Since Photoshop is our primary tool for editing blog photos and we’re often asked for tips, here’s a concise guide to the basic workflow and tricks we use. A few caveats first:
1. We’re not Photoshop experts: We learned the basics through a few classes and a lot of trial and error. Most of our skills came from playing around with tools and seeing what effects different buttons produced. Our approach is practical — enough to make photos look like what our eyes saw, not to master every advanced technique.
2. We’re not pro photographers either: Our photography is mostly self-taught. We use Photoshop to correct limitations of our shots so images more closely reflect the scene in real life. Until a camera can perfectly capture what the eye sees, editing helps convey accurate color, contrast, and brightness.
3. Photoshop isn’t the only option: We use Photoshop because it’s comprehensive, but there are more affordable and free alternatives that handle basic edits: lighter Adobe versions, iPhoto, Picasa, GIMP and similar tools can work well for many users. We use iPhoto for organizing and simple corrections and stick with Photoshop for more control.
Now for the core edits we apply to nearly every photo. These aren’t dramatic manipulations — just tweaks that make images match how we remember the scene.
First, resize the image. Large camera files slow down the web, so we use Image > Image Size and set images to 72 dpi for the web and to a width we’ve chosen for our layout (vertical images 350px, horizontal 500px). Keep “Constrain Proportions” checked to avoid distortion.
Next we slightly increase color saturation to restore the vibrancy that can be lost in photos. Use Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation and add a small boost (we usually use around +10). Don’t overdo it — too much saturation looks unrealistic.
Then adjust contrast via Image > Adjustments > Brightness/Contrast. A modest increase brings back punch and avoids a washed-out look. We generally use small increments; excessive contrast will clip highlights and shadows.
Those two steps counteract the softening that often happens when saving images for the web. To save time, we’ve created custom Photoshop Actions that resize and apply these adjustments automatically. Create an action in the Actions panel, press record, perform the edits you want, then stop recording. Later, play the action to apply the same sequence with one click.
For some photos we make a couple more refinements. One is adjusting exposure with Curves (Image > Adjustments > Curves). Click the center of the curve and nudge it up slightly to brighten the midtones while keeping shadows intact. This preserves depth without washing out the image.
We also sometimes fine-tune color balance (Image > Adjustments > Color Balance) to correct warm or cool casts. Camera white balance helps, but this tool lets us nudge the image toward a more natural look by shifting sliders slightly toward cyan/blue or magenta/yellow as needed.
After editing, we save images with File > Save for Web & Devices as compressed JPEGs so they load quickly on the site. Compression can reduce perceived contrast and saturation, which is why we make the earlier adjustments before saving.
These steps form our basic workflow. They’re not the only correct way, but they consistently produce images that look closer to what we saw in real life. If you prefer a different style, experiment with settings until you find the look you like.
Beyond basic corrections, Photoshop is also invaluable for visualizing design choices. For example, to test a new headboard color or pattern we select the headboard area using selection tools: Polygonal Lasso for straight edges, Magnetic Lasso for tricky contours, or the Magic Wand for solid color areas. Add to a selection by holding Shift when needed.
With the area selected, use Hue/Saturation to change the color, or create a new layer and fill it with the Paint Bucket for solid color previews. To apply a pattern, drag the pattern image into your document and use a Layer Mask to limit the pattern to the selected headboard area. The mask hides unselected areas (black) and reveals selected areas (white).
Unlink the image layer from its mask (click the chain icon) to transform the pattern independently while preserving the mask. To blend your edits more naturally with the underlying photo, try different Layer Blending Modes — Multiply often integrates patterns or text with texture beneath in a convincing way.
There’s a lot more Photoshop can do, and this post only covers the core techniques we use daily: resize, saturation, contrast, curves, color balance, compression, selections, masks and simple layer tricks. If you have specific questions or want a follow-up on any of these tools, leave a comment and we’ll consider a deeper dive in a future post.