Simple Editing Tools to Make Your Photos POP

We live in a time when photography is available to anyone more than ever. Modern smartphones and the active development of social networks have made taking and sharing pictures an integral part of everyday life. It's easy to take a picture but to make it stand out from the crowd; you'll need a little post-processing magic. Why should your image stand out? In the era of digitalization, it can help you earn money on the Internet, turning quality content into your professional matter. As a photographer, you need to attract an active audience who will become your potential customers. As a blogger, you must draw attention to share your worldview with more people. As a regular user of social networks and a photo enthusiast, you want to create a harmonious and high-quality feed of your photos so that you and your friends can enjoy them. There can be many goals and ways to improve images and turn them into bright and attractive pictures. It is what we will talk about today.

Fortunately, you don't need sophisticated equipment and expensive software to edit your pictures. Just a few simple editing tools and techniques will make your images more attractive and delight your audience. Today, we will analyze these secrets using the example of one of the best tools for photo editing — Luminar Neo. If you are ready, then let's start!

The Simplest Universal Techniques

Professional photo editing software offers many features and capabilities. You can find the best photo editor for PC and learn how to use it for 100% productivity. But what if we say that you can improve your images without it? With a few simple tools and techniques, you can change the visual impact of a picture. Here are the main ones:

Crop and Align

The easiest and most affordable way to improve an image is to improve its composition. All major smartphone and PC apps have this feature, even in the image viewer. Open the desired photo in an image viewing and editing program and find the crop-and-rotate menu. Correct crooked horizons or slanted corners for a more balanced and visually appealing composition. Don't be afraid to cut off the excess. Frame the image so that there is no extra space on it that can distract from the main subject. With just a few clicks of the mouse, you already have a changed image that looks more harmonious.

Adjust Exposure and Contrast

Exposure is about the brightness and dimness of your image. If we talk about contrast, it is the difference between light and dark areas in the picture. By adjusting these two parameters, you can increase your photos' overall brightness and clarity. Almost all basic editors on smartphones and PCs offer sliders or controls for such editing. This way, you can easily customize the new look of your images.

Improve Colors

The shades of your image greatly influence the mood and atmosphere of the photos. Again, most image system apps on smartphones and PCs have basic color correction features. You can easily emphasize the colors, make them more muted and brighter, or change the color temperature. Add coziness to family photos, holiday or love moments, portraits of happy pets, and more. Cold shades will be appropriate for dramatic, artistic photo shoots or social pictures to attract attention. Experiment with these parameters to create the desired aesthetic effect.

Increase Sharpness and Blur

These options are also available in most of the programs you already use. Learn to adjust these parameters not to distort the image harmoniously but, on the contrary, to increase clarity and detail. Sharpening will allow you to highlight elements by giving them more focus. The overall picture will also become more attractive. Blurring certain areas of the photo will focus the viewer's attention on the main object. It will be something similar to the Bokeh effect. In this way, you can create a sense of depth and space.

Add Filters and Styles

Filters and templates are also available in most basic programs. These are automatic preset editing options that can quickly change the look of your photos in an instant. Vintage tones, black and white effects, bright color palettes, countless filters, and presets you can use depending on your creative vision. Experiment to find the perfect style for your photos.

POP Photos Like a Pro

Even a beginner can create stunning images to attract the audience's attention. All you need to do is find the best free photo editing tools and try them out to learn how to use them properly. Today, there are many Photoshop free alternative photo editors, and you can choose the one that suits you. But if you want to take your images to a new level, choose a professional photo editor like Luminar NEO. Next, using his example, we will show how easily you can turn your pictures into amazing shots that captivate the audience.

Luminar Neo is a simple image editor that is ideal for beginners. Its AI Tools will turn any image into a work of art. You can implement any idea using modern artificial intelligence technologies — adding objects, improving the image, processing portraits, or even completely replacing the sky. Give it a try, and make sure you want to avoid returning to your usual editing routine. Create a new look for your photo by simply moving the slider. In addition, you can still influence the intensity of changes and their nature. Amazing, isn’t it?

Try Magic Light AI for photos with city lights, Christmas trees, fairgrounds, etc. The effect will definitely surprise you. Your audience will also be impressed by the image. Add sun rays with Sun Rays AI and change the atmosphere of the whole picture with Atmosphere AI. Also, use the AI functions for Portrait Photography to create breathtakingly clear and harmonious portraits. And SuperSharp AI will help you save even blurry shots.

And finally, a novelty in modern photo editing functions — Object Remover. No more manual cropping of unwanted objects. The whole process takes seconds. Now, pictures in tourist places will be more atmospheric, without crowds. Artistic photography will become even more authentic without unnecessary objects in the frame. AI tools are becoming so easy and accessible. Don't overlook the opportunity to use them now.

Bottom Line

The importance of your photo standing out from thousands and even millions of others is undeniable. So feel free to create new looks and improve them to make your images POP. Crop, contrast, change color, and brightness, apply filters, and most importantly, remember to do everything in moderation and monitor the harmony of the image. Enhanced, but at the same time, natural photos will impress your audience.

We have told you how to improve your images; now it's up to you. It is easy to turn your photos from plain to POP. From basic techniques to using modern, powerful photo editors, you have all the tools to create enhanced images. Regardless of the method you choose for this or that image, the main tool is you. The final result will depend on your imagination, skills, and abilities. So always look for new and new features and tips to develop your creativity. Be inspired by the work of other photographers, be curious, try, fail, and try again. The main thing is to be bold, experiment, be creative, and let your photos shine!