A Comprehensive Professional’s Guide to Wedding Photo Editing

Once the wedding photo shoot is done, it’s time to start doing post-production. Wedding photo editing is as important as being a skilled professional during the shot itself, capturing every special moment in the most authentic way.

Mastering post-production will take your business to a whole new level. You’ll get to offer clients multiple styles, thus creating opportunities to expand your business.

Being versatile during the process can also help you create multiple products that many of your competitors will be incapable of delivering.

If you’re just getting started with wedding photography, you may be worried about the intricacies involved in editing. The following guide will acquaint you with the core concepts.

It will also shed some light on the advanced techniques experienced photographers use to build their reputation and ensure client satisfaction every single time.

 

Why Wedding Photo Editing Matters

 

Even if you’re the most skilled photographer on the face of the planet, you’ll still need to do editing after the shoot is done.

A consistent approach towards wedding photo editing is important because it ensures the following:

• Cohesiveness: light and environmental conditions will change throughout the wedding day. Doing editing allows you to create a cohesive package.

  All of the photos will have the same style, saturation, and color scheme. You will be giving your clients an end result that looks good and carries the spirit of the wedding in every single shot.

• Polish: editing is the one thing that gives your pictures that X factor. It elevates even boring shots. Some basic retouching and clever enhancement choices will result in professional pictures that people will simply be incapable of replicating on their own.
• Style choices and special effects: do you have a couple wishing for fairytale wedding shots? Or maybe they’re fantasy aficionados?

  Wedding photo editing allows you to create an original, artistic concept for those clients. Everyday pictures will be transformed into something magical that the couple will immediately fall in love with.

• A chance to overcome mistakes: there’s always some risk of blur, graininess or committing another mistake while shooting the pictures. Skilled editors can rectify most of these problems, delivering flawless pictures in the end.

Doing good photo editing is the key to establishing your professional reputation and diversifying your portfolio.

Obviously, you don’t have to be a jack of all trades. Focusing on a few styles and executing those well is a recipe for success.

 

Photography Editing: Basic Principles

If you’re just getting started with wedding photo editing, you’ll need to first understand the core principles that guide all work in the field.

• Composition: visually-compelling, balanced images, are entirely dependent on achieving good composition. Most skilled photographers know how to compose a picture for the most aesthetic result.

  Even if that doesn’t happen, editing can be used to make the picture more balanced. Employing the rule of thirds and strategic cropping are two of the ways to get such results.

• Perspective (correction): also known as perspective control, this part of editing focuses on eliminating distortion. For example, perspective control will involve making sure that vertical lines are truly vertical and that parallel lines cross at some point.
• Color correction: correcting color can increase realism (or decrease it, if that’s what the client is looking for) and dramatically enhance the image. It is achieved through white balance adjustments, changing the contrast and saturation of the image, and selective color editing.
• Exposure adjustment: this part of editing deals with balancing the light and dark tones in the picture. Having too many dark areas and shadows will create a grim visual.

  A lot of brightness will make the image over-exposed. Exposure adjustment is achieved through doing histogram analysis, making shadow and highlight adjustments, as well as employing graduated filters.

• Noise reduction: accomplished through sharpening, noise reduction aims to eliminate grain and imperfections from the image. It results in sharper, crisper visuals. Experienced photographers can also reveal and highlight interesting picture details through noise reduction and sharpening.

 

Biggest Wedding Photo Editing Mistakes

Unless you decide to outsource wedding photo editing, you’ll need to learn the intricacies of this process. If you’re a newbie, you’re bound to make some mistakes in the beginning. A few of the most common problems that inexperienced post-production practitioners encounter include:

• Too sharp or too fuzzy: going to an extreme is never a good idea. Images that are sharpened beyond what’s reasonable will take away from the natural appeal of the picture. Fuzziness that you haven’t addressed will result in blurry details and a picture that has an amateurish quality to it.

• Overdoing skin editing and retouching: when you’re getting used to new software, you’ll feel a tendency to overdo edits and achieve impeccable results. Retouching skin, for example, is a process that can easily go overboard. If you are heavy-handed with the edits, you’ll risk ending up with a plastic appearance that’s not enjoyable.
• Contrast adjustment issues: contrast is the key to maintaining light and shadow balance in the picture. Too little contrast will make the photo dull and lacking in detail.

  When the contrast is high, the details will be lost again and the picture will be over-saturated. In both instances, the picture will have a flat quality to it, instead of paying homage to the beautiful nuances and details.

• Over-saturation: is another common problem among those who lack editing experience. It’s the thing that controls the intensity of the color. Too little will give you a dull photo.

  Over-saturation, on the other hand, makes the picture appear alien (skin starts looking orange instead of natural, the white of the wedding dress is almost impossible to look at) and it can also contribute to the loss of details.

• Too much cropping: improving the composition of an image through cropping is possible to a certain extent but you have to know when to call it a day. Cropping the image too much and solely focusing on the main subject or object will eliminate important elements and beautiful background information.
• Being negligent about background editing: focused on the main subject, you could neglect the background when doing post-production. Bad background editing is actually a mistake that even experienced photo editors make.

  A background needs to be as balanced as the rest of the picture. If it’s dull, it will create gloomy vibes. Having the background stand out too much will simply distract from the most important elements on the picture.

 

The Most Popular Wedding Photo Editing Styles to Master (With Examples)

 

We now have to talk about wedding photo editing styles. These are the ones that clients will request most of the time. They’ll impact the quality and the mood of the pictures. Some styles give retro romantic vibes while others are completely out there (whether we’re talking about fantasy or futuristic pictures).

At the very least, you need to familiarize yourself with the following styles:

• Editorial style: you’ve certainly seen those beauty pics in fashion magazines. That’s what editorial style wedding photography tries to recreate. The shots are staged and very glamorous. Light has to be absolutely perfect to achieve that editorial studio effect.

  

• Documentary style: also known as photojournalistic photography, this style aims to capture the spirit of the event and everything that occurred with as little interference from the photographer as possible. The edits are also minimal to eliminate imperfections. No major alterations are done to the shots, keeping them true to reality.

  

• Traditional style: classic pictures are the ones that most couples will pursue when looking for a wedding photographer. The traditional style wedding photography is a bit more formal and it carries timeless appeal. While a bit more staged than editorial photos, these pictures still try to remain true and accurate. Photographers have to be very experienced and instinctive, capturing all those special moments and emotions at just the right time.
• Contemporary style: couples looking for something a bit more modern will prioritize this choice. Contemporary wedding photography often involves experiments with lights (and later on with editing) to achieve a clean, minimalist look. Think of avant-garde magazines and celebrity shots. The sentiment here is similar.
• Retro or vintage: vintage-inspired shots are still a favorite among young people getting married today. There’s something rather sentimental and romantic about the aesthetic. Vintage photography should either employ actual vintage equipment or the effect will be achieved through extensive post-production work.
• Black and white style: the clean minimalism of black and white photography is great for capturing emotions. At the same time, imperfections will stick out like a sore thumb when this stylistic is chosen. Editing mastery will be required, especially when it comes to image sharpening, color correction, and contrast choices.
• Dark and moody style: having people standing in shadows or near harsh lights is the best way to achieve the edgy result that’s typical for dark and moody photography. Higher contrast and color saturation are used during post-production to achieve an even more dramatic look.
• Fine art style: photographers who have the skills to create fine art pictures will give you timeless masterpieces to display in your living room. The fine art style captures visually-stunning details, employs unusual angles, perspectives, and editing choices to get results that will inspire people and look very different from the traditional wedding pictures.

Software Products and Editing Tools: Choosing the Right Ones

Photo editing software is the most important tool you’ll employ during post-production (that and a good computer!). Make a choice based on your experience level and the kinds of post-production work you intend to do the most in the years to come.

Here’s a list of some excellent choices for professionals, both free and premium versions:

• Photoshop: that one is an obvious choice. Photoshop has long been the quintessential wedding photo editing software product. You can download a free trial to get comfortable with it before buying. There are also lots of courses, guides, and educational materials you can use to become a Photoshop master. While Photoshop has lots of extensive capabilities, it’s not too difficult to master. Once you have down the basics, you’ll find the more advanced features and functionalities easy and fun to experiment with.
• Capture One Pro: this is another premium product you can try free for 30 days. Capture One Pro is simple and very beginner-friendly. It also features smart adjustments and AI capabilities, allowing for some of the post-production tasks to be automated. It also comes with fast imports, good raw file conversion quality, and effortless collaboration. On the downside, the software is on the expensive side.
• CyberLink PhotoDirector: for just a few dollars per month, you’ll get access to extensive image editing capabilities. PhotoDirector is very beginner-friendly but it also has powerful capabilities. Advanced effects, multiple layer support, and a whole bunch of editing tools will make your job that much easier. It also incorporates some AI styles and capabilities that you can experiment with. The only shortcoming is some noise reduction weakness.
• Affinity Photo: free for six months of use, Affinity Photo is great for beginners who want to learn editing without having to spend a ton on powerful software. Multiple editing tools, digital painting capabilities, and extensive retouching features are readily available.
• Pixlr: if you’re a complete beginner and you want to master layer editing, try Pixlr. It’s a free product that can be used to edit and to also do some AI image generation. It’s not the most advanced post-production tool but since its free, you can easily find a good use and employ Pixlr in your daily work. As an added bonus, you’ll get access to lots of free stock images.
• Photoscape X: another completely free choice, Photoscape X is recognized for its excellent batch editing capabilities. It’s a go-to choice for wedding photographers who often have to go through hundreds, even thousands of images at a time. Batch resize, rename, and formatting tools are available, as well as a good selection of editing and retouching features.

Whether you choose a free or a premium product for wedding photo editing is up to you. We do recommend, however, always doing a free trial or downloading a demo version of the product. Just because someone else has found it intuitive and efficient doesn’t mean you’ll have a similarly great experience.

Tips for Amazing Editing Results Each Time

Now that we’ve covered the basics of wedding photo editing, let’s discuss a few additional tips and rules. Following these will help you ensure cohesive, aesthetic results every single time. Most importantly, you’ll find it easy to align your vision with the client’s needs to make everyone happy in the end of the day.

Be a Flawless Photographer

If you have a strong foundation, you’ll find post-production a breeze.

Always put 100 percent into the photo shoot itself. Get the right light, choose the best settings for the conditions (whether the photo occurs indoor or outdoor matters). Always do a number of test shots before the actual wedding itself begins.

Before starting post-production, calibrate your monitor and ensure correct colors. That preliminary step in itself can save you a lot of time and effort later on.

Use Presets

Having the right presets to apply to all your pictures will help you do the heavy lifting as effortlessly as possible.

Dedicate some time to finding presets that match your shooting style and the requirements that the majority of clients have as far as stylistic go. There are presets you can use to effortlessly achieve a cinematic or a vintage look. Test them out, change some features to get a better match. You’ll still need to do manual approval and corrections before the picture can be considered done but presets are a godsend, especially when you have to edit pictures for 10 or more weddings at the same time.

Dedicate Enough Time to Editing

Rushing through the editing process is never a good idea, especially if you’re the most skilled post-production expert on the planet.

You will have hundreds of shots to go through. You’ll need to do the editing and you’ll also have to finalize the process with a round of quality control work.

Let clients know exactly how much time you’ll need to complete everything editing-wise. It’s better to deliver later than what they’ve anticipated but do a stunning job than to rush things and achieve mediocre results.

Continue Learning and Employ Automation When Possible

Photo editing changes all the time because new technologies become readily available (see the next section).

It’s important to continue learning, even if you’ve reached a comfortable spot in your career journey.

As new technologies become available, you get access to better editing tools and lots of automation options. Creating such workflows, however, depends on a good awareness of what your software products can do.

Continue learning as both a photographer and an editor. Enroll in a course or two, especially if you learn about a new technology that you feel excited about. Having new skills and evolving as a professional will keep you competitive and popular among contemporary clients.

AI Wedding Photo Editing: Are New Automation Technologies a Good Idea?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming a part of many aspects of life. Wedding photo editing is an area that’s also being affected by the technological advancements.

Most photographers and creative professionals have a love-hate relationship with AI. It can easily eliminate many of the cumbersome, repetitive tasks involved in post-production. At the same time, AI limits creativity and there’s a tangible risk of becoming over-dependent on it.

One thing is certain – artificial intelligence applications are here to stay. They will even become more advanced and capable in the future. Learning a bit more about them now will only give you competitive advantage in the years to come.

Many companies have already introduced AI capabilities in their image editing products. Adobe, Canva, Photoroom are some of the pioneers who already give their clients such options. From simple cropping to auto color correction, artificial intelligence can already address some of the most time-consuming and tedious editing tasks.

Machine learning will make AI capable of accomplishing much more complex tasks in the future. What matters here, however, is not letting it substitute human creativity. Sure, employing AI tools for the entire editing process will save you a lot of time and effort. In the long run, however, your reputation may start suffering. That’s why you have to strike the balance between your creative input and achieving optimal efficiency.

At the time being, you can use AI for automatic color and contrast correction, image sharpening, background corrections, and even object removal. Acquaint yourself with the technology and its capabilities. Experiment with some of the creative applications, as well. Knowing how AI works will help you make informed decisions that will give your photography studio strategic advantage in the years to come.

Should You Outsource Wedding Photo Editing or Do It Yourself?

One final question we have to discuss as a part of the guide is the decision to outsource wedding photo editing. Needless to say, employing the best wedding photo editing services can save you a lot of time and help you grow. At the same time, wedding photo editing services cost money. That’s something smaller studios may have an issue with.

To decide whether you’re going to outsource wedding photo editing, you’ll have to consider both the pros and the cons of the choice.

The benefits of having a professional team handling photo edits on your behalf include:

• Improved efficiency, faster turnaround times
• Access to software and other professional post-production editing tools that you may not have the chance to buy yourself
• An opportunity to take on more clients
• Impeccable results each time (if you choose the right service provider)
• A chance to execute many photo styles, even ones you’re not that familiar with
• An opportunity to build your reputations and ensure the consistent growth of your photography business

The shortcomings of the decision to outsource wedding photo editing are:

• You’ll have to pay for the service and consider the cost in the general context of your overall business expenses
• Less creative freedom and reduced control over the photo creation process
• You will lose the opportunity to learn about post-production and editing
• There’s always a risk of picking the wrong service provider

So, to sum it up, wedding photo editing post-production services come at a cost but they save you time and allow you to focus on your business. As long as you choose the right outsourcing partner, you’ll definitely see the benefits outweighing the shortcomings.

Final Thoughts

Wedding photo editing is an exciting part of the project for many photographers. It allows for massive transformations of the raw footage, creating the fantasy shots that every bride dreams of.

Even if you plan to outsource photo editing in the future, do take some time to learn about it right now. Having knowledge and experience will give you competitive advantage and also help for the selection of the right outsourcing partner. Also, you’ll get the opportunity to work on some of the most exciting projects while outsourcing the rest of the work.

Finally, remember that technology evolves and so do post-production workflows.

Continue learning, discovering new trends and creative opportunities. The field you work in isn’t a static one. The moment you become too comfortable and set in your ways is the moment you make the conscious decision to limit the growth of your business and minimize the chance of accessing fun, creative opportunities and projects in the future.