Why is Editing as Important as the Photo Shoot?

I decided writing this essay after going through close to twelve hundred (1200) images this afternoon. Why? Because I want to share with you the importance of editing and how it defines what your style is and what your state of mind was at the time of your decision to make the choices you made. I have observed that depending on the time of day, the mood I am in and how I am feeling about myself will have a dramatic effect on the choices I will make. When having to make that very important decision it is important to be aware of the state of mind you are in. If you are willing to make the commitment at the time you are editing, that will be what those who view your image as you the artist photographer will see. They will interpret you and your work based on that juncture in time. That is why I usually go through several stages during the editing process.

1. The adaptation period which is based on the first 10-20 images per series. This is where I observe the images and get a general feel of what I might expect from the expression of the model, general sense of composition and overall feel.

2. The settling in period. Where I am finding indicators of where I think a sequence is going and I am starting to define preferences.

3. The marking of choices marked and noted generally from 3 to 5 stars. I am usually overly generous at the onset, until I see a knock me out shot, where I then go back and mark the now not so great image accordingly.

4. The moving of the selects in to a separate file.

5. A resting period. I do not look at the images for a few hours before making the final choices.

6. The final selects from a reduced selection from the original selections.

7. The commencement of the post production

The editing process really expresses more about you than what was expressed during the actual photo production.

Photo shoots are frenetic at best and there are a multiplicity of concerns that do not allow me to delve as deeply in to the scenario as does the editing process. It is akin to shooting a film and viewing the rushes. My general rule of thumb is, if I have not gotten that "WOW" moment during the shooting of a sequence, I keep shooting till I do. If I don't, I know that the only thing that will save that sequence is a good rational or some damn innovative editing and post production work.

The photo shoot and production is not over until the editing and post production is completed. If you have poorly edited your images the outcome could be catastrophic. I cannot tell you how often a good editing job made the difference between an OK acceptably professional job and something very unique and special. If you saw some of the out takes of mine you would understand why choices in editing are so important. I could use all of the RAW material from the same photo shoot and produce what would look like two totally different photographers. Moods expressed as cold and detached to intense and passionate from exactly the same source.

That is why I said that the editing of the photo shoot or film is an extension of who you are and were during that process. Your mind set and emotional state at the time can be seen by those with discerning eyes.

I will end this by a little story. A wonderful Art Director named Martin Schmolgruber from Madame Figaro Magazine once said to me after I presented my photos to him the following, "I see you quit smoking Benjamin..." I said yeah I did, how did you know?" He responded, "I could tell by your images!"

http://www.benjaminkanarekblog.com/?p=900

One of the biggest problems is that clients today want to see their images literally in minutes and often I might have to live with and ponder images from the entire shoot for days or weeks to fully appreciate what's there. That rush to judgement is not always the best tool for choosing the best image. Of course, some jump out right away, but more often than not, there are great images that take a while to seep into your consciousness.

Even as an amateur I find that every time I look again at a series I have edited even only a few days ago - I would do something differently!

That is a nice shot, Benjikan, and getting the wrapper right in the shot and catching the gal when she wasn't displeased with having her head wrapped in Saran wrap was likely a good judement of timing, and the post processing proves you have talent, but you've still a coupla things to learn:

#1: If the AD is stroking you: WARNING, Will Robinson, WARNING. Though, I guess, if you were lighting up on-set and didn't last time, maybe you just got congratulated for not doing so this time.

#2: A photographer versus someone carrying a camera around and knowing where the shutter button is, is someone who studies the art and science of photography. A professional photographer is someone who makes money applying this learning. Organizing things properly, having the right crap there for the shoot, being nice yet firm with the subjects and clients, and knowing what you need in the shot and what you can do in post processing efficiently, are the details that make the money.

#3: Never forget the lesson of the 'oldest profession': it doesn't matter what you think, what matters is what yaz are paid to do.


Paul: If you ever don't think you could have done something better, go shoot yourself. I've never taken nor post processed an image I couldn't have done better with in hindsight.

Peter: WTF? I thought you were regularly studio shooting? You need to go out and shoot some tournaments. It will cure you of this pondering thing...

Interesting comment from Diane Arbus (roughly)

"I never took a photograph that turned out the way I planned. It was always better or worse"

I always find the editing process more fatiguing than the shooting of the project. It is when the REAL WORK begins, IMO.

This is all why some people are paid to do nothing but edit.

Unless I'm shooting for an ad that my creative agency is designing, I have very little input on post production of the images I shoot. Typically, I use a third-party vendor on-set that is in charge of digital media capture, the processing of the images and their delivery to the client. I get a chance to review and remove a small percentage of the obvious "kills," but the post is limited to minor global lighting adjustments to the shots. It's not my job, like in the old days of film, to process the images. Most clients prefer to have their own people do the retouching.

I prefer it this way. There's a lot less headache, and ultimately, it's the client's product and money at stake, so they will always get the final say.