When your photographer closes their bag after the photoshoot has been concluded, work has not finished for them.
While it is not the beginning of the process, a lot more work needs to be completed before you see the refined and optimised images on an online gallery or slideshow.
Today I plan to lift the curtain on the secret art of photo editing or post-processing of our images.
Most professional photographers shoot in RAW not jpeg. RAW is effectively just a file format of information and data that falls on the sensor when you press the shutter. As a result, the images need to be edited to bring out the tones, colours and other adjustments to the image.
RAW images are very dull and flat. They need enhancing.
As part of my service, I provide beautiful, edited photos for all my clients as it is this editing brings out the magic in the photos.
Equipment and software
Life after the photo shoot begins in my tiny office and where the post-processing editing world commences. To bring it all together, I have the following equipment and software:
· HP 4K Laptop;
· A Wacom tablet – editing made easy;
· A 24” inch monitor to see the images better;
· Photo Mechanic;
· Adobe Lightroom;
· Adobe Photoshop;
· Portraiture
· Luminar Ai
Editing the images – the process
Editing the images is fundamental to the process and can make the difference between having a nice photo to that of a GREAT photograph.
Depending on the photograph, I may use up to three different software programs to deliver my final photograph. Each photo begins life in Photo Mechanic where I will commence my first cull of images before I import them into Adobe Lightroom, which I my cataloguing software.
Once in lightroom my editing workflow commences. I ensure that the white balance and exposure is even across the entire gallery, as well as consistent with the rest of my work. Next is lifting shadows, reducing highlights and enhancement of any sun flares in order to bring about the beautiful golden hour light.
Then comes the POLISH. The best editing software here is Photoshop.
Here I can remove any distracting objects; enhancing the way clothing falls; swaps heads or interchanging the eyes of children and adults; removing blemishing (acne spots, beauty lines etc) and any dark shadows that form under the eyes.
Want to look 10 years younger or minimise a couple of excess kilograms? Here Photoshop comes into its own through its liquify tool. It is like waving a wand and hey preso you are suddenly 10 years younger. I will only use this tool if I receive specific requests as there are some people are just a little uncomfortable in their body and skin.
This is where I will also utilise Portraiture to soften and smooth the skin of the subject. It is only minor and to ensure that the photos are as flattering as possible. An alternative approach is to bring the photograph into Luminar Ai and utilise the magic of Ai to edit the image.
Once I am happy with the way the photograph looks I will sharpen it to maximum clarity and crispness for when they are printed by my high-quality printing partners or on my own quality canon printer.
Each image is a labour of love. And this is why I will use three different programs to enhance and optimise my images.
I do this knowing that most photographers are using one program to edit their images. At most they will throw someone else’s preset over your image and call that editing.
I want everyone to look and feel beautiful in their images. Hence, this is why these enhancements are a normal part of my post-processing workflow. Ultimately, my main goal is for you to fall in love and adore your photos and for you to order wall art to celebrate your favourite images.
Therefore, I will use a wide range of skills and expertise on your images in my studio.
When you hire me, you are getting so much more than a photographer. For are getting a photoshop expert that will look to optimise your images for your total enjoyment.
I take my photography and post-processing tasks seriously and want to give you the best experience possible, with beautiful, energizing photos you truly love.