My Home Sweet Home: Decorated with Family, Faith, and Photoshop

Decorated with Family, Faith, and Photoshop

  • Home
  • Meet Dawn
  • My Books
  • Essential Oils
  • Contact
  • Camera
  • Disclosure

31 Days of Before & After Shots: Day 6

October 6, 2012 by Dawn Camp

Welcome to day 6 of 31 Days of Before & After Shots! This photo comes from our (in)courage authors’ retreat in Hilton Head last month. The shot held such potential with the subject matter, footprints, reflections in the sand, and of course the Atlantic Ocean. Unfortunately the sunlight was almost gone, the sky growing gray.

Day 6 - Before

Day 6 - After

The Edits:

  1. Crop (I moved in closer and also moved the horizon line from near the center of the photograph to one-third from the top—I’m all about the rule of thirds!)
  2. Use the Make It Better – Auto Tone preset, a free download on Sean McGrath Free and Premium Lightroom Presets page. This boosts color saturation and contrast.
  3. Tweak exposure (brightness).
  4. For the sky, decrease exposure and increase saturation and clarity (I use a graduated filter in Lightroom—see the graduated filter tool circled below).
  5. Increase contrast and clarity in the sand (once again, I used a graduated filter for this).
  6. Add a light vignette (darken the edges).

I would love to know what software you use to edit your photos. Feel free to tell me in the comments or email it to me if you’re an email subscriber.

Find Day 1 and links to the whole series here. Be sure to subscribe for email updates either at the end of this post or over on the right above my picture to receive new posts in your inbox each day.

[Click here to read my other 31 Days series, 31 Days of Encouragement and 31 Days of Real Life.]

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4

Related Posts

Filed Under: (in)courage, Before & After Shots, photography

Comments

  1. MarshaMarshaMarsha says

    October 6, 2012 at 8:50 am

    there is something about smooth sand and reflections that just grabs me!

    my favorite editing software is PS CS4. One day I’ll upgrade… (since this is you I’m talking to, I hate to admit that I haven’t even opened Lightroom in ages. shhh… don’t tell dawn.)

    • Dawn says

      October 6, 2012 at 12:05 pm

      Marsha, I’m so glad you’re here. Open that software, woman! :)

  2. Linda Stoll says

    October 6, 2012 at 1:05 pm

    this is just plain fun … i’m not a photographer, but I look forward to following your 31 day journey … and will be sharing your 31 series as one of my favorites on my day 31 post.

    fascinating!

    • Dawn says

      October 6, 2012 at 1:15 pm

      Thank you, Linda! I’m so glad you think this is fun—me, too!

  3. Kathy says

    October 6, 2012 at 2:11 pm

    I love these before and after shots! Thanks for all the great photo tips … =)
    Kathy K

    • Dawn says

      October 8, 2012 at 12:19 am

      You’re welcome, Kathy! Thanks for being here. :)

  4. Dana Butler says

    October 6, 2012 at 3:28 pm

    Hi Dawn, new here – jumped over from (in)courage. I’m a wanna be photographer and am currently editing photos from my iPhone for my blog with whatever random free software came with my computer. Don’t have a clue what I’m doing so it’ll be fun (and possibly make me want to go spend money on cooler software) to follow your 31 days here. Thanks for sharing! Oh… and I LOVE this picture. Super cool.

    • Dawn says

      October 8, 2012 at 12:19 am

      Dana, in one of my upcoming posts I’ll show a phone editing program that now has a desktop app. I’m not sure when I’ll post it, but possibly even two weeks from now. I’m trying to brainstorm how to work the posts for when I’m at the Allume conference later this month since all the photos I use are on my home computer. I thought the photo and program I’m talking about might be easier to feature at that time.

  5. Ann says

    October 6, 2012 at 4:53 pm

    Oh, girl. Do you ever inspire me.
    I use no editing software at all. Don’t own any.
    Not sure I could figure it all out…. but you make me think it’s possible? And worth it…

    You do beautiful work, friend… such. art.

    • Dawn says

      October 8, 2012 at 12:17 am

      Ann, if you’re serious about wanting to learn editing, I’d love to sit down with you and walk you through Lightroom. That’s a good reason to hide out in our rooms for a while when I see you in two weeks. ;) Or, we could do it online sometime. I think that’s possible!

  6. Kimberly Amici says

    October 6, 2012 at 8:56 pm

    I love these serious for 31 days. I really enjoy photo editing but don’t do it that often. I use Photoshop. I learned to use it back in the day when I was working as an interior designer and kind of stuck with it. I am taking photography class after 31 Days is over…can’t wait!

    • Dawn says

      October 8, 2012 at 12:15 am

      Kimberly, that’s awesome that you had the Photoshop experience. Enjoy your photography class!

  7. sona says

    October 7, 2012 at 10:00 pm

    I am learning Paint Shop ProX4. See they already came out with x5!! Wish there were more tutorials around for it. For the $40 I thought it would be enough for my needs. Love the series.

    • Dawn says

      October 8, 2012 at 12:14 am

      Sona, I had Paint Shop Pro once upon a time. I remember it was a lot of fun! Thanks for being here. :)

  8. Carol says

    October 8, 2012 at 3:12 pm

    As a prefatory comment, I am a Creative Memories consultant. I love the photo editing software in both Storybook 4 (you can edit photos, zoom in with a click & create photo albums, calendars, page prints in any size 8×8, 12×12, 8×10, really any size) & CM’s Memory Manager 4 (photos are automatically stored in date order & hooray! now, there is amazing face recognition technology.

  9. Cheryl says

    October 11, 2012 at 7:49 pm

    This is amazing, Dawn!

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Hi, I’m Dawn—nice to meet you!

Dawn Camp
Welcome to Dawn Camp’s My Home Sweet Home, lovingly decorated with family, faith, and Photoshop.
about |  camera  | books | amazon page

Young Living Independent Distributor

Now Available!

With Love, Mom

Amazon | Barnes & Noble
CBD | Parable | Books-a-Million

SUBSCRIBE VIA EMAIL!

Love pretty pictures and desktop calendars? Sign up for updates delivered to your inbox!

A 365-Day Devotional from (in)courage!

A Moment to Breathe

Recent Posts

  • Refresh Your Desktop for 2019!
  • Don’t Self-Sabotage Your Own Christmas at (in)courage
  • How to Host a Prayer Mug Exchange
  • My Early Morning Sisterhood at (in)courage
  • Download October’s Desktop Calendar!
  • Cheering for the Home Team today at (in)courage
  • August/September Desktop Calendar Available!

Archives

Categories

Instagram Slider

  • Its the final SundaySelfie of 2018 and thats cause for
    2 weeks ago by dawncamp It’s the final  #SundaySelfie  of 2018 and that’s cause for a bit of introspection. 2018 has brought much to celebrate: 2 new grandbabies, a growing business, and a new book contract (more about that later). This represents a typical Sunday morning for us: most of our kids in a separate car, friends along for the ride. My 2018 Year ord of the year has been Serve and hopefully I managed some of that, especially with my Young Living team. I’ve narrowed down to a couple of ideas for 2019 but I’m not ready to hang one on the wall or
  • So happy to have the full home crew together this
    1 month ago by dawncamp So happy to have the full home crew together this Sunday morning! Enjoy your family today!  #SundaySelfie 
  • My kids and I started the year with purpose and
    1 week ago by dawncamp My kids and I started the year with purpose and reflection, which I hope to hang onto, in TN at Edie’s goal setting workshop!
  • This is the coolest most insightful tool and Ive loved
    4 weeks ago by dawncamp This is the coolest, most insightful tool and I’ve loved scanning all the people these past two weeks. ♥️  #itoviscanner 
  • Heres to my fellow GirlBosses working their own businesses this
    2 months ago by dawncamp Here’s to my fellow  #GirlBosses  working their own businesses this Small Business Saturday!

A Perfect Wedding or Anniversary Gift!

Heart of Marriage

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | CBD
Books-a-Million | DaySpring | iDisciple

Gift of Friendship

Givington’s | Amazon | DaySpring
Barnes & Noble | CBD | LifeWay
Books-a-Million | Parable
iDisciple

Beauty of Grace

Givington’s | Amazon | DaySpring
Barnes & Noble | CBD | LifeWay
Books-a-Million | Parable

31 Days Series

31 Days of Encouragement

31 Days of Real Life

31 Days of Before & After Shots

31 Days of Killer Quotes

31 Days of Daily Grace

Top Posts & Pages

  • WFMW Corona Ointment
    WFMW Corona Ointment
  • Refresh Your Desktop for 2019!
    Refresh Your Desktop for 2019!
  • The Dutch Puff: Breakfast for a Crowd
    The Dutch Puff: Breakfast for a Crowd
  • Super Semi-Annual Sale from Blessings Unlimited!
    Super Semi-Annual Sale from Blessings Unlimited!
  • Young Living Essential Oils and Why I Love Them!
    Young Living Essential Oils and Why I Love Them!
Fandango Now Tickets for AMC Theatres!

Copyright © 2019 · Beautiful Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in