Blogging Tips: How to Cut Your Photo Editing Time in Half + GIVEAWAY!
When I started my blog back in 2009 (!!!!!!!) I didn’t expect it to become a source of income. In fact, I wasn’t even blogging consistently until 2011 and things didn’t really take off for me until 2012 when I competed in the first ever Allure Magazine Beauty Blogger of the Year competition and was named the Most Buzzworthy Blogger. Since then things have been busy and I’m constantly on the lookout for ways to make my blogging life easier.
A huge bulk of my time as a blogger goes into editing photos. Right now I use a Canon t5i DSLR for photography and video. I think I’ve had it for a year and I’m still learning what it can do. Even when I learn new things I’m still having to edit my photos for the better part of a day. For the last few years I’ve been playing around with my lighting setup – adding lights, trying new bulbs, buying extremely awkward and bulky devices that end up being more of a PITA than a help… A lot of bloggers sing the praises of OttLite lamps. I’ve seen them around, but I’ve spent SO MUCH on lighting I haven’t bought one because if I walk through the door with another piece of blogging equipment that doesn’t work well for me my hubs isn’t going to be pleased. When this campaign came up for OttLite to say I dove through my computer to apply would be putting it mildly.
I decided on the OttLite LED 2-in-1 LED Magnifier Floor and Table Lamp because I wanted a floor model to save on desk space, but if it didn’t work out as a floor model I could still use it as a desk model and replace one of my cheaper/less efficient lamps.
OttLite was developed by the “father of time-lapse photography” Dr. John Ott. The idea of OttLite is to be able to photograph things to see the colors more clearly and accurately while at the same time reducing glare and eyestrain. Colors are a major part of my editing when it comes to beauty. I can take 100 pictures of a lipstick but if the color is off I have to adjust camera settings, move my lighting around… change my shirt… and redo EVERYTHING.
Below is my setup with my original lighting situation. As you can see there are multiple sources of lighting. Six if you count the overhead light on the ceiling. And still I’d need to take this photo, crop it and adjust things to take the yellow-ish tone out of it. I’d also likely change my shirt, which was green at the time this photo was taken, to something white or black. It’s also got shadowing that would annoy me.
Below is a side-by-side product photo comparison. The photos are unedited by me other than to make them a collage and size (I use Picmonkey). On the left is the photo taken with my original lighting setup. You can see the glare from the lighting (which is coming more from the side lamps than the overhead). On the right is the picture taken with just the one overhead light and that clip light to the right along with the OttLite. It’s a bit darker than what I’d like but it’s in need of less color correcting, which is what takes the bulk of the time. Plus, that glare… usually I’m juggling a camera and some makeshift light diffuser to hide that. When I use the OttLite I don’t have to do that!
This OttLite has taken the place of TWO other daylight lamps and does things for me that neither of the other lights can do. Because I use it as the floor model it is bendable all around my photography area at any angle – most importantly this helps me in photographing nail polishes and other product swatches. The lighting is less focused on one area and more circular which covers a larger area and much more evenly, which allows for little-to-no shadowing in some parts which means less editing time for me. (Which makes me SO HAPPY).
Now that I know OttLite works well and am 100% that it suits my needs I want to invest in a second floor model for the back right corner and get rid of another desk lamp or two. They always say in life you get what you pay for and they’re ALWAYS RIGHT.
Below is the current setup. As you can see there is glare to the right where I have no OttLite. When I purchase the second one that will be eliminated thus making blogging life even MORE easy. PS it was so nice not having to edit photos for this post LMAO!
Check out what other people have under their OttLite here!
SO. How about a coupon and a giveaway?
COUPON: From now until May 31, 2016 save 30% on your OttLite purchase! Click here & use code: OttliteLED30 (USA & Canada only. Canadian customers please call 1-800-842-8848 to place your order) at checkout.
GIVEAWAY: Enter to WIN the OttLite 2-in-1 LED Magnifier Floor and Table Light! Please enter below by waiting for the Rafflecopter Widget to load. Full terms & conditions are listed on the widget and make sure to follow all directions listed on the widget entries or your entry will not be valid.
All entrants must be 18 or older and reside in the United States or Canada (excluding Quebec). This giveaway will end on March 7, 2016 at 12:00am EST.
There are 2 mandatory entries for this giveaway. (1) In the comments, tell me what you’d love to photograph while using the OttLite (2) follow Blushing Noir on Bloglovin’. After you complete those two entries more entry options will appear. Those are optional, but will obviously increase your chances of winning.
I need one of these stat! Editing pics takes SO much time and this would be an awesome solution!
Totally would love to see my swatches under this light!
I love cooking and taking pictures of the meals I’ve created I would use this light to take better pictures of the meals I’m so proud of .
I would photograph my valuables for insurance purposes.
I would love to use the OttLite to photograph food.
I would love to photograph pictures of my family to put in a scrapbook!
I would love to photograph some coins.
I would photograph my beauty hauls!
I would love to use it for taking pictures of my polymer clay creations on Etsy!
I would use the Ottlight to photograph needlework I do and to apply my makeup.
I would love to use this to photograph nail art!
I just started a food/makeup blog and the natural lighting in my shoebox condo is minimal. This light help so much!
Ode love the lamp for my nail polish swatches.
I would love to photograph some of my completed craft projects.
My kids-I think they would think it was lots of fun!
I would love to photograph my arts and crafts especially my shoebox floats for mardi gras.
I’d give this to my son who loves to photograph Lego for his blog.
I would love o get some great pictures of my puppy.
I would love to take better pictures of my makeup products, nail polishes etc that I love to post on instagram.
I would love to take photos of makeup for my beauty Instagram! I have a hard time with lighting and this looks perfect.
Oh my gosh! I need one of these so bad! Relying on natural light from a window is NOT fun! lol.
I’d love to photograph craft projects while using the OttLite.
I would love to photograph my nails and random stuff.
I’d love to photograph my cooking!
I take pictures of the quilts my mother makes and our lighting is horrible when it comes to the colors showing up accurately in the pictures. Therefore I would use it for this.
Yeay, I would take some pictures of my dog. . Wow, prize light is fab. & splendid. 2 fingers snap. It is tight, fly & off the chain. Thank you for the awesomeness, the contest, and generosity. 🙂 Pick me, pick me!
I like to photograph nature and my grandchldren.
I would love to photograph my paintings and drawings.
I would get some great shots of my grandkids.
I would love to photograph my daughter’s artwork with it!
I would like to get better photos of my grandchildren.
I would love to photograph my artwork! Thank you for the wonderful giveaway.
This would be great to photograph my children!
What a cool gadget! I love to use this to take my food pics that I take after testing out a Pinterest recipe.
I’d love to photograph nail polish swatches & nail art .
I hate the yellow tint in my pictures. Im so excited to find a cure!! Lovre it!
I would gift the Ott Lite to my sister so she could take photos of her pottery to sell on Etsy.
I have a defunct nail blog that I have been wanting to bring back, but I haven’t found a good place to take pictures since I’ve moved. This would be SO much help!!
I’d love to photograph makeup, food, items that I review online.
I would like to photograph my coin collection and collectibles.
I’d love to photograph my pottery to start selling on Etsy.
Kind of lame but I’ve been doing a major purge of our house and selling lots of things on eBay — this would ensure that my pictures look really enticing!
I’d love to photograph my nails and nail art.
I would love to photograph my completed crochet products.
Would love to photograph food!
I would photograph my collection of Russian lacquer boxes!
This is so awesome! If I were to win I could definitely use this for pretty instagram photos like beauty related or even my items for my Etsy store!
I would love to use this lamp to photograph my miniature artworks!
I would use it to take picture of my bags.
Oh I neeeed this! I have a jewelry company and have the hardest time taking pics. this would help so much!
I would love to win one of these for my blog photos!
I would use it to take pictures of my kids.
I’d like to use it to photograph food that I make. I am not pleased with the quality of lighting I have in my kitchen and this would probably help.
I’d take pictures of everything!, especially inside the house!
I would love to photograph things that I would need with good lighting!
I always have issues with lighting. And I also will be given the side eye from my husband if I order up any more lighting equipment. Seeing your set up makes me feel better about my set up, too. Even if I dont win, I think I need to snag one of these. Thanks for the suggestion!
OttLite’s saved my blogging photos! I’m in love!
I do a lot of photos for my blog so would definitely use this for them!
Thank you for the opportunity to win one of these awesome lights. I’m starting 2 baby scrapbook albums and recently realized that the room I work in doesn’t have adequate lighting. My pages look different when shown in another room and it’s hard to match things correctly. This light would be a perfect and much needed addition to my scrapbooks and an absolute time saver!
I would take better hair pictures and manicures.
Hello! Wow, I appreciate the review AND the contest… AND coupon! Win-win!
I’ve wondered for some time if these would work as well and even better than the lamps we use as estheticians. They’re the same ring light with magnifying centre, though back when I went to school 15 years ago the lamp bulbs were fluorescent. LED would be a huge improvement!
I would love to use the OttLite to photograph antique clocks! Thanks for the chance at this!
I seriously want one of these so bad. I love the color quality.
I’d love to use it for taking photos for my blog, so different beauty products.
This would be great when we photograph food for our blog.
I’d love to photograph my beauty products.
I want one of these! they look great!
I wonder if this particular lamp could help me get better swatch photos. I struggle with them so much!
I need this for blog photos. I never considered the floor OTT since it was too expensive to experiment with if it didn’t work. Now I know it works.
Would love to use for photographing food!
Food! I have my makeup photo setup down, but I need a better light in the kitchen — the lighting is TERRIBLE in there right now!
Ack – blogging about *food. Sheesh, Lisa.
I would love to use this light for pictures of prints for my website. This would also help a lot with food photography. Thanks for the giveaway!
It would help me take better pics of the cupcakes and macaroons I make.
This would be perfect for photographing food! I often get out my huge soft box, this would be so much easier!
This looks fab, I’m a little bit gutted I’m over in the UK!
Hi Brook! Just wanted to stop by and wish you luck on the giveaway, I’m hosting one as well.
Looks like a great light. I bought an ego in December and love it!
I would love to take my blog pictures to the next level! This light sounds amazing but like you my SO might not appreciate me picking up more lights!
This light would make all the difference in my flat lay photos!!
I think it would take great nail polish pictures.
What a beautiful and useful lamp! I’d love to improve the photography for my blog.
I would love to take pics of makeup for my blog!
A really useful gadget for a change!
i would love to win this for my teen daughter – she loves to make youtube videos and take photos, of just about everything – she would be over the moon with this – thanks for the chance!!
I have wanted one of these for so long! Fingers crossed!
I would LOVE this! I have the lighting bermuda triangle in my photography room!
I’d love to improve my food photography!
The struggle is REAL! LMAO!
An OttLite would be amazing for taking photos for my Etsy shop!
I would love to photograph my decorated cookies that I make for birthday parties.
I’d love to get more color accurate photos of my nail polishes!
I’d love to photograph high resolution pictures of makeup & flowers.
The light looks amazing!!! I would love to try and take pictures of different makeup looks!! Your pics always look amazing!! Thank you for the giveaway!!
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