How I Edit Photographs - My Three Step Post-Processing Workflow

Q: How do you edit your photos? Do you have a specific post-processing workflow? What programs do you use? 

I do have a very specific post-processing workflow. It includes three major stages. I use this same workflow and editing process for every single photo shoot. Here's how it goes:

1) Culling: I usually take about 300-500 images during a portrait session. I import my RAW files into Lightroom and zoom through the collection 3 times. The first time I flag any images that are "potentials." This usually cuts the collection down to about 120 images. The second time through, I give 5 stars to the images that I like the best. This takes it town to about 70. During the third cull, I look at the images in groups. If there are multiple shots of the same/similar pose, I choose the best one. The rest are demoted to 4 stars. This third stage is the most difficult because I'm weeding and pruning. I have to say goodbye to some good images but they aren't as good as the ones I keep. I forget about them. I use this third cull to take the collection down to the final 20-30 images.

2) Retouching: I take all of my images into Photoshop. I set the timer on my iPhone and race the clock. I give myself 2 minutes per image. I use the Portraiture plug-in that smooths skin. I erase the areas that I don't want to be smooth — I want sharp hair, eyes, nose and lips. I use the clone tool to soften skin and even tones. I use the healing tool to remove pimples, blemishes and spots on the background. I increase the brightness of mid-tones and I desaturate the entire image. I use the Liquify & Wrap tools to change body shapes.

3) Finishing Effects: I bring the images back into Lightroom and I use AlienSkin Exposure 4 software to add textures, color tones, borders etc... I usually get carried away at this stage —it's way too much fun and the presets all look so cool, it can be very challenging to decide on just one. I inevitably create new presets for each woman too. Sometimes I apply three different presets and then compare the images side by side. Sometimes I have to come back the next day with a fresh visual palette. I do my best to pick one final finish for each image but sometimes I just have to create one color version and one black & white version. Clearly, if any part of my workflow needs to be more efficient, it's this third segment. haha

Below, I've included sets of images that represent these three stages I've just mentioned. The first image is straight out of camera. The second image has been Photoshop-ed. The third image is the final version. Enjoy! :)

Oh, and Step 2 is absolutely essential (trust me I've tried skipping it but it's crucial). I get a little sick of it sometimes. I've been contemplating how lovely it would be to outsource this middle stage. Has anyone had any luck with outsourcing retouching (not general adjustments but fine detail retouching)? 

{Grateful on Sunday} Indulgence and Greens

Aloha Sunday!!!

Man, have I had a week of indulgence! I basically boycotted vegetables and went full speed ahead with licorice, mochas, bagels and cheese! Ugh...I'm paying for it now with a squishy belly and shaky hands. So last night I went on a late night excursion to the grocery store and loaded up on the good green stuff. Miggy is working late nights at the restaurant so I've been entertaining myself with audiobooks and playing around with ideas for my photography business. I've been working on a new look for my brand that's more "me". It's been a fun adventure on Pinterest haha This morning I'm up bright and early with the sunrise. I LOVE LOVE LOVE waking up before the sun and the rest of the world - especially here in Hawaii where waking up early means I get to wear a flannel shirt & sweatshirt! I shimmied up to my local Starbucks for a Skype date with dad - fab way to start my day. This morning I'm driving up to Paia (a cute small town on the north coast of Maui) for an ice cream date with a new photography friend on the island! I've got a photo shoot tonight at the beach and then I'm going to have a power session with my audiobook (I'm determined to finish it this weekend!!!)  I hope you have a WONDERFUL week ahead of you! 

Today I am grateful for delicious kettle chips and driving in a convertible at night with Miggy,

Pataya smoothies (dragonfruit - yum!) and super expensive healthy salad bars, 

 taking the time to write letters and even write the addresses with cute handwriting!,

putting my money where my mouth is (literally haha) and not letting price stop me from buying food that is good for me,

how Hawaii is getting all "holiday themed" despite 85 degree weather (it's ridiculous seeing snowflakes on the windows of Starbucks haha), 

a Skype date with dad, 

What are you grateful for today?

My Mini-Vacation on the Big Island

Last week I flew from Maui to the Big Island (shortest plane trip ever!) to spend a mini-vacation with my mom and our good family friends Mani & Lorenna. We stayed at the Wyndam Kona Hawaiian Resort and we went on mega road trips up and down the entire West coast of the island! Lots of time in the car BUT totally worth it to see so much cool scenery! Jungles, lava fields, cliffs, cactus, cows, black sand beaches and lots of trees! At the black sand beach, everyone was photographing the sea turtles (which I saw) but I opted to sit in the hot sand and create a design out of small lava stones while talking with my grandma on the phone. I was traveling with the paparazzi, pulling over every 5 minutes to take pictures, hanging their heads out the window snapping photographs of bushes that were zooming by at 5,000 miles an hour. So funny. Of course, I'm not one to resist an impromptu photo shoot on the roadside! I was tempted to bring my big pro camera but at the last minute I decided to leave it at home and just rely on my fancy little iPhone. All of the pictures below were snapped with my iPhone. I'm so amazed with how well it does! Technology, eh? We finished our long weekend with a DELICIOUS dinner at Lava Java to celebrate my 25th birthday which is rolling around at the end of this month! The restaurant sent me home with a surprise cinnamon roll which we devoured for breakky the next morning! In my last hours before catching the 30 minute plane trip back to Maui, I lounged on the porch and watched the little pride of domestic lions sunbathing on the rocks outside our hotel. Cats everywhere! I loved it :D Thank you mom for flying me over. It was wonderful to see the Big Island and spend time with you!