Why Photographers Should Edit Their Photos
Understanding the editing process is essential for photographers. Edits can be time-consuming and often take a lot of thought. Here's a closer look at how and why your photos must be edited to ensure quality for your clients.
RAW Files
Chances are that as a photographer you will be shooting in RAW. When you shoot in RAW, this produces a RAW image file. This file has the highest quality image possible, which is the best for editing. Edits will be necessary because the detail and file size of the photos have been amplified. After making all necessary adjustments to the photo, you will have to convert the RAW file to a raster image file so that it is small enough to be used online or in print. When you don't shoot in RAW, your camera automatically makes edits to your photos that you cannot control. This limits your creative freedom from the start, and you cannot reverse the camera's edits to your image.
What Edits Entail
After shooting in RAW, it is time to begin the editing process. As a photographer you will likely be using Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom. Within this editing software, you will crop the photo and adjust the contrast, exposure, and color. Imperfections will also be a focus of the editing process. When removing imperfections from the photo, you will look at things like blemishes, stray pieces of hair, or even unwanted objects in the image. Lastly, filters will be applied to the photo. These filters should be carefully thought out and selected to enhance the photo's natural beauty and tie everything together.
Brand Image
Like any business, how you present yourself and your company is essential. Your company needs an identity; for photographers, this comes a lot from how you edit your photos. Before booking with you, the client will check out your portfolio, Instagram, and Facebook to see the kind of work you produce. The style you develop through your filter choices will showcase your overall vibe. Some people may prefer brighter and warmer edits, while others may prefer darker, toned-down edits. Your editing style will attract your clients and make them want to book with you. While editing isn't the only part of what makes a photographer's brand identity, it is an important one.
If you are a photographer and would like to refine your editing skills, I provide online editing courses that can be found here. I also offer online and one-on-one mentorships. In these mentorships, you will get hands-on experience and continued support while learning how to make your photos unique!
