The giveaway is closed. A winner will be announced tonight. Thanks to all who participated and left comments here. I loved hearing from you. :)
I love a well-crafted photo action. Not so much because they make post-processing easier because in some instances, they don’t. You can layer them and alter opacity and really spend a lot of time working with them. Rather, I love them because they’re a lot of fun!
There are different types of photo actions: actions that are essentials to editing such as basic airbrushing, eye pop and teeth whitening to name a few. You will use these to make your basic photo shine. Then there are other actions that are mostly for “looks” if you will. These actions will give your photo a vintage feel or convert it to a crisp black and white, etc etc etc. Lets start with those.
For all of the samples below, I used actions created by one of my absolute favorites, Sarah of My Four Hens Photography.
The photo on the left is SOOC (straight out of camera). You can see how the blue backdrop changed color with the various actions I ran. Some people will run an action and really transform their original photo (and of course, that’s ok!) I try to find a happy medium. For me, that is giving the photo a fresh new look but staying at least partly true to surrounding colors. After all, you don’t want to run so many actions that your once brunette child is now a redhead!
By The Bay and Summer’s Breeze are both available in Sarah’s Glory set. The entire set is wonderful!
These next few actions are from the latest M4H’s set titled Hippy Dippy Trippy. Every single action is amazing! A lot of them give subtle faded tones and a true vintage feel to your photos. Check out how neat the Back In The Day one is!
You need to experiment. What works on one photo may not work on another. Back In The Day looks great because I wasn’t worrying about facial details I may have been fading away. On a close-up portrait I may have chosen a different path. Peace Man is really nice because it subtly lightens shadows while warming and gently popping the colors. Another favorite of mine from the Hippy Dippy Trippy set is called Cherry Hill.
Sarah also has a ton of various black & white actions. Sometimes they are included in a set that is made up of primarily colored actions but she also has a few sets where the black and white actions are bundled together. One of my favorites is the Falling For Black & White mini collection. You get four actions – two with more of a black & white feel and two that feel more sepia. Check out how fun these are:
Sometimes, you need an action or two to help take a photo from so-so to WOW. Sure, you may know that you will want to duplicate your layer and screen to lighten an image or multiply to fix a shot that’s overexposed but many times even if you are armed with this knowledge, a good set of actions can speed up the work flow tremendously. Take this dark, drab picture of my youngest daughter. It was so cute but I knew it needed some attention in the post-processing department. I first ran a basic action to get the color where I wanted it. Then I played with more subtle areas like the eyes, sharpening up her lollipop, etc. It took under 5 minutes to fix this image and get from what you see here on the left & then right. Sarah has tons of useful tools in her Photographer’s Toolbox set.
Pretty cool, huh?
Here’s one final set of sample photos where I used actions to alter the colors a bit and then finished some details like popping the colors in her dress and sharpening the apple.
The actions used here are also in the Glory set.
My original white balance was a little off so I knew I wanted to play until the background appeared more white. I really liked the way Canary Fairy ran so I went with that. Then I played with some fun stuff like her apple, eyelashes and even manicure! Take a look:
I could honestly sit here and talk for hours about various actions, which I call my favorites, what they do and show you samples. In the end, they truly do different things to different photos and it’s best you experiment for yourself to see what works for you. And that I can help with today. : )
Sarah is offering up a $40 gift card to one lucky random winner! How do you become that winner? Well, you enter your name once or twice, cross your fingers and toes and hope your name is attached to the randomly drawn slip of paper at the close of the weekend.
You can get entries one of two ways. Please leave a comment here for each entry.
1) Blog about this giveaway. You must include a link to this Blog post (click the title for a direct link).
2) Facebook this giveaway. You must grab a link for this Blog post (click the title for a direct link) and directly link it to your Facebook page.
After each (or one) of the above, leave a comment here *and include a link back to your Blog or FB if applicable*. You can have a max of two comments per day: one for each number prompt listed above. This giveaway will run from Friday-Sunday so you have a chance to enter your name up to 6 times this way. Additional comments left after that 2-per-day-cap will be tossed.
For example: Susie Blogs about this giveaway with a direct link on Friday, Blogs it and posts to her Facebook on Saturday and just posts to her Facebook on Sunday. She comments 4 different times and has her name entered into the drawing on 4 individual slips of paper.
** YOU GET A BONUS ENTRY IF YOU ARE A FAN OF GINA RAE MILLER PHOTOGRAPHY ON FACEBOOK! CLICK HERE **
Leave an additional comment for that too. Just say you are a fan and I’ll check to make sure that you are. ; )
Easy enough right? You have a chance to enter your name seven times by Sunday night. The winner will be announced sometime on Monday.
Before I go, how about a picture of my little birthday girl? She turned two yesterday!
Happy Birthday Grace! And “hi” if you stop by the Blog over the weekend. We have football, pumpkin picking and Grace’s family party this weekend. Lots to share come Monday!
I really want this! I checked out her freebies a couple days ago and am in LOVE! Here’s my link to my FB profile with a link to your blog: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/melissa.ives.
1 – I’m a fan. :)
2 – Facebooked (http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=550206327)
Here’s a link to my blog: http://mel121.blogspot.com/2010/09/yeah-its-been-awhile.html
I’m a fan too! :)
I love Sarah’s actions! I’m a fan of your facebook! :)
I’m a FB fan – always and forever! LOL!
Posted about it on FB!!! Thanks for the chance!
Super cute Gracie photo!!!!
http://www.facebook.com/MichelleKoslowskyAdams
wow Gina thieves amazing!!!! Thank you so much for taking so much time to not only host this but to use so many examples!!! It really made my morning!!!!! Big hugs!!!!!
Here is my blog post on this great giveaway:
http://beyondimaginationphoto.blogspot.com/2010/09/gina-rae-photography-giveaway.html
oh, wow, I love Sarah’s actions! I posted it on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1639651495
I’m a fan of you on facebook!
Woops…wrong link..here it is: http://www.facebook.com/DiamndPrincz
Facebook fan!
Here’s my blog entry for today! http://mel121.blogspot.com/2010/09/back-again.html
You can find my link today on my FB profile: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/melissa.ives
Thanks!!!
I love Sarah’s actions! I posted on Facebook!
http://www.facebook.com/ShawnaTaylorPhotography
I’m a fan of Gina Rae Miller Photography on Facebook :)
on my facebook!
I am a fan! I love all your examples of the different actions. I will be back later, hopefully, to enter other ways as well. Thanks so much!
posted on Facebook.
You’re daughter is adorable!
Of course I’m a fan! :D
And here’s my post on FB…
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1356674794&ref=profile
What an absolutely awesome giveaway! I am crossing my fingers and my toes and hoping this is my lucky week!! :) I have not used actions very much, but I know I’d love to….need to!
Thank you for the chance!
Candi in Colorado
I “Facebooked” about this! It’s such a great giveaway… thanks again!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1421575737#!/profile.php?id=1421575737&v=wall&story_fbid=151400574891782&ref=mf
I like Gina Rae Miller Photography on FB!
Here is a link to my blog where I blogged about the giveaway:
http://notforthefaint.blogspot.com/2010/09/another-fabulous-my-four-hens-giveaway.html
I FB’d about the giveaway :
http://www.facebook.com/escasey
I am a FB fan too!!! Woot!!! Great contest!!!
I posted this on my Facebook page
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=lf
I am a fan of ginarae Miller photography as well
I Facebooked it: http://www.facebook.com/kimberly.lund
and I’m a fan…
I am a HUGE fan of Sarah and Gina!! Thank you for this awesome opportunity!
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?filter=app_102452128776#!/lillypug34
WOW these actions are amazing! Thanks for the chance and happy b-day to your big girl!
I’m now a FB fan too:)
I’m a fan!!! ;o)
I “like” – but really, Love, GinaRaePhotography :)
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=747551061#!/profile.php?id=747551061&v=info
Facebooked about the giveaway! :)
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=747551061#!/profile.php?id=747551061&v=wall
I Facebooked about it http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001061452229
Blogged about this:
http://dealseekingblogger.blogspot.com/2010/09/my-four-hens-giveaway-at-ginaraemiller.html
I would love a chance at some actions! I’m new at this and can’t wait to learn MORE!
Put in on my blog at http://www.bethanyphotography.blogspot.com
I would love to win!!!
Here’s my blog entry for today: http://mel121.blogspot.com/2010/09/really-want-to-win-this.html
Thank you!
Posted on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/melissa.ives
I am a fan on facebook :)
posted the giveaway on FB
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bethpage-NY/Gina-Rae-Miller-Photography/122507171134252?ref=ts&v=wall#!/rachel.rerko
I “like” you on Facebook : ))
Posted on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/profile.php?id=1285473264
inspiring! just so lovely! left a facebook comment here:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=643693321
I love Sarah’s action and how you showed us how you used them! I’m a fan of you both and I’ve posted this on facebook too. I’d LOVE to win her actions voucher!
Can’t seem to link my post my facebook link argh trying this http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=728335824
LOVE these actions! Promoted the give-away on my FB Fan Page here: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#!/pages/Your-Town/The-MaskMasters/158439763225?ref=ts
Added a post to my blog/site here: http://wp.me/pMnOg-2D
Our students will LOVE this give-away!
YAY! Just LIKED Gina Miller Photography on FB! Looking forward to following your photography venture. Best wishes!
I posted it here http://queenshakenbake.blogspot.com/2010/09/give-away-by-gina-miller.html
I posted it on facebook too http://www.facebook.com/#!/QueenShakeNBake