📷 Behind the Scenes: My Photo Editing Process

When you see the final gallery from your session, every image looks polished, vibrant, and full of life ✨. But what you might not see is the artistry that happens after the photoshoot — the hours of thoughtful editing that turn a good photo into one that truly shines. Today, I’m taking you behind the scenes of my photo editing process so you know exactly what goes into creating those timeless images you love.

☀️ Step 1: Light Adjustments

The first thing I tackle in any photo is the light. I’ll adjust exposure, highlights, and shadows to make sure the image is balanced and true to how the moment felt. Sometimes this means brightening a smile in soft golden hour light, and sometimes it means pulling back highlights from a mid-day session.

🎨 Step 2: Color Grading

Once the light is set, I move on to color grading. This is where my signature editing style really comes through. I fine-tune skin tones so they look natural, adjust the warmth of the overall image, and enhance colors to make the photo cohesive. The goal is consistency — so whether it’s a wedding album or a senior session, the entire gallery feels harmonious.

📈 Step 3: Tone Curves

Tone curves are a powerful tool for shaping mood. By adjusting the highlights, mid-tones, and shadows, I can add depth and dimension. For example, softening the curve can create a dreamy, film-like feel, while adding contrast sharpens the details and makes everything pop.

⚖️ Step 4: Final Contrast Adjustments

After tone curves, I take one last look at overall contrast. This ensures the photo has that “finished” look without feeling too harsh or too flat. It’s a subtle but important step in making an image feel alive.

🚫 Step 5: Removing Distractions

Even in the best locations, distractions happen — a random person in the background, a bright orange cone, or a stray hair caught in the wind. I use tools to carefully remove or minimize anything that takes attention away from the subject. The goal is to keep your focus exactly where it belongs: on you and your story.

🎭 Step 6: Masking for Precision

Masking is where I get really detailed. This allows me to adjust certain parts of the photo without affecting the whole image. For example:

• Brightening just the faces in a group photo

• Enhancing the sky without changing skin tones

• Softening the background while keeping the subject crisp

  
  

These targeted edits bring out the very best in each frame.

✨ The Final Result of My Editing Process

By the time I’ve gone through all of these steps, the photo is transformed — not into something unrecognizable, but into the best version of what was already there. My editing process is about enhancing, not altering. I want your images to look timeless, authentic, and full of life.

💡 Curious to see more behind-the-scenes? Stay tuned for a future blog post where I’ll share a video walkthrough of my editing in action.

📩 Ready for your own session? Contact me here to get started!