Editing Winter Photos

 

 

 I live in Michigan where we usually have snow on the ground for most of

the winter.  But for the first time in 125 years...we didn't have ANY snow

in December!

 

That's why I was GIDDY when yesterday, we were blessed with the pretty

kind of snow that sticks to the trees.

 

My daughter Lindsay was still home for the holidays and

she was wonderful to pose for me.

 

 

Well, she wasn't all that thrilled as you can see in this next behind-the-scenes photo.

Being my daughter, she is asked to pose A LOT....

 

She was wearing sweat pants and shoes with no socks under that dress

and was FREEZING!

 

Plus she had to carry that poofy dress into the woods.

 

 

But she knew I have been wanting to shoot portraits in the

big white dress that I found at a thrift store last winter for $20.

 

I pictured it with a long red velvet, hooded cape and found one

on E-bay.

 

But, last winter we had two feet of snow on the ground all season,

so I never got to do the shoot.

 

Thanks, Lindsay for finally helping me accomplish this!

 

 

Most of my clients don't schedule winter portrait shoots...

but winter is one of my favorite times of year for portraiture.

 

Here are some tips to help you spruce up your

winter portraits with added bokeh and snowflakes from my winter overlay

collection I sell here in my Etsy Shop.

 

Start with a clean edit.   In the winter with snow,

I like to edit on the cool side.  But that is a personal preference.

 

 

Next, I add this winter white bokeh that comes with the collection.

 

 

In Photoshop or Elements, with your main photo open,

Click on File>Place and navigate to the white bokeh.

 

Click on it and it will appear over your photo.

 

 

While holding down on the Shift key to keep it in perspective,

stretch the bokeh to cover your photo.  In this case,

I only wanted the bokeh on the upper sky part...not over the snow.

 

 

Above your layers pallet on the right, switch your blend mode to

Lighten.

 

 

I lowered my opacity to 68%...but lower yours to what looks

good with your photo.

 

Create a layer mask and use a soft/black brush to remove the bokeh from the subject.

 

If you don't know how to do layer masks...just use the eraser tool.

  

 

See how the bokeh adds a pretty, ethereal look?

 

 

Now add one of my snowflake overlays.

 

Lower the opacity a bit...this is at 75%, and erase any

flakes over the eyes, nose and mouth while leaving

a few on the face to look believable.

 

 

I have so much fun with the bokeh and snow overlays!

 

 

Today, I got to photograph beautiful Sarah

in our pretty snow and had fun adding snow and bokeh.

 

 

 

Brave the snow and

have a FAB time with winter portraits!