How I Fix a Boring Photo
Let’s be honest here - we all take boring photos, and probably plenty of them. I know that I do. But part of the fun of editing, at least for weirdos like me, is that you can do SO MUCH to images in the digital darkroom. And you can totally reinvent a photo as well, turning it from blah to beautiful. Here are some thoughts about how to do that (in any editor):
Move the light around a LOT. This is with masks, mostly, but you’d be surprised how often some simple light adjustments can totally change an image.
Focus on the subject. This seems obvious, but to really emphasize a subject you can make it brighter, sharper, and/or more colorful. This will really make the subject pop and draw the eye of the viewer.
Go for a totally different color look. It it’s too warm, cool it off. If it’s too cool, warm it up. But don’t stop there. I like to do a lot of adjustments to the color tones, often warming up the highlights and cooling off the shadows. This can have a huge impact on an image. Or use something like a LUT to completely change the color look.
Textures can be an amazing addition to a photo (but require a layer-capable editor). I love experimenting with textures and offer a couple of texture packs in my store. They can help you turn a boring photo into an art piece.
Luminar made sky replacement easy (and popular) and this is a sure-fire way to reinvent a boring photo. And yes I offer a sky pack in my store as well.
Go for monochrome. When you strip away all the colors, you are left with just the tones, and this can be a huge benefit to finding the true essence of an image. Part of the fun with monochromes is the fact that you can push the contrast to ridiculous levels and it will look dramatic, but not overdone.
There are lots of things you can do to turn a boring photo into a not-so-boring photo. You can’t always turn a bad shot into a winner, but you can certainly improve it with the right adjustments. I hope this gives you some ideas!
