One of the things I have learned about photography is that it can be VERY time consuming. I remember when I started that I had a hard time finding my style and sticking to it. Now I know what I like. This has made editing much easier on me, and less time consuming. I wanted to share with you all how I edit a basic bridal from a session from start to finish. Excuse my screen shot images, as you can see below I was in the zone with my music on Spotify. Please note this is how “I” edit. There are probably a million different ways to edit photos but this works for me.

First thing I do is open all my images to Lightroom. I then select the ones I want to edit and click on develop. Here I will adjust exposure or color balance.

Next I will open in Photoshop and again check the color balance. Adjust as needed.

Then I use the patch tool to remove any blemishes from the skin.

Next I use “Sharpen on the Spot” from the “Miracle Makeover” Set by Paint the Moon Actions. I use this on eyes, dress, rings, anything I want sharper. – let her know I sent ya!

Then I use the “Make My Skin Perfect” from the same set and smooth out the skin. Just enough to smooth it, not to make the subject look fake.

Now I use an action that I created by pulling together my workflow together. I really like hazy type pictures so after doing a custom tint on all my photos I decided just to throw it into an action. This has worked wonders for me during my newborn sessions as well. This action is for sale at my shop www.shannonjohnstonphotography.bigcartel.com if anyone is interested in that.

After adjusting my action to taste I will flatten, save an original, then a web and i’m done!

Had I not been playing around with my music and facebook this edit would have taken me about 5 minutes to finish.

This is the way I edit..it’s not the “correct” way.. it’s just how I do it. There are probably a million other ways to do it and maybe even easier. But sometimes people who are just starting out can learn a thing or two and I enjoy helping.

Have a great day!

Shannon -

Spring Mini Sessions

When: April 14, 2012

Price: $40.00

Includes: 20 minute session, (2) 4×6 & (2) 5×7 prints

How do I sign up?

Session fee must be paid within 48 hours to hold your spot. I will invoice you via paypal for the session fee

Available Spots

9:00 –

9:30 –

10:00 –

10:30 – Booked

3:00 – Booked

3:30 – Booked

4:00 –

4:30 – Booked

5:00 – Booked

6:30 – Booked

I still have a few spots left. If you are interested please contact me at johnstonphotography@hotmail.com The sessions will be held on Brandon at an outdoor location.

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

WINNERS HAVE BEEN CHOSEN!!

Did you win?? See below!

I decided to switch things up a bit, and I got my sweet hubby to pick 7 random numbers between 1-84 and these are the numbers he chose. I have put the winners name next to all the prizes below. Thank you all so much for your love, support, and sweet comments. NOTE: YOU have 48 hours to contact the vendor to claim your prize. If not, I will choose another winner for it, and I sure hate to do that

#19, #41, #28, #78, #68, #3, #9

1. Winner of my “Dream in Color” Action Set is

 (#19) Jade- http://pinterest.com/pin/198510296045192004/

Entry 5 complete!

2. Winner of a 1 Year Membership to Clickin Moms!!! only valid for new CM members is

 (#41) Julie Villavicencio – Entry #2 complete!

 3. Winner of A  $40 gift certificate (with free shipping) to Jillian Whitman Photography’s shop! is

(#28) Pey-Jing Mehrinfar – https://twitter.com/#!/LiMehrinfar Entry #4 Complete!

4. Winner of A Stacked Names Necklace from The {Posh} Daisy! is

(#78) Kimberly Deegan – Entry #4 Complete twitter.com/MRSDEEGAN

5. Winner of a $25 Gift Certificate to The Modern Knot is

(#68) Darchelle Whitehead – Entry #4 done!  https://twitter.com/#!/darchellemarie/status/179616837804359680

6. Winner of the Jaci Necklace from Mackenzie Kern Jewelry is

(#3) Miranda – http://www.facebook.com/MirandaNicoleSchimmel#!/MirandaNicoleSchimmel/posts/353794127999340 I shared on Facebook. Entry 3 complete

7. Winner of a Tie-Back Headband from OlivePatch is

(#9) Stephanie Hegland – Entry 2 completed!

Congratulations to all of the winners! Also, a big thank you to all of the awesome vendors who made this giveaway possible!

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Wow. I have had a really amazing year. I am blessed beyond words of how far my dream has come. I have the privilege of photographing such beautiful little babies, and brides. It just doesn’t get any better than that! I am able to have my dream job, and be able to spend so much time with my little girl and husband. I cherish these moments, as any parent would. I have been working on so many things, and feel I always have new projects running in my head but I needed to stop.. take a minute.. and thank each and every fan/client  that I have for being so supportive and loyal.

My 1k giveaway is because I have reached and surpassed 1,000 fans. This is huge for me. Someone who just went full-time this past year and now I have 1,000 people who love looking at my work, and just stopping by to say hello. Well, here is my thank you to all of you

I have lined up some awesome vendors for this first giveaway, and you can bet there will be more to come!

So.. how do you enter??  The 1K Giveaway starts today and will end on March 16  at midnight CST.  There will be 1 winner per prize selected by a random number generator and announced here on the blog and on my Facebook on March 16th . The winner will have 48 hours to claim their winnings or another winner will be selected.

You will have 3 chances to win! Please leave one comment per entry and put (Entry #1 complete and so on) if this isn’t done your entry will not be counted. Be sure to follow all the rules, we will be checking

To Enter:

1. Visit Shannon Johnston Photography  on Facebook   and “LIKE” my page. (Leave a comment with “Entry #1 Complete”)

2. Visit each of the vendor pages below and “LIKE” their page + leave some comment love.. They will enjoy it Post only 1 comment that Entry #2 is complete once you have liked all the vendors.  (Comment again, Entry #2 Complete)

3. Share this giveaway on your facebook page. ( comment with the link where you shared and Entry #3 Complete)

Want some additional entries?? who doesn’t!!

Extra Entry 4. Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter and post the link in your comment with Entry #4 complete

Extra Entry 5. Share on Pintrest, and post the link in the comment box, with Entry #5 complete

Let’s see what goodies we have up for grabs shall we??

Shannon Johnston Photography is giving away my new “Dream in Color” Action Set! This set can be found here and is on sale for only $25.00! Sale ends on March 16th. Below is a Before & After of this action. -Valued at $45.00

1 Year Membership to Clickin Moms!!! only valid for new CM members – valued at $50.00

A  $40 gift certificate (with free shipping) to Jillian Whitman Photography’s precious little shop! Shop can be found here

A Stacked Names Necklace from The {Posh} Daisy! – valued at $35.00

A  $25 Gift Certificate to The Modern Knot! Visit the shop here

1 Jaci Necklace from Mackenzie Kern Jewelry - valued at $35.00

1 Tie-Back Headband from OlivePatch - One size fits all! Winner chooses colors – valued at $15

Now that you have seen all the great prizes that you could win, be sure to follow the rules and enter! Have fun.. and again thank you to all of the vendors for donating their wonderful products to my 1k giveaway

PLEASE BE SURE TO ENTER BY ADDING A COMMENT BELOW THIS POST – THAT IS WHERE YOU WILL POST (ENTRY #1 COMPLETE) IF YOU POST ON MY FACEBOOK YOUR ENTRY WILL NOT BE COUNTED

Congratulations to SARAH M!! Comment #1

You must contact me at johnstonphotography@hotmail.com with “Winner” in the subject to claim your prize.

I am so excited to offer all my fans the chance to win an Organic Bloom Frame!! If you haven’t heard of these frames you are TOTALLY missing out!! The Organic Bloom was founded in May 2010 by Jason and Andrea Sooter. What began as a creative endeavor rapidly became a booming success – or shall I say “blooming” success. Within months, The Organic Bloom established a client base in all fifty US States, Canada, and Australia. How awesome is that?!

The frames come in 16 different shapes, and with numerous colors to choose from, you can match any decor in your home, business, or studio! Visit their website http://www.TheOrganicBloom.com and see for yourself! If you don’t want to wait until the contest is over to get your hands on a frame then contact me at johnstonphotography@hotmail.com to get a price list. Organic Bloom frames can only be purchased through a Professional Photographer who is a registered retailer.

So……now to the good stuff! Organic Bloom is giving away (2) 8×10 frames to one lucky winner! The winner can choose the frame style and color that you want (glaze coating not included). These frames are so beautiful, the person who wins these are going to be super excited when they hang them up I promise you!

Here is how to enter the giveaway:

1 entry/comment per person – all steps below must be completed for entry to count

* Like Shannon Johnston Photography on Facebook - HERE - show some comment love

* Like The Organic Bloom on Facebook – HERE – show them some comment love too!

* Post about this giveaway on your facebook, blog, or twitter account

* Come back here and leave ONE comment in the comment section that you have “liked” both pages, posted about this giveaway on your facebook, blog, or twitter and include the link where you posted. – we will be checking

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – -

 Please be patient if you don’t see your comment right away

All entries must be in by  January 8th, 2012 (wow… 2012!! )  by midnight.

The winner will be selected at random and announced on my blog no later than January 11th, 2012.

Winner has 48 hours to respond to “Winner” email. If I don’t get a response within that time frame another winner will be selected, so make sure you check your junk/spam folder too

Good Luck Guys!!!