all you need to know about editing pictures

Outside Senior Picture Idea

The best thing about senior year is definitely getting your senior pictures taken. The magic that happens that day is amazing. I love that senior pictures capture the true essence of a person and I try really hard to be sure your senior pictures are beautiful, natural and pictures you’ll want to keep forever. But let’s talk about one big thing. Editing. Many photographers really lean into the editing process which sometimes can make your pictures look less natural than you would like. I’m here to tell you that yes I edit pictures but no, I do not over edit. I prefer that my work looks as natural as possible. So this blog is all about editing… the process, why we edit pictures and what to expect from my editing style! 

I like to think of the editing process as a finishing touch. We edit pictures to make the pictures look like they weren’t edited at all! Crazy huh? But here is the thing… all the magic happens at the shoot. The lighting, framing and overall feeling of the picture happens when we’re together taking pictures. Editing enhances that. What happens during the editing process is my lovely editor combs through the pictures and maybe discards the pictures that aren’t as great. You’re not looking, I caught a picture of you mid smile, the wind caught your hair wrong or things like that. Then she will look through the duplicates and pick the few that are the best. Next,  she  uses a color correcting tool which makes sure the background and your skin tone looks perfect. She edits hair flyaways, and skin imperfections like pimples. I have her focus on the eyes and make them pop and then comb through again to be sure all the images are perfect. For images with big dresses, she takes the best image of you and multiple images of the skirt then edits them together to make a dramatic composite picture making sure you are the star of the show! It’s a crazy process but it works, and the pictures always turn out beautiful.   ​

Senior Pictures in Denver, Colorado

So why do we edit pictures? Like I said before, the editing process is the frosting on the cake. The finishing touch. It pulls the picture together without taking away the magic and beauty of the original picture. I love the editing process because then we can highlight the picture more than we could have without editing. Think of the sunset pictures. I can be sure to capture that sunset perfectly and keep the color of the sunset in mind. But in editing, I can be sure that sunset is really highlighted. The colors of the sunset can be richer which will show off the background even more. We edit pictures to finish off the photo and make it better overall. A good photographer will know how to take photos but a great photographer will know how to take a photo and how to edit a photo. Whether they do the editing or not, the photographer will give the editor a direction of how they want the photos to turn out. ​

Beautiful Senior Picture Idea

What to expect? Here is what you can expect from Sarah Lindsay Photography. All of your photos will be combed though to find the best photos for you. I have a trusted editor that I work closely with to ensure the pictures look exactly like I want them to. I am sure pictures look natural and the lighting is perfect. I am sure that my editor removes blemishes and other imperfections you don’t necessarily want in your pictures but I am sure to tell her not to photoshop faces or change anything extreme like that. I want you to enjoy and cherish your senior pictures forever. If your pictures are overly edited, they tend to look fake and not like you. Senior pictures are pictures that highlight your beauty and amazing self. I want you to look back and these pictures in awe and excitement. ​

Senior Pictures at The Botanic Gardens

I want to be your photographer and spots are filling up fast! Let’s be in touch and be sure to get you on the schedule today! I love taking senior pictures and let’s be honest… I know you will love your senior pictures for years to come. Click the button to get in contact with me today! ​

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