Workflow

I often get asked what my workflow looks like for several reasons. Mainly, how do I keep my images so consistent and how do I edit so quickly. To be honest, my editing style wasn't always this way. It has developed after a decade of practice and learning. And while I have promised myself to never stop learning, I have found that this is the best flow that works for me.

For starters, I am a firm believer in understanding how your camera works so you can shoot in a way that will require minimal retouching. For example, I prefer to create bright images. So I almost always slightly over expose while I am shooting. Of course there are times that this doesn't work, and this style isn't for everyone - but it is for me. Understanding how your camera works is crucial for taking your photography to the next level.

Second, ditch the "auto white balance" function. I promise you, this will speed up your editing. Honestly, I would much rather edit blue tinted RAW images than photos that bounce all over the place. By doing this, you are minimizing the time you are having to correct the white balance and increasing your chance of allowing your presets to work on your set of images.

And finally, trust your gut. Don't waste time editing images that you aren't sure about. Chances are, if you feel it is off, your client will too. I always start editing by doing a quick run through and getting rid of images I don't like. This may show my age, but do you remember the show "Clean Sweep" on TLC? Home owners were asked to quickly make decisions on wether they wanted to keep, toss, or donate an item in order to minimize their belongings. It's the same thing for photos. Of course you can always go backhand and reevaluate while you are spending more time with each image, but this will help you feel less overwhelmed when looking at your image count.