Taking photos can be a brilliant hobby, and you might even turn into a thriving career. However, it is not enough to click pictures and burden your computer with an unprecedented amount of unprocessed photos. Your photographs are only collecting digital dust because you cannot post them anywhere or use them anywhere.
Therefore, what you need to know is how to edit your photos so you can start using them quickly. Regardless of the photo editing software you use, the following tips should help accelerate your workflow.
Try to fix the images in-camera so you can save time later
Most photographers click pictures knowing they have to fix the pictures later. But what if you could fix the pictures in-camera? You can save a lot of time later if you can nail this.
These minor in-camera tweaks will ensure your clicked photos require less editing, from changing the exposure to tightening the frame and straightening the horizon.
Doing this will save a lot of time and effort during the post-processing leg of sharing those perfectly clicked pictures with the world.
Create a system to find pictures quickly
How can the post-production process speed up if you cannot find the photographs you need? Therefore, you must create a system that helps you find your pictures faster. They must be at your fingertips.
Leverage the power of batch-editing
You might be sitting on an assortment of photographs that resemble a photo series. For example, it might have been clicked in the same scene and with the same subject. Needless to say, the pictures have a similar camera and lighting settings. Therefore, you don’t need to post-process each picture separately. Instead, use the power of batch edit.
Thanks to batch editing, you can quickly post-process multiple photos simultaneously. If you are using Lightroom, you can copy and paste the settings or click the Sync button. Then, you can start to edit one picture. For copying your settings, choose the picture you have edited and click Edit > select Copy and check all the individual settings on your screen. Then, choose the unedited images and paste the settings by clicking Edit > clicking Paste.
If the editing software doesn’t allow batch edits, you can use third-party apps like Photo Bulk. The app is specifically designed to allow photographers to edit multiple photos at once.
Utilize import and expert tools
Speeding up the workflow means instructing your editing program to do things automatically. For instance, if you are using Adobe Lightroom to edit your pictures, the app’s export and import tools are a fantastic place to start.
You can add metadata (copyright information and titles) and global keywords on import. Of course, keywords can be a challenge, but they make it easier for you to find your images later and save time. You can even go a step further and add a develop preset, which will apply to your settings in the import.
After working on your images, use Lightroom’s export tools to apply output sharpening and renaming the images. These changes will be made automatically, and you don’t have to bother yourself with them.
Make quick adjustments to your pictures by using auto and presets
Tweaking adjustments is faster than applying them from scratch. Hence, if you wish to speed up post-processing your pictures, you can use the presets or the auto options.
When you choose the auto option on your chosen editing software, the program will assess your picture and make the changes. If you are not satisfied with the results, you can undo the changes.
On the other hand, presets are filters that you can apply to your pictures with just a click. You can even download filters or create some.
Ensure your picture editing process is streamlined
Post-processing photographs are one of the most critical and challenging tasks for photographers. It is never enough to click beautiful pictures if they are not edited to perfection. Unprocessed pictures only take up space on your camera’s memory card or hog the storage space on your device.
But before you start the editing process, it is vital to streamline it and have a system. For instance, when you start editing your pictures, change the composition before making any other changes. You need to crop the image to tighten the frame, focus on the subject, remove straight lines and dust spots, adjust red-eye problems, etc. Once these are tackled, move on to adjusting the pictures’ brightness, contrast, and exposure.
When you follow an order or system to edit your pictures, you will save yourself the trouble of readjusting the settings.
Final thoughts
These are the top tips to help speed up your workflow and edit your pictures like a pro. You can use these to start your picture editing journey and then form your unique system as you gather experience.
