it look more natural)

You should now see the marching ants in circles around both eyes.

Press Command C for copy.

Go to the new file that needs catch lights.

Press Command V for paste.

It will put them on a separate layer.

With the move tool selected move the highlights closer to the eyes. You may have to scale the image using the transform tool and move the catchlights around to get them to line up with the eyes and to be the appropriate scale to the image. Sometimes the screen or multiply layer setting helps me see where I'm at while I'm lining things up for scale and then I change it when I'm ready to apply the correction.

At that point, if you are only interested in the catch lights I would increase the contrast and or levels so that the catch lights are very light and everything else is close to black. Then I apply the "lighten only" setting to the layer.

I am working in photoshop and not elements (never used it) so I hope most of that is relevant.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

This is exactly what I needed, Nancy......thank you! I will post results. I appreciate everyone's help in explaining this over and over to an idiot me.

I DID IT!!! Thanks again!! After all that fuss, I didn't even like the picture all that much, but I got the hang of it...for now....I think :)

BTW, I only work in Photoshop CC!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Ahhh, Good for you.  Yes, I was confused by what you were asking.  I knew you knew how to cut and paste. Now I understood you were just having issues isolating the area to copy.  

[Camilla and Darwin]

Great news Laurie!

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

Camilla ~ our company is finally gone and I had some spare time tonight to start reviewing your videos.  Oh, I think this is going to be a huge help.  Thank you so much for taking the time to do this.  I appreciate it and I think you are an excellent teacher.

[Camilla and Darwin]

Yay - I am very glad! Thanks!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Question: RE Noise Reduction

I am using Photoshop CC and I do not have option in the Filters to use what you suggested: Filter> Imogenomic> Noise ( something like that)

I thought you mentioned in the video it was a plugin. Did you download desperately from the Adobe site?  

[F, Calla & Luca]

I think Camilla has a plug in from a different, paid site.
http://www.imagenomic.com/
Besides Camilla is rarely desperate.

[Camilla and Darwin]

LOL - thanks F! You are correct. I use imagenomic portraiture and noiseware 

p.s. Jay (of Jay and Lola) pointed out a more intensive noise reduction software to me a while back - called DXO prime. I used the free trial and it is far and away the most amazing noise reduction software I've ever tried. It will reduce noise at extremely high levels and still retain detail - it's kind of magical. 

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

Thanks, Camilla! It's helpful to see how people do it.  I just went through the first two. Adding layer masks was a major discovery for me as well. And the fact that I can copy them from layer to layer was priceless, especially for the shelter pics that I do when I can't decide on the color of the background.

Thanks again for doing these!

[Camilla and Darwin]

Absolutely!