Sun-Kissed Images at Your Fingertips in Photoshop

Before and After Step-by-Step Edit: Sun-Kissed Images at Your Fingertips in Photoshop

I get asked about this image often as it is the “feature image” for Inspire.  So I wanted to show you how we edited it two different ways – and the second took literally a few seconds additional (and built on from the first edit).

This is the original image (cropped):

By: Kelly Roper

Studio: Kelly Roper Photography

Software: Photoshop

MCP sets used: MCP Inspire Actions for Photoshop and Elements

Edit 1: Color and Pop

• Started with Color Carousel action – which runs the base action plus all the different looks from the set (you get to turn on any you want) – it’s so easy and fun!
• Activated the following layers: Vitality at 63%, Sweet Dreams at 14%, Spunky at 37%, Lemon Sorbet at 15%
• Then used the Precision Sharp action — paint on her eyes and lips
• Next used the Shallow Depth of Field action and painted on the background to enhance the shallow blurred DOF

Edit 2: More Hazy and Vintage

You will notice (if you compare the two) that the edits look very different for these two — but the steps are near the same.  The only differences were on this second edit, we activated the Silk Blend and Prom Queen actions, and added the sunburst.  Those two clicks and one extra “play” of sunburst completely changed the look.

• Started with Color Carousel action – which runs the base action plus all the different looks from the set (you get to turn on any you want) – it’s so easy and fun!
• Activated the following layers: Vitality at 63%, Sweet Dreams at 14%, Spunky at 37%, Silk Blend at 50%, Prom Queen at 54%, Lemon Sorbet at 15%
• Then used the Precision Sharp action — paint on her eyes and lips
• Next used the Shallow Depth of Field action and painted on the background to enhance the shallow blurred DOF
• Lastly use the custom sunburst action – from the right to add in more light

The MCP Show and Tell Site is a place for you to share your images edited with MCP products (our Photoshop actions, Lightroom presets, textures and more).  We’ve always shared before and after Blueprints on our main blog, but now, we will sometimes share some favorites from Show and Tell to give these photographers even more exposure.  If you haven’t checked out Show and Tell yet, what are you waiting for?  You’ll learn how other photographers are using our products and see what they can do for your work.  And once you are ready, you can show off your own editing skills using MCP goodies.  You might even make new friends or gain a customer…. since you get to add your website address right on the page. Bonus!