NewzShooter Loc: Las Vegas, NV

With so many pros on this forum I know I've come to the right place for help… I often hear photographers offer something like 50 retouched images from a shoot and promise them all the next day or so. How on earth does someone retouch a high number of images so quickly? I hear this a lot for wedding photography and other events where a high number of images are shot but can't for the life of me understand how one can turn out so many retouched images in such a short period of time. As for myself, after a boudoir shoot or something similar, I can spend as much as 20 minutes retouching just one image. I've also shot weddings and there's no way I could ever offer 50 retouched images, at least not with a turnaround of only a day or so. I also hear some photographers offer 100 or more retouched digital images when they only charge $200 for the shoot, and this includes all the retouched digital images.

It's that time of year where I'm doing a lot of Valentine boudoir shoots which mean images that need to be ready well before February 14th, only a month away, so if a client chooses say 10 images for retouching but I'm doing numerous shoots (numerous clients) that adds up to a whole LOT of retouching.

What am I missing here? Is there something I should have learned along the way but didn't?

Any help of any kind would really be appreciated.

I know I can count on you fellow hogs for a real answer. And I thank each and every one of you who chime in on this.

Searcher Loc: Kent, England

Many photographers turn cartwheels to get it right in the camera, they go to great lengths to set white balance, exposure, lighting etc. and when the scene changes, they quickly make the necessary adjustments in camera.

when it comes to processing, the photos will be consistent for each scene, so the whole batch of photos in that scene will require the same processing.

I confess I am not one of those photographers, I can and do spend a lot of time making adjustments to each image.

NewzShooter Loc: Las Vegas, NV

Thanx for your reply Searcher, I do appreciate it, however in my case most of my shots are not consistent for each scene, each are distinctively different, weddings for example, or boudoir, or event… most of the shots vary with backgrounds, angles and sometimes even lighting.

I do my best to compose each shot with what I feel should be the best camera settings however when it comes to retouching such as blemishes, skin smoothing, reshaping, etc., I don't understand how one can possibly edit (retouch) a high number of images in a matter of only minutes or even a couple of hours. Thus, my question of batch editing… what is it exactly and how is it done? I'm stumped.

Searcher Loc: Kent, England

On those few occasions when I have a few images which are consistent in their general appearance, I will edit one in Lightroom, select the rest and transfer the edits en masse.

Suppose for instance, I have underexposed twenty shots by one stop and got the white balance wrong by 400 deg kelvin, change one and let Lightroom change the rest.

Batch editing does not really work for someone like me, my photos often have the odd lamppost that needs removing and batch editing is not going to deal with that.

Batch editing is generally for Global edits, not localised. The exception could be a blemish (dust on sensor) that needs removing from 500 pictures. Create an action in Photoshop and run it, but the blemish must be in the same place in every image.

NewzShooter Loc: Las Vegas, NV

So, I take it to mean batch "editing" is one thing and batch "retouching" is quite something else and generally cannot be done, as I gather "retouching" is rather "localized" then? I consider Lightroom more as an "enhancing" application and Photoshop more as a "retouching" application, is this correct?

Searcher Loc: Kent, England

A qualified yes, LR is capable of some localised retouching, but Photoshop is MORE capable.

The two applications work hand in glove to achieve almost anything from file management (Lightroom speciality), raw conversion (both applications but LR is easier), to intricate and complex retouching (Photoshop excels at this).

Shellback Loc: North of Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands - Kansas

I understand that Portrait Professional will do automated processing for re-touch -

You might PM BermBuster or Bobbee about the capabilities as I've seen them reference this program in posts.

NewzShooter Loc: Las Vegas, NV

Thanx! I just PM'd both of them, waiting for a response. This is a great forum, so much help when one needs it. Thanks again Shellback.

FiddleMaker Loc: Merrimac, MA

I am curious. What do the letters PM mean above ??
Thanks -FiddleMaker

Searcher Loc: Kent, England

It is the abbreviation for the UHH messaging system (Private Message).

andywilk38 Loc: Cambridge UK

Trying to get as much right 'in camera' pays dividends in the reduced amount of time spent in post-processing. Nor, IMO, is it always possible to get it totally right in camera, due to the limitations of cameras.

For weddings, my primary focus is on the action outside of the camera, hence I will find myself spending time with pp adjustments. I'll anticipate setting changes as best I can, but given the pace at which you sometimes need to work, things like WB will suffer, but only temporarily!

As for x number of edited images.....well, taking weddings, again, I find I'm spending most time in pp cloning out things like fire exit signs, cables, sockets and other distractions....you name it, but I want to present the best possible images to my clients. Primary focus for me (settings apart) is composition/action, and no matter what you do, venues, however posh they might be, are simply not designed with the ease of editing photos in mind. Where you have time on your hands to set up composition, then the amount of cloning is reduced or obviated. Ultimately, the objective is to provide excellent images for your client, however you procure or produce them. Experience will develop your overall workflow efficiency from 'seeing' to capture in camera to editing to producing the best image....and this can take time in pp, which should be charged for appropriately.

£200? If that's what they charge, unless it's a hobby, then there is no sustainable independent business to to be had there! You and I need to know the cost of doing our businesses and stick to that, hence marketing and networking are the pro-active keys for us to us finding business. When it's the other way around, it's often the lack of a client's knowledge or experience of the services they are buying, that makes them go for the cheapest. Afterall, whilst it might not be their problem, I would have thought that by now the world should generally have cottoned on to the concept that 'you get what you pay for'. Seemingly not! Whilst it's a pain in the proverbial to be up against possibly irresponsible, niaive or commercially uneducated competition, we just have to let them go and 'enjoy' their own destiny. I say focus on you and your credibility!

This topic came up regarding 'batch' editing. Absolute godsend, especially delightful since I've recently invested in a much faster computer. Whilst we should strive to get it right in camera, the camera will go a long way, but it won't always get it totally correct.....but that depends on what one means by that.

These days I'm noticing a lot of 'hit the preset' and everything will be alright !

FiddleMaker Loc: Merrimac, MA

Thanks Searcher. I really enjoy reading your UHH postings. I find them most informative and easy to understand. And you obviously know much about photography. -FiddleMaker

GENorkus Loc: Washington Twp, Michigan

Although nothing is perfect, try the program Capture One. It has many automatic batch abilities. You'll love the results!

msettanni

You may also want to check out Organic Imaging. . .it's designed for batch editing. It uses algorithms based on milliions of photos and renders pretty good results.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

For batch editing, LR hands down wins for me. If i take a series of shots in a similar environment, I can edit one, then apply cetain or all aspects of those edits to my other images...it then usually only takes a minute or so to tweak.