As photographers, we all know the thrill of an exciting session or a gorgeous wedding. But let’s be real: the editing process can sometimes feel like a mountain, especially if you’re juggling creativity with ADHD, OCD, or anxiety.
For those of us with ADHD, understanding how our brains work is key. We rely heavily on natural dopamine, which means we’re naturally motivated when riding the “high” of a great session or wedding day. But once that high wears off, it can be a struggle to muster the same excitement for editing. This is where discipline comes in—not as something you’re born with, but as something you practice.
Mastering photography editing basics can help manage those challenges by providing structure, consistency, and efficiency to your workflow.
This workflow was intentionally designed to help manage those challenges. For example, by focusing only on backing up your images the night of the session or wedding, you’re not diving straight into culling while still emotionally attached to the day. Instead, you give yourself a chance to reset and approach the images with fresh eyes the next day. I’ve personally dreaded reviewing sessions I thought didn’t go well, only to discover unexpected gems when I sat down later to cull. Trust the process—it works.
Why Workflow is a Game-Changer
I thrive on systems, and I know that having a predictable, reliable, and repeatable workflow makes a world of difference when editing. Without one, it’s easy to get stuck in decision paralysis, overanalyze every detail, or even lose track of progress. A structured workflow not only keeps things moving but also helps maintain consistency, which is especially valuable if you’re like me and want to deliver high-quality galleries quickly without sacrificing your sanity.
Let’s break down the process conversationally, followed by clear action steps for anyone ready to apply this system.focus on these creative highlights. For detail shots like the invitation suite, the best images tend to be the final ones after refining lighting and angles.o
Let’s Talk Backups: Building Your Photography Editing Basics Foundation
Backing up is the very first step in mastering photography editing basics. It’s one of the easiest tasks to procrastinate on, but it’s also the most important. I’ve found that if I don’t get this step out of the way immediately, it nags at me and adds unnecessary stress.
Here’s how I handle it:
- I use Photo Mechanic’s ingest feature to copy all RAW files to two external SSD hard drives simultaneously. This ensures I have two local backups right off the bat.
- Cloud Backup: My next layer of protection is Backblaze, which uploads all my files to the cloud overnight. Knowing my images are stored safely offsite gives me peace of mind in case of an unexpected disaster.
- Memory Cards: I never format my memory cards until the final gallery is delivered. It’s one more safety net that doesn’t require extra effort.
Don’t store your files directly on your computer’s internal hard drive. It can slow down Lightroom and bog down your system. Instead, rely on external SSDs and make use of Lightroom’s Smart Previews. Smart Previews let you edit files without needing the full-resolution images connected and sync your changes seamlessly when your hard drive is reconnected.
Key takeaway: Backing up your images immediately and using multiple layers of protection ensures you’re safeguarding your work while setting the stage for a smooth editing process.
Fresh Eyes for Culling
Culling is where a lot of photographers—myself included—tend to get hung up. Deciding what stays and what goes can feel overwhelming, especially after a long shoot. That’s why I always wait until the next day to cull. This mental reset helps me avoid second-guessing myself, reduces the temptation to overanalyze, and allows me to approach the images more objectively. The goal is to keep moving and not aim for perfection on the first pass.
When I sit down to cull, I use Photo Mechanic. Its speed is unmatched, and there’s no lag when flipping through hundreds (or thousands) of photos.
Here’s what I’ve learned over the years:
- For Portraits: If I’ve taken 10 nearly identical shots, the best frames are often somewhere in the middle. The first few frames might catch people adjusting or blinking, while the last few may show wandering eyes or a loss of focus. Frames 3 to 5? Gold.
- For Weddings: I use a backward culling approach, starting with the end of the day (like the reception) and working my way toward the beginning. This method helps tackle the parts of the day where I feel the least creatively inspired (like dancing or table shots) and gradually leads to the most exciting parts, like couple’s portraits, bridal details, and getting ready moments. By the time I reach these sections, I feel reenergized and ready to focus on the moments that inspire me the most. From a technical perspective, many of the first few frames of detail shots or portraits are test shots while I adjust lighting and composition. The best images often emerge later in the sequence after refining these elements.
Folder Organization Before Lightroom:
Before importing images into Lightroom, I organize them into folders based on different parts of the day. This keeps everything structured and makes it easier to work through the gallery systematically. My folders typically include:
- Wedding Day Details (e.g., bride/groom details, ceremony and reception details)
- Getting Ready
- First Look & Portraits (or just Portraits if no first look)
- Wedding Party
- Family Formals
- Ceremony
- Cocktail Hour
- Reception & Party Dancing
- Reception Events (dances, toasts, cake, table shots)
Organizing folders this way not only streamlines the editing process but also ensures no part of the day gets overlooked.
Key takeaway: Proper folder organization before importing into Lightroom saves time, reduces stress, and ensures every part of the day is accounted for during editing.
Sneak Peeks: Setting the Tone with Photography Editing Basics
Before diving into sneak peeks, a quick note: If you’re still defining your editing style, this system may not feel as straightforward. Honing in on your unique style is its own challenge, and that journey might take precedence before implementing a workflow like this. Be patient with yourself as you find your creative groove.
Sneak peeks aren’t just about delighting clients—they’re a cornerstone of photography editing basics. Delivering these images quickly, typically within a day or two, not only capitalizes on your clients’ peak excitement from the session or wedding day but also keeps you ahead of their curiosity, ensuring they never have to ask for photos.
This step also starts your accountability to your clients, showing them you’re on top of their images while giving them a reason to celebrate and share their joy. On the technical side, sneak peeks act as “anchor images” that help maintain consistency across the rest of the gallery, saving you time and ensuring a cohesive look. Knowing the sneak peeks are done also means that one of the hardest tasks—ensuring consistency across the gallery—is already complete. In fact, most times, it takes me longer to edit the sneak peeks than it does to finish the rest of the wedding gallery.
Another important distinction is that during sneak peek editing, I take the extra time to remove distractions like people or signs in the background to create polished and refined images. This level of detail isn’t typically applied to the full gallery, which allows for faster turnaround while still delivering a beautiful and consistent collection of images.
Photos by: Regina Kay
Here’s how I approach sneak peeks:
- Strategic Selection: I choose a balanced mix of images from key moments: details, the ceremony, portraits, and a few reception shots. I also ensure to include every single lighting condition present during the session or wedding day. This ensures that the sneak peeks represent the full range of the day’s moments and set the tone for consistency across the entire gallery.
- Efficient Editing: Using Lightroom Classic, I edit these first, focusing on nailing the color tones, exposure, and overall style. These edited highlights then become my reference point for syncing edits across similar images in the full gallery.
Key takeaway: Fast sneak peeks are a win-win. Your clients stay excited and engaged, and you create a strong starting point that speeds up the editing process for the full gallery.
Editing the Full Gallery
Once sneak peeks are sent, the rest of the gallery is ready to go, thanks to the pre-organized folders. This system allows me to focus on one section at a time without feeling overwhelmed. Each part of the day is already grouped, which makes it easy to edit systematically and maintain consistency across the entire gallery.
When it comes to editing, I always start with the largest folders first. These tend to be the ceremony and reception, which are often the most time-intensive parts of the day to edit due to constant background and lighting changes. By tackling these sections upfront, I get the hardest and most tedious parts out of the way, leaving me feeling accomplished and motivated to finish the gallery.
Photos by: Regina Kay
Unlike during sneak peek editing, where I take extra time to remove distractions and refine images, editing the full gallery focuses on maintaining consistency and efficiency. This balance allows me to deliver high-quality results without spending unnecessary time on every single image.
This method not only helps me maintain momentum but also makes the remainder of the editing process feel easier and more enjoyable. Once the largest folders are done, I can move on to the smaller, more creatively rewarding sections, such as couple portraits, bridal details, and getting ready moments. Knowing that the two most challenging sections are complete allows me to focus fully on the artistry of the remaining edits.
Key takeaway: Editing the largest and most time-intensive sections first reduces mental fatigue, creates a sense of progress, and makes the rest of the gallery easier and more enjoyable to complete.
The Why Behind This Workflow
If you’ve read this far, you might be wondering: why such a detailed system? For me, it’s about control—over my time, my stress levels, and the quality of my work. I’ve often found that photographers overbook themselves with sessions and don’t have a system in place that they do every single time to stay efficient. This is when they start to feel like they’re losing control. But guess what? It is within your control, so control it instead of letting it control you. Having ADHD means I thrive with structure, and this workflow keeps me focused and efficient.
Take a hard look at your business and identify where you feel overwhelmed. Is it because you’re juggling too many sessions and can’t keep up with backing up, culling, and editing? If you’re booking every inquiry, it’s time to raise your prices and scale up your business. Higher prices can allow you to take on fewer sessions while maintaining or even increasing your income. This is how I learned to control my workload and implement an efficient workflow that allowed me to stay creative and deliver consistent results.
The truth is, your post wedding or session process doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. By breaking the workflow down into manageable steps, I’ve found a way to consistently deliver beautiful galleries without letting perfectionism or procrastination creep in.
Action Items: Putting It All Together
Ready to implement this workflow? Here’s what you need:
- Backup Tools: Photo Mechanic, SSD hard drives, Backblaze.
- Culling Tools: Photo Mechanic for lightning-fast selections.
- Editing Software: Lightroom Classic for batch editing and syncing.
- Delivery Platform: CloudSpot for streamlined gallery delivery.
Follow these steps:
- Back up your files immediately after the shoot.
- Wait a day, then cull with fresh eyes (incorporate culling backwards for weddings).
- Edit sneak peeks first to set the tone for the gallery, ensuring you select images that represent every lighting scenario present during the session or wedding day for a comprehensive and consistent result.
- Break the full gallery into smaller sections and tackle them systematically.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, mastering photography editing basics isn’t just about efficiency—it’s about finding balance and joy in the process. A structured workflow can help you tackle the challenges of editing with ADHD, OCD, or anxiety, ensuring you stay creative and consistent.
By following these steps, you’re not only building a reliable system but also creating space for growth and clarity in your photography business. Trust the process, embrace the workflow, and let photography editing basics transform how you approach your creative work.
If you still have questions about my systems and processes, Let’s Connect!
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