Popular Color Effects - How to?

[kelsbeth]

I am new to photography and just completed a course on SLR manual photography. I'm interested in purchasing an editing program (either photo shop or light room), but know NOTHING about either. I've noticed that a lot of wedding photos these days have really cool post production color edits done to them. I didn't want to post an example (since I don't have rights to the photos), but will try to explain it as best I can. Basically it looks like some of the colors are faded, but I wouldn't call it an antique look, I guess it's almost a washed out look. It makes people's skin look really good/smooth as well. I wish I knew a name for the effect! All I know is that it's a really popular effect and most people I know who recently got married got photos done with that coloring. Does anyone know what it's called or how to achieve it?? Thanks so much in advance

[Jim Poor]

Originally Posted by kelsbeth

I am new to photography and just completed a course on SLR manual photography. I'm interested in purchasing an editing program (either photo shop or light room), but know NOTHING about either. I've noticed that a lot of wedding photos these days have really cool post production color edits done to them. I didn't want to post an example (since I don't have rights to the photos), but will try to explain it as best I can. Basically it looks like some of the colors are faded, but I wouldn't call it an antique look, I guess it's almost a washed out look. It makes people's skin look really good/smooth as well. I wish I knew a name for the effect! All I know is that it's a really popular effect and most people I know who recently got married got photos done with that coloring. Does anyone know what it's called or how to achieve it?? Thanks so much in advance

Post links to the photos you are interested in.

Download the trial version of each of the programs you're interested in and start playing. Search for tutorial videos online and learn as much as you can that way.

[kelsbeth]

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Katy-...6524063?ref=ts (common in a lot of her pictures)

Seattle wedding photographers angela and evan photography. (the first picture on the homepage has this effect)

Portfolio (the first picture under “portraits” has this effect

[Jim Poor]

Okay. It looks like you're falling into the trap of trendy, overdone actions & processing to me, but you can explore: Photoshop Actions, Tutorials, Training, Photo Retouching | MCP Actions to see several actions that will allow you to achieve many of those effects.

Personally, I find them faddish rather than lasting, but to each his own, as they say.

[kelsbeth]

I agree that it's trendy, but that's why I like digital photography - I can still save the original image. Thanks for the input!

[bikingbadger]

I would also take a look at GIMP if I were you. Depending on what you want to do this could be an option esspecially since it doesn't actually cost anything.