EDITING: WHAT HAPPENS AFTER PICTURES ARE TAKEN

I’m sure most photographic subjects know that professional photos taken of them get some editing. But I suspect most don’t know what that all entails.

I think the editing process is different for different photographers. Programs to complete the job are different as well. I suspect everyone has heard of Photoshop but many don’t know what that’s really all about. Fewer I’m sure have heard of Lightroom or even lesser used programs. One of my favorites — Adobe Camera Raw — is one I suspect hardly anyone getting their pictures taken have heard of.

Here is a brief rundown of what happens in the editing process. The first step is that photos are culled. That means your photographer will go through the photos and throw out the bad ones, the duplicates and any others deemed not worthy. What’s left is what is edited.

Usually the first step involves correcting any color aberrations. Photos are taken in a variety of types of light. The light inside of a home is different than the light inside of a commercial building. That light is different from that of an overcast day. And that is different from a sunny day. Cameras have a setting called white balance that is changed around depending upon the type of light that exists at the time. Even then photos can have the wrong color cast. So they need to be color corrected. That is done in an editing software.

After that your photographer will determine what other types of changes are needed. That could include cropping, brightening or darkening and straightening. Editing may include retouching, where a person’s skin may be smoothed out or a blemish removed. Hair can be a big problem. Stray hairs can be spotted on faces or in other areas you don’t want. If that’s the case your photographer may do some retouching on that problem.

The entire editing process can take several hours if not several days, depending on the extent of editing done. So don’t expect to see your pictures returned to you the next day. The editing process must be done.