Should This Photo Be Saved?

So I'm going thru my photos from a session with my one of my favorite models ever, Little Ms. Alexis, when I come to this image...

...and I have to make the decision "Do I trash this photo or save it?".

There's so many obvious flaws...the crop is so wrong...the white balance is awful...the exposure pretty much stinks.  This SOOC image will definitely NOT be in an upcoming blog about "getting it right in camera"!  It was actually a test shot when I was testing the lighting to photograph her baby sister and I told her all she had to do was sit there:)

Also, I already had so many images that I knew were going to be fabulous.
What would you do?  Would you save it or trash it?


Despite all the flaws, the expression on this photo just captivated me and I knew I had to save it.

Of course the first thing I did, since I'm a cropping maniac, was crop in Lightroom to make sure there was no mistake that this portrait was all about that expression.  Here's my crop...

Then I had to get rid of her sunburned cheeks but I didn't want to lose the detail of all those great freckles so I did a few curves adjustments then decided to a very light black and white photo.  I used a whole mish mash of Florabella actions and finally came up with a recipe I liked.  Here's a comparison shot of the SOOC and my final portrait...

And here's the final image in all it's glory~

I pretty much luv it.

So tell me....do you think it was worth saving?  


{you can check out all the other images from this session that I saved by clicking right here}

Before & After Edition

I love Before & After shots that show great photography editing.

They provide me with inspiration...motivation...and sometimes depress me really bad.

Well, they could depress me if I really dwell on all the fabulous edits I see of all the fabulous photographers and think about about how I could never be that...fabulous.  

But then I do a little pick-me-up and look at all the things I've learned thanks to some extremely generous people on the web.  People who spend their precious time trying to teach people like me how to be better photographers and editors.  

So in the spirit of generosity, I wanted to share some of my own Before & After shots.  I'm an amateur in every sense of the word...so if I can learn to do this stuff so can you!

I use to let myself get depressed because I don't own photoshop...

...but I do own photoshop elements.

I could get depressed because I don't have a fancy schmancy Nikon d300 with awesome lenses...

...but I do own a great Pentax with my favorite 70-300.

I wish I had the time to go to those awesome photoshop and photographer workshops all over the country...

...instead I watch video tutorials in between stirring the macaroni & cheese and helping kids with homework.

It'd be so incredible if I had the money to buy all the Totally Rad Actions...

...but Rita & Erin give away actions for free...that's even better!

I'd love to have a killer photography website and wow the masses with my brilliance...

...instead I have a great little blog that my family & friends enjoy.

If only I had an incredible outdoor studio I could really do some impressive photos...

...but I've got a wonderful park a short drive away and everyone who comes to it has had a great time.

I really need to take some classes then maybe I'd be as good as those professionals...

...but I'd rather spend my weekends at the soccer fields and in sweet chaos.

And finally, if only I had lots more money and lots more time, I'd be a photography editing queen...

...but for now I'll be grateful for what I've learned and excited for what I'm going to learn.

So take it from me...you don't need all those things to truly enjoy your passion.

But a girl can dream...

Before and After

I love photography.

I love everything about photography.

I love the equipment....the skill...the capturing of a moment...the digital readouts on my camera I don't understand...I love it all.

One of my favorite things I enjoy when looking at other people's photographs is seeing their Before & After photos.  I'm fascinated with the post-processing techniques that people use.

Post-Processing is ALL THE RAGE right now.

I'm sure you've heard of Photoshop, Lightroom, Aperture, even iPhoto has tons of processing techniques just a click away.  On one hand, it's kind of sad:  you don't have to be a great photographer to get great pictures.  On the other hand, it's exciting:

you don't have to be a great photographer to get great pictures!

I've just started documenting my own Before & After shots.  It's fun.  I've tried to show them to my friends and explain all the profound details in the editing techniques.  They don't even fake interest anymore.  They get that glazed look in their eyes and start staring off into the distance.  Someday when I'm gone they'll wish they had absorbed my wisdom.

So I'll use the blog so show some of my own Before & Afters to my millions of fascinated internet viewers.  A good fantasy life is healthy, right?

Here's a fun one of Rebel from fall soccer.  The straight out of camera (SOOC) shot is pretty good, but I can't help myself.  I must post-process.  So in just a few clicks I added a bit of oomph to #23 kickin' it!  

I may actually post a tutorial soon showing the steps I took to edit the photo.  A tutorial would make me feel so important.