Post # 1
Member
48 posts
Newbee
I recently spoke with a photographer which I loved but they are charging $500 for editing (which does not include facial airbrushing…which is the part I really want! lol) The extra editing charge puts me well above budget so I was debating whether I should just suck it up and take a chance and see if the edits turn out well enough or if I should just buy an editing package for $200 and just do it myself. Does anyone have any opinions on this? Have you ever edited your photos?
P.s. I know my way around an editing program (but, I don’t have a really good one on my laptop so that is why I would invest in a better one which can edit out wrinkles, break outs, etc.)
Post # 3
Member
8434 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
@futureluckymrs: I didn’t have my photos airbrushed, but my photographer included the editing as part of her package. I personally don’t like the look of airbrushed photos, especially when it’s overdone. If you feel confident that you can retouch your photos without it looking fake or like those fuzzy mall pictures from middle school, I say go for it.
Post # 4
Member
3569 posts
Sugar bee
I would pay for the photographer to do it. It’s best to edit RAW photos, and I doubt the photog will be giving you those. Also, I think a laptop screen is not large enough to do edits on.
Post # 5
Member
970 posts
Busy bee
- Wedding: September 2014 - Banff, Alberta
@futureluckymrs: Would you have access to the RAW files? I can’t imagine many photographers being okay with that. I get all my photos down by the company I work for and always request the RAW files, but these people are also my friends so it is a little different. Editing takes a lot of time and practice, after 3 years of editing photos daily, both professional portraits and my own personal photos, I feel I have gotten really good at it. Do you feel you would be at that level?
Post # 6
Member
2445 posts
Buzzing bee
My view on photos is, they’re what will last for years to come after the wedding is said and done. So we splurged on our photography/video. If you think you can do a good enough job (maybe do some test edits) then save the money. But if you’re unsure, then I would pay the photographer. Do what you feel is right.
Post # 7
Member
48 posts
Newbee
@Pixienickie: The photographer said that I could get all the images completely untouched (because it is cheaper that way.)
I feel confident that I know how to edit well (but I am not a professional with professional equipment) I have just always been very creative so I like to dabble in photography, painting, crafting, designing webpages and digital slideshows. etc. I feel like I have a good skill set to work with, however, I am not sure what I would be up against because I have never had professional photos before so that has me on the fence about it.
Post # 8
Member
3569 posts
Sugar bee
@futureluckymrs: She will give you the images untouched, but they will be in the JPEG format. To edit, you really need the RAW files, which I would bet anything, the photographer will not be giving you.
Editing is very difficult. It isn’t a natural skill just because you are creative. There is a whole lot to learn.
Post # 9
Member
686 posts
Busy bee
In all honesty editing skin is incredibly tedious, not to mention you’ll have to get your monitor calibrated (pretty much impossible on many laptops) etc., so I wouldn’t bother.
Also, can I ask what you mean when you say “editing package”? A series of PS/LR actions/plugins?
Post # 10
Member
2346 posts
Buzzing bee
Ya I’m not sure ur allowed to do that with most photographers. Usually their photos r like walking advertisements and generally they would not want a person not professionally trained doing editing to their images that potential clientele might mistake for their work. not saying there is not one out there who would, but I’d be surprised.
Post # 11
Member
2942 posts
Sugar bee
For you to edit, you would need the photographer to give you the copywrite. Is that included?
Post # 12
Member
7476 posts
Busy Beekeeper
@futureluckymrs: I would be leary of any photographer giving out unedited files, even at a reduced rate. I don’t know any true professional that does that – so that would be a huge red flag for me. Even so, if you do get the files, do you know how to edit and have the appropriate software? Here’s my take, and as a wedding photographer it’s obviously going to be biased, so you can take it however. If you are hiring a photographer because you love their work, a huge part of that has to do with no only their photographic skills, but also their editing skills. If you really like this photographer’s work, I can assure you, you will not get what you see on their website editing it yourself. Telling a chef to buy all the groceries, but you’re going to cook the dinner – it’s definitely not going to turn out the same.
All that being said, none of this really means anything without seeing their work.
Post # 13
Member
970 posts
Busy bee
- Wedding: September 2014 - Banff, Alberta
@futureluckymrs: Did you do an engangement shoot? Then you could edit the photos yourself and see how you do or get her to edit them so you see what the benefits would be. Each photographer edits differently so it may or may not be worth it. I agree that having the RAW files would be ideal, but then you would have to edit the contrast, highlights, shadows, temperture and you may not be as familar with those photography terms. If the photographer does kick ass thorough editing then it would be worth it, otherwise maybe not.
Post # 14
Member
4810 posts
Honey bee
@futureluckymrs: Would the photographer give you RAW files?
In any case, you may want to try editing faces/skin before making a decision. It is very challenging. Wedding photographers, in my opinion, really earn their money. I can’t edit faces/skin to save my life! And I’m a photographer (not of people, obviously….).
Post # 15
Member
48 posts
Newbee
The photographer said that I would have all rights to the images and they would not have a logo on them if I decided to purchase them unedited and she said that I am allowed to do anything with them that I want. They are a reputable company with beautiful work but they had told me that the reason why they offer an unedited package is because so many people these days have editing knowledge and it is requested so much that they offered their lowest priced package as an unedited set of 600-800 photos. (The main reason I wanted to edit them myself is because the company said that they do not do airbrushing of the skin, she said they would remove bruises but that they do not take the time to go through all 8 hours of photos to airbrush everyone’s skin to make it flawless, which is the look I want to go for. lol) Although I am familiar with highlighting, contrast, shadow, temperature etc. it was a valid point about the monitor color. I am not sure my laptop would be up to par now that I think about it and as far as photo editing packages go, I meant like a photoshop program you can purchase at the store.
Post # 16
Member
48 posts
Newbee
Now, I am not saying I am a professional but I have been editing photos for over ten years (in my free time) here are a few so you can get an idea of what I know:
