MCP My Photo: How 4 Photographers Edit the Same Image

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I love seeing how the exact same image can look completely different depending on the vision of the photographer or photo editor.  We have a special feature on the MCP Facebook Group called #mcpmyphoto.  By tagging your photo this way, you give permission for other photographers to edit the photo using MCP Photoshop actions, Lightroom presets, and textures. You can join us and add your image after reading the group rules.

It is fun to see the different editing styles, and it’s also a helpful training tool for photographers to learn how to get different looks in Photoshop and Lightroom.

Linda-Fisher-Ypulong-edits MCP My Photo: How 4 Photographers Edit the Same Image Lightroom Presets Lightroom Tips Photoshop Actions Photoshop Tips

In this beautiful image by Linda Fisher Ypulong, four photographers demonstrated how they fixed the exposure and then took the image to a whole new level.  Each used different actions and presets and had lovely results.

Linda’s camera settings: Nikon D610 –  50mm 1/320s f2.8 ISO 100

Here’s the original image – straight out of the camera.

Linda-Fisher-Ypulong-original MCP My Photo: How 4 Photographers Edit the Same Image Lightroom Presets Lightroom Tips Photoshop Actions Photoshop Tips

MCP My Photo Version 1: Edited by Nikki Baldwin

Steps: “I started with adjustments in ACR, a brush and then overall adjustments. Then I brought it into PS and manually did some dodging and burning to draw more attention to her face, hair, clothes.
Then I ran Photoshop actions from the Inspire set. I will show my steps and layers/product-category/photoshop-actions/ used in some screen shots.”
nikki-edits MCP My Photo: How 4 Photographers Edit the Same Image Lightroom Presets Lightroom Tips Photoshop Actions Photoshop Tips

 

And the results:

 

linda-fisher-edit-Nikki-Baldwin MCP My Photo: How 4 Photographers Edit the Same Image Lightroom Presets Lightroom Tips Photoshop Actions Photoshop Tips

MCP My Photo Version 2: Edited by Amy Bellair Anderson

Steps:

  1. MCP Illuminate Golden Sunstream Lightroom preset
  2. MCP Infusion Lightroom presets: Define 2, Heartwarming 2,
  3. MCP Fusion actions: one click color, urban revival, and surrounded
  4. Manually adjusted the noise and blue luminance

 

linda-fisher-edit-amy-bellair-anderson MCP My Photo: How 4 Photographers Edit the Same Image Lightroom Presets Lightroom Tips Photoshop Actions Photoshop Tips

MCP My Photo Version 3: Edited by Erin Niehenke

Steps:

  1. Adjusted exposure in ACR first.
  2. In Photoshop, adjusted Levels for the sky, background, and subject.
  3. Then used the following actions from MCP Inspire: Bittersweet and Mult-Matte (dark, intense, and warm).
  4. Then used a brown-to-transparent gradient layer set to soft light, and masked mostly off the sky.
  5. Cropped to finish.

linda-fisher-edit-erin-niehenke MCP My Photo: How 4 Photographers Edit the Same Image Lightroom Presets Lightroom Tips Photoshop Actions Photoshop Tips
MCP My Photo Version 4: Edited by Lauralynn Hook

Steps:

  1. Manual adjustments to brighten the shadows, exposure, and enhance the blacks on the raw file.
  2. Then brought into Photoshop CS6 and added a gradient to the sky and did some dodging and burning to and around her.
  3. Then used MCP Autumn Equinox (fall foliage, burnt firewood, pumpkin patch, Autumn Skies, and Dark Cherry Vignette)
  4. Lastly used the MCP Newborn Necessities actions (In the Spotlight, Under the Blanket, Crying for Contrast, Pick Me Up, Cake Smash, and Print Sharpie)

linda-fisher-edit-lauralynn-hook MCP My Photo: How 4 Photographers Edit the Same Image Lightroom Presets Lightroom Tips Photoshop Actions Photoshop Tips

 

See more edits, including Linda’s (the photographer of this beautiful image) or share your version of this — visit this link once you join our Facebook group so you can download the raw file and play.

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No Comments

  1. Wendy Mayo on June 12, 2015 at 3:03 pm

    I prefer #2. Colors are true to life and I like the bit of added contrast and sharpness.

  2. Kammie Rivera on June 12, 2015 at 3:33 pm

    I love this! Would love to see more comparisons like this!

  3. BethNicol on June 17, 2015 at 11:07 am

    I like 1 and 3 — 2 and 4 are a bit too harsh to my eyes. When I first looked I thought 1 must be the original. 1& 3 seem to be of the “vintage photo” school, but I like that.

  4. Micky on June 17, 2015 at 11:08 am

    Close call for me between 1 & 2 but I”ll go with #2. They are all beautiful edits.

  5. Melinda Greene on June 17, 2015 at 11:15 am

    I think I like #3. Hard decision to make though they are all beautiful edits.

  6. heather wright on June 17, 2015 at 11:15 am

    i like 1 and 2

  7. Ann Marie on June 17, 2015 at 11:16 am

    #1

  8. Silke on June 17, 2015 at 11:33 am

    #1 It looks the most like a magazine editorial and I like the contrast on the face with the soft dreamy edit on the background.

  9. Laura Turner on June 17, 2015 at 11:41 am

    I love #3.

  10. Daniella on June 17, 2015 at 11:44 am

    I’m going to vote for #2 due to the clarity…. it’s a little too sharp for my tastes. I like the coloration of #1 the best, but personally like a bit more blacks/contrast/clarity

  11. Latte on June 17, 2015 at 11:56 am

    Number 3 is my fave, but I really do love them all!

  12. Jennifer on June 17, 2015 at 12:47 pm

    I love #2! The true to life rawness of her surrounds stands out to me and does not take away from the subject at all, in any way. Gorgeous subject!

  13. Samantha on June 17, 2015 at 12:57 pm

    #3 is my favorite, but they’re all amazing! I love this!

  14. Trela Raleigh on June 17, 2015 at 1:29 pm

    My choice is 2, but 3 is a very close second!

  15. Whitney Owen Nixon on June 17, 2015 at 1:42 pm

    I prefer #3. 🙂

  16. Jaye on June 17, 2015 at 4:27 pm

    I have to go with #3. I’m not a fan of “haze” in a photograph which knocked #1 out. #2 was vivid, but a bit surreal for my tastes. #3 has a nice level of clarity, a beautiful sky color and some lovely warmth overall. #4 just seemed a little too rosy for my tastes. Great photo!

  17. LeilaWilliams on June 17, 2015 at 5:49 pm

    #3

  18. Alex on June 17, 2015 at 6:36 pm

    #1 is a clear winner in my book, although a touch too warm for my tastes. I love the dreamy softness to it yet the girl pops out and is the hero of the frame – it has lifted what is an average capture. #2 is very contrasty and harsh on the girl’s skin, and it makes the background become a distraction. #3 is OK but seems to lack any punch and is a bit washed out.

  19. Craig Myers on June 17, 2015 at 7:03 pm

    1, then 3. 2 makes the scenery equal to the model. In 4 she looks pasted into the background. But clearly, each has struck a positive chord with someone.

  20. NormaZimmer on June 17, 2015 at 9:03 pm

    #3 (#1 was a close second)

  21. trish r. on June 17, 2015 at 9:26 pm

    Number 3, but also really liked #1

  22. Son Bran on June 17, 2015 at 10:47 pm

    #3

  23. Anne-Cathrine Nyberg on June 18, 2015 at 3:13 am

    Number 1. Number 4, I don’t like the “halo” effect around her head. Like the edit has tried to lighten her face and ended up lightening the area around her face as well.

  24. Michele on June 18, 2015 at 5:42 pm

    My favorite is #1, and #3 is a close second. I love the sky in #3, but I realize that isn’t the focus of the image. Just looking at the model and background, #1 has a softness in the background with good color, yet the model stands out nicely.

  25. chris on June 18, 2015 at 7:09 pm

    I like #3 best.

  26. NICHOLE R HARPEL on June 18, 2015 at 8:16 pm

    number 1

  27. Carolyn on June 19, 2015 at 6:50 pm

    #2 – I love the sharpness of the landscape. Its harshness emphasizes the softness and beauty of the model, while in of of itself it draws the eye to explore the surrounds – but the viewer ultimately returns to the girl. The contrast of textures between the model and the background force the viewer to study the entire photograph.

  28. Susan Dixon on June 20, 2015 at 8:17 pm

    #3

  29. Donna Tadlock on June 21, 2015 at 11:50 pm

    #3

  30. Jeanette on June 22, 2015 at 3:39 pm

    Thank you Nikki for the editing screenshots of #1. That is absolutely the best way to convey editing information to someone learning actions. And won’t we all use (and buy!) more actions if we know how to use them properly.I love the softness of #3.

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