Before / After - Lightroom Photo Editing

Before / After - Lightroom Photo Editing

Tara Shupe February 19, 2018

I have people who reach out on a regular basis asking a wide range of photo questions, but mainly about my editing.

So I thought I'd share a little bit + give my Lightroom settings I used for this sunset series.  

You can also see how dark I typically shoot. I always, always, shoot dark. However, I also have a powerful camera that allows me to really push the exposure to still get the brightness I want. (Nikon D810) 

I don't believe in Presets being a magical tool to fix an image, but I do believe they're a great start. A lot of people ask what presets I use and the answer is: only ones I created myself. Every image still needs adjusting, but it keeps my work consistent in certain areas. 

So I will place a preset I have created and make a few adjustments. I will then sync it across the series and make even more adjustments for each image. 

Below are my Lightroom settings I used for this sunset series. (Each photo varying slightly.)

LR COLOR EDITS: 

• WB: 6,172

• TINT: -7

• EXPOSURE: +1.45

• CONTRAST: +45

• HIGHLIGHTS: -42

• SHADOWS: +35

• WHITES: -21

• BLACKS: -10

• CLARITY: +22

• VIBRANCE: -5

• SATURATION: -11

TONE CURVE:

• HIGHLIGHTS: 0

• LIGHTS: 0

• DARKS: -25

• SHADOWS: -13

COLOR SETTINGS:

GRAIN EFFECTS:

• GRAIN: 24

• SIZE: 23

• ROUGHNESS: 28

These photos were also pulled into Photoshop for additional burning & dodging. (Comment below if you're interested in my process with that as well!) 

That's cool...but how do I create my own? Especially if I don't know where to start? 

Well, if you're like me, then you start by looking at what you like and try to mimic it. I believe along the way you will discover your own style + your own "custom" presets. 

Comment below if you liked this post and you'd like to see more photo-editing tips! 

-Tara 

Thank you for taking the time to read this photo journal from my time time on assignment in Arusha, Tanzania.

Please leave any thoughts or questions below and don’t forget to share these stories with others!

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TARA SHUPE

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Tara Shupe is a Humanitarian Photographer and Video Storyteller, constantly traveling with a camera attached to the hip and a notebook in her pocket. With over 10 years of experience in the field, Tara approaches each story intimately with a hope for inspiring others to think beyond their comfort zone.

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