If you are a photographer and you want to use Photoshop techniques to enhance your pictures, then I guess you will have to learn how to use Photoshop first.
You know how important is to have those top notch photos taken and then later on edit them to look their best.
Because Photoshop has now available for some time, you will have no problems in getting that extra professional touch to your pictures which will make them stand out from all the rest and thus be praised by your viewers.
Tip one refers to filtering or modifying the background.
If you will decide to modify the background, that means you need to have a certain degree of focus on an object in your photo.
If you want to achieve that startling effect you will definitely need some good filters for this.
and I personally recommend that you stay away from all of those crazy filters and better use the more "sensible" ones.
Now you will need to have the layer of the image duplicated with the lasso tool and then have the main subject in the image selected.
Don' to worry as you will not need to have the subject perfectly outlined and if the selection looks a bit weird just don't worry about it.
To have the selection feathered, you will need to go click Select then Feather.
The picture's size will determine the pixel radius of your feather.
Even so, if you will choose between 25 and 50 PX things should go well.
Therefore, you will have to Layer, New, and Layer via copy then have the layer copy selected.
When it comes to softening then things are simpler.
You will be using this option to give your photo a smoother look.
Now just have your image's layer duplicated and then go to Filter, Blue and to Gaussian Blur.
To achieve the effects you want just play around with the opacity of the layer.
I usually go with 50%, but that depends on your image nonetheless.