Paul Van Helden Photography

Paul Van Helden Photography

Editing Image Files

Post Editing

Post editing work is almost as important as the photography itself. Some photographers feel it is even more important. Yet there are MANY photographers that spend very little time doing post production work, if they spend any time on it at all. When images first come out of the camera, they look blah! They need help! That’s were editing comes in.

When film was the primary medium used, photographers did their post production work in a darkroom.
Now, this is all done by computer, or something we refer to as the digital darkroom. For every one hour of photographic coverage I provide my customers, I spend about five hours in the digital darkroom.

THE PROCESS
The process of editing digital images is multi-faceted.

1) First comes the selection process: After images have been uploaded to computer, all original images are gleaned twice, image per image. During this initial step, the best images, representative of every portion and event of the day, are selected for editing.

2) Then comes the color correction: Selected images are adjusted for brightness, contrast and color, using CANON software.

Black & White: All my original images are taken in color. It is during this step that I make decisions as to which images to turn into black & white. My Canon software has black & white filters, tailored for this.

The original RAW files remain in color, so that you can always convert black & whites back to color if you want to.

3) Then, comes conversion: Since I shoot in the RAW format, images have to be converted to JPEG format. This enables them to undergo further changes, using image editing software like Corel or Photoshop. Conversion is also needed to make them ready for their end use.

4) Once converted, each JPEG file is brought into my image editor, PHOTOSHOP, where I may perform any number of the following tasks: Cropping. Dodging and burning. Cutting and pasting. Additional adjustment to contrast, brightness and color. Special effects like motion blur, sepia toning and various filters.

If all this sounds time consuming…it is.

Unedited File	Edited File	What Was Done
		* Color Correction * Removed debris from pavement * Sharpened Image
		* Adjusted Brightness & Contrast * Converted to black & white, using red filter * Cropped to size * Removed debris from pavement * Burned in overexposed areas of dress, to bring out detail * Sharpened Image
		* Adjusted brightness & contrast * Cropped to size * Desaturated Image * Sharpened Image * Feathering ( I usually create a few special effects with each wedding. Feathering is just one of the many things I have learned the years. )