Welcome

Editing transforms ordinary snapshots into something extraordinary. Over the years I've learned that thoughtful adjustments can highlight the vibrant colors of your favorite meals, draw attention to the little details in your decor, and showcase the playful charm of character merchandise. This guide walks you through the tools and techniques I use every day to make my photos stand out.

Things I Use

• Laptop: A high‑resolution laptop (I love the Dell XPS) for its vibrant display and portability.
• Camera: A full‑frame mirrorless camera (Sony A7III) or your favorite DSLR works great.
• Lens: A versatile 28–70 mm lens that covers wide shots of delicious dishes and close‑ups of souvenirs.
• Phone: The latest smartphone camera is perfect for on‑the‑go captures (I use an iPhone).
• Editing Software: Adobe Lightroom CC for its powerful yet intuitive editing tools and cloud sync.

Camera Settings Tips

1. Shoot in RAW. RAW files retain more information than JPEGs, giving you greater flexibility when adjusting exposure and colors later on.
2. Underexpose slightly. It's easier to brighten a dark photo than to recover highlights that are blown out. Aim for a slightly darker image straight out of the camera.

Step‑by‑Step Editing Tutorial

Below are the steps I follow to bring my images to life. Whether you’re photographing a mouth‑watering dessert, a cozy living room corner, new merchandise from your favorite park, or the characters that inspire your adventures, these techniques will help you achieve a polished look.

1. Import your photos.

   Transfer photos from your camera or phone to your computer. Organize them into folders by theme—food, decor, merchandise or characters—to stay organized.

2. Select your favorites.

   Open the images in Lightroom and flag the shots that best capture the mood you want to convey. Don’t be afraid to delete duplicates or blurry photos.

3. Apply a preset or basic adjustments.

   Start with a preset to establish a consistent look, then adjust exposure, contrast and white balance. This is where you’ll make sure the colors of your ice cream, pumpkins and souvenirs pop.

4. Tune the tones and colors.

   Use the HSL sliders to fine‑tune individual colors. For example, you can soften greens in your indoor plants or deepen the turquoise hues of your character merchandise.

5. Crop and straighten.

   Align horizons and crop out distractions to focus attention on the subject. Keep your grid aligned so your feed looks cohesive.

6. Export and share.

   Export your finished images at the appropriate resolution for Instagram. Add captions that tell the story behind each photo—whether it’s your latest kitchen creation, a thrifted décor find or a magical meet‑and‑greet.