17 Days 'Til 40 (Enter The Butcher Stage Right)

Before.

Ever since I switched to a digital camera, my photos have become unmanageable. Because storing the photos is quick and cheap, the urge to discard questionable shots has disappeared. I hoard every picture. Suddenly there's potential in even the least polished-looking shot. I have some crazy idea that one day I'll look through my trove, pick out the best images, and fiddle with them using Photoshop.

But I never do. I just archive and forget.

After.

To identify that one has a problem is the first step to recovery. So let me introduce myself: Hello, my name is Richela M. and I am a digital photo hoarder.

Today my tech-savvy nephew came over to help me. We began with a single folder of images that I took 4 months ago, cataloging the progress of a pop up book that remains unfinished. (Wouldn't you know it---I'm also a chronic procrastinator.) After deleting what seemed like 50 shots of the same image, he chose the best one and made some adjustments in Photoshop.

Take a look at the magic he worked on the image above. The changes are subtle yet the image is a thousand percent better. What exactly did he do? Good question. When I asked him, he said something with a lasso, something with a filter, something with scissor thingies, and...and...and then my brain started to flatline, so I left the room to get a cup of coffee.

All I know is that my nephew going to trim the fat off my photo archive and then give each remaining contestant a face lift. I'm beginning to imagine a future of better-looking photos in my portfolio.

Wait a minute. I don't have a portfolio. Hmmm. Maybe the butcher can help me with that, too?