Restore at Home or With a Professional Restoration Service

There are a lot of pros and cons to DIY-ing a photo editing project, from the financial aspect to the quality of the finished product. Are an AI-powered editing program's basic, auto-generated results worth the cheaper price tag? Or should you invest in the future of your photos by employing an expert? 

Should I DIY Edit My Photos?

Look, we've all been there before: You think you've taken a nice picture, and the bloody thing looks like trash. So what do you do? You try to do some photo editing magic and make it look... not terrible. But here's the issue: editing apps have made people think that photo editing is easy and fast, almost foolproof. Unfortunately, sometimes, that's just not the case.

Going to a professional photo editing service like Forever Studios ultimately saves you the time and effort it takes to make your photos perfect.

Lead Restoration Artist at Forever Studios

Can I Edit My Photos at Home? 

Nowadays, everyone is looking for an easy solution to their problems, and the photo editing process is no different. On the plus side, the DIY approach offers full control over the editing process. People can experience editing a photo with all the various tools. In an ideal world, the finished product will be beautiful and Instagram-worthy.

 

PHOTOSHOP PLASTIC SURGERY 

Social media is full of people trying to post their best pics online, from celebrities to high school bullies. Photo editing software allows people to change their online appearance, oftentimes not for the better. You know what I'm talking about. Got a few extra pounds? That's easy enough to hide with PhotoShop liposuction. I know, not very body-positive of me, but at least it's cheaper than plastic surgery!

Victoria’s Secret by Jax (Photo from https://youtu.be/GFKnuJB_WkM?si=tkLR9od2MgY_merT)

How Hard Is It to Edit Photos at Home?

Unfortunately, editing photos at home often results in images with many mistakes. Fixing an image requires more than a social media filter or the indiscriminate use of the pucker, bloat, or blur tools. Some people rely too heavily on them. Many common mistakes beginners make will lead to unrealistic or unprofessional-looking images, and then they post them on social media! La gasp!

 

ARE PHOTO EDITING PROGRAMS EXPENSIVE?

Now, I know there are a lot of different photo editing programs and apps that are really cheap. But you have to remember something, that affordable price does not guarantee you a good product.

Of course, the quality of the finished product depends on skill as much as the program, but if you decide to invest in a program like Adobe PhotoShop, there are more advanced tools and settings available. Unfortunately, the program is quite pricey and can be prohibitive for the average user.

Adobe PhotoShop

HOW DIFFICULT IS IT TO LEARN HOW TO EDIT PHOTOS?

Adobe PhotoShop and other advanced programs are not as easy to navigate as a filter or most apps on the market. Depending on the task, many people misuse or overlook the most useful and time-saving tools.

 

SHOULD I MAKE A BACKUP PHOTO BEFORE I EDIT? 

If you edit the original image and there isn't a backup, you run the risk of making a mistake and causing permanent damage to your photo. Which means, you'll have to go to a professional editing service to get it repaired. Please make a backup and edit that copy, not the other way around.

A once in a lifetime shot of the London Eye & Big Ben… I would be devastated if this photo was ruined.

What Should I Know Before I Edit My Photos?

Some photos can be simply flawless, and any edits made are almost undetectable. Who knows? Maybe they're born with it, or maybe it's a skilled graphic designer. The average person doesn't have the professional expertise to edit a photo without at least some common editing errors that are easily recognizable because they don't consider the small details that are so easily overlooked.

 

WHY IS IT DIFFICULT TO ALTER AN IMAGE?

One common mistake is the complete disregard of how some tools affect the surrounding areas. If you're going to edit your own images, please keep the background in mind. I have seen one too many photos of people trying to give themselves an hourglass figure, and the bathroom mirror gets warped. 

One of the hardest tasks to do, even for a graphic designer, is background removal. I'm not going to get into the technicalities, but isolating an object is a pain. 

Selection Tool to separate the main subject from the background.

WHAT DOES THE BLUR TOOL DO?

Do you have pesky fine lines and wrinkles that makeup won't cover? What about uneven skin texture or scars? The blur tool is amazing for that; I occasionally use it myself. But if it gets used too much during the photo editing process, your photo will start to look like something from the uncanny valley, and no one wants that nightmare fuel on their mantle.

Uncanny Valley

WHAT DOES THE SATURATION AND CONTRAST SLIDERS CHANGE? 

Messing with the saturation level on an image is one of my biggest pet peeves. When done incorrectly, the color balance gets really messed up, making everything look too vivid or messy.

Over-saturated image of my vacation (Help it hurts my eyes)

When you lower the contrast, your photo will look washed out. Increase the contrast, and the highlights and shadows will overpower the image.

Excessive contrast of the beach

Should I Use a Professional Photo Editing Company?

Please don't edit your wedding photos or vintage family photos at home. Go to a professional with the knowledge, skill, and advanced editing programs required to handle images that are precious and irreplaceable.

WHAT MAKES A PHOTO EDITING COMPANY WORTH THE MONEY?

Professional photographers and graphic designers need a lot of time, practice, and money (goodness knows that Adobe subscription ain't cheap) to create beautiful works of art. Learning the craft of photo editing takes more than just a few minutes of messing around with a handful of tools and settings. It takes years and a lot of schooling.

Let's be honest: Most people don't want to spend that much effort on something unless it's their passion or job. 

Professional photo editing companies, like Forever Studios, have all the technical knowledge to complete your project quickly and perfectly, so you will receive the final product faster than you can learn how to use the selection tool. 

Why Should I Go to Forever Studios for My Photo Editing Project?

Forever Studios is the fastest, most affordable, and most reliable photo editing company in South Florida. Our advanced photo retouching services come with unlimited revisions and digital downloads. Our team has the photo editing skills and dedication to restore and enhance your treasured photos. Whether the image requires a subtle touch-up or extensive repair and photo manipulation, we will make your photos look their best.