I get lots of questions about processing (which I actually find very flattering, I’m always working to not only shoot better, but edit better as well) and so I thought a series of posts on different processing techniques I’ve discovered would be appreciated by some of you. I think it’s important to keep in mind that good photos are created in camera, and enhanced with processing. I don’t think it’s possible to make it happen the other way around. :)

Over time I’ve come up with a standard set of actions that I run on every photo. It seems to work well with the way I shoot and although I’m still working to figure out the perfect processing technique to use on every photo. My ultimate goal is to be like Jonas Peterson. He shoots in a very consistent way and just runs all of his images through Photoshop with a batch action, editing only a select few individually. He can process a wedding in less than half the time I can!

I like using actions, and almost all of those I use are modified versions of Totally Rad Actions, although I do use a few of Pioneer Woman’s every once in awhile. Here’s a good tip: PW’s second set of actions were created in collaboration with Doug Boutwell, the guy behind Totally Rad Actions, and a few of those from the TRA set have PW actions that are somewhat similar. For example, TRA Oh Snap! is almost the same as PW Boost.

Here is the original image. It was shot with my 5dmkii using a 50 1.2 lens. ISO 640, f 2.2, 1/125.

I do all of my culling in Lightroom, and that’s where I apply what I call “Basic Edits”. When I edit in Lightroom I tend to bump the Exposure, Blacks, Brightness, Contrast, Clarity, adjust the White Balance, -10 red and orange Saturation, and +10 red and orange on Luminance.

I export the images into Photoshop and run what I’ve come to call the “Jenna Cole Recipe”. All three actions I use for this are made by Totally Rad Actions. I’ve found that the recipe only works this way when I do it in this exact order.

Run Claire-ify first, and set the opacity to 10%. Select the “background” layer from the layers palette.

Run Oh Snap! and set the opacity to 10%. Select the “background” layer from the layers palette.

Run f/zero. Deselect the Out of focus layer. Set the In Focus layer to 28%.

The Fine Art Edit below is what I got when I ran this recipe.


Here are a few comparisons to help you see the difference my edits made.


Now you know how to make images that look like mine if you so please!

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