https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 13 Apr 2026 17:25:47 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-someone-a-better-photographer-if-they-do-not-edit-their-pictures#post-738566 Wed, 24 Apr 2013 01:39:51 +0000 Photo Book Girl 738566@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would say that the vast majority of pros do some sort of post processing of their photos. Of course the goal is to achieve a perfect shot straight out of the camera, but I don't think it makes you less of a photographer if you make adjustments to brightness, contrast, etc. I'm not a pro, but back in the days of film, I took several classes in black and white photography where we developed our film and used photo paper and chemicals to print our photos. We used filters to adjust contrast, we used dodging and burning techniques to block light and add light to different areas of the photo to bring out more or less detail as desired. You'll find these same tools in Photoshop. Oh, and admittedly I've "photoshopped" excessive amounts of drool dripping from my toddler's chin every now and then when it detracts from a great shot. (He drools constantly!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-someone-a-better-photographer-if-they-do-not-edit-their-pictures#post-695740 Sat, 06 Apr 2013 07:06:19 +0000 808love 695740@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Without editing, a person has raw talent, reflexes and a great naked eye. To me that is better than an edited version. Granted one must learn to edit as a professional and that is a talent in itself. I lean old school in the be natural camp. However i occasionally break out the artist tools to craft a photo's mood. i find the question/answers going down the lines of ..is putting on makeup true beauty? What about plastic surgery? Where do you draw the line? So subjective. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-someone-a-better-photographer-if-they-do-not-edit-their-pictures#post-691351 Thu, 04 Apr 2013 11:10:23 +0000 Freckles 691351@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsTiz: Scary.</p> <p>I disagree with that statement, for sure. A great photographer knows how to edit properly, and only enhances the photograph taken. A photographer should know how to use light, lens, etc. to make a great photo, and edits are usually touchups to make it look more professional. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-someone-a-better-photographer-if-they-do-not-edit-their-pictures#post-691284 Thu, 04 Apr 2013 10:59:13 +0000 swurlygurl 691284@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsTiz: That is... um... wow... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-someone-a-better-photographer-if-they-do-not-edit-their-pictures#post-691173 Thu, 04 Apr 2013 10:40:28 +0000 MrsTiz 691173@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No, I disagree completley.</p> <p>A good photographer knows HOW to edit. They clear up pictures, maybe blemishes and stray hairs, they smooth our colors, etc. A bad photographer edits them to where you look plastic or weird effects.</p> <p>I kid you not, when looking for wedding photographers I found some in my area with edits worse than this: </p> [attach=2456/13/mkqm7h.300x299.bad_plastic_surgery_plastic_surgery_gone_wrong.jpg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-someone-a-better-photographer-if-they-do-not-edit-their-pictures#post-691147 Thu, 04 Apr 2013 10:36:04 +0000 Mrsbells 691147@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think a good photographer doesnt need to edit as much. I have DSLR and I'm not a great photographer so I do edit a lot </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-someone-a-better-photographer-if-they-do-not-edit-their-pictures#post-691139 Thu, 04 Apr 2013 10:35:00 +0000 MsLipGloss 691139@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrs. wagon: Excellent distinction!</p> <p>ETA: I totally wanted to write *egg-salad* distinction, but I am pretty sure that only makes sense to me . . . in my head . . . which is a very maddd hattterish place as of late! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-someone-a-better-photographer-if-they-do-not-edit-their-pictures#post-690904 Thu, 04 Apr 2013 09:57:48 +0000 mrs. wagon 690904@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't know any professional photographers who don't edit their photos in some way or another!</p> <p>That being said, the BEST edits still cannot do what a great camera / lens / flash / lighting / settings / etc. can do. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-someone-a-better-photographer-if-they-do-not-edit-their-pictures#post-690886 Thu, 04 Apr 2013 09:54:04 +0000 MrsSCB 690886@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Really good photo editing is a difficult skill that takes a lot of practice. I think a good photographer isn't one who doesn't edit at all, but one who's able to enhance photos via Photoshop or whatever software in a way that they look better if you compare them to the originals, but you wouldn't take a look and go, "Oh, that's edited." I'm a journalist and I know a lot of great photographers. I'm pretty sure they all do some sort of editing on virtually all of their photos. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-someone-a-better-photographer-if-they-do-not-edit-their-pictures#post-690868 Thu, 04 Apr 2013 09:50:43 +0000 yin 690868@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think a talented photographer does not need to edit much because they have accounted for the proper settings when taking the photo. DH is experimenting with film, and there is no going back to edit the photo. He has to be very careful that all of his settings are correct and that he is able to focus on the subject. Digital photos allow us to keep clicking and just worry about post processing to fix our mistakes. Of course I fit into this category and admit that I don't know enough about photography. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-someone-a-better-photographer-if-they-do-not-edit-their-pictures#post-690850 Thu, 04 Apr 2013 09:46:21 +0000 rawrasaur 690850@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it all comes down to taste, but editing is not a bad thing at all! Every person has a style of photo they are more drawn to. I like a more vibrant and bright photo, which usually requires a few tweaks, but others prefer a very subdued and natural look which you can get straight out of the camera. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-someone-a-better-photographer-if-they-do-not-edit-their-pictures#post-690777 Thu, 04 Apr 2013 09:32:38 +0000 Mrs squirreld 690777@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I tend to agree with the statement, but a little post processing is sometimes necessary to have the client happy if certain aspects were beyond control, speaking as a pro photographer. </p> <p>AND with film they were "edited" aswell, processes in the darkroom were used such as "dodge" and " burn" to either lighten or dark areas of a print. ;-) digital just made it a lot easier! </p> <p>A good photographer will be able to correct light issues etc with camera settings but use of their knowledge. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-someone-a-better-photographer-if-they-do-not-edit-their-pictures#post-690686 Thu, 04 Apr 2013 09:17:04 +0000 MsLipGloss 690686@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrskc: Yep - film was definitely processed/developed differently. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-someone-a-better-photographer-if-they-do-not-edit-their-pictures#post-690609 Thu, 04 Apr 2013 08:59:16 +0000 mrskc 690609@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think so. I'm sure all professionals do some editing. It's important to be able to take good photos in the first place which would save time editing, but I don't think that means you're a better photographer. When film was used didn't they "edit" the photos with how they developed the film? </p> <p>Photography is my hobby. I like to take RAW photos too and fix the white balance, exposure, up vibrance, etc. just basic edits and it makes my photos just pop so much more. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-someone-a-better-photographer-if-they-do-not-edit-their-pictures#post-690594 Thu, 04 Apr 2013 08:55:34 +0000 T.H.O.U. 690594@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would agree. I think that there are a lot of people who are good at photoshop and can take a mediocre picture and make it look really cool. </p> <p>But there is an art to taking a good photo SOOC and even with only minimal processing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-someone-a-better-photographer-if-they-do-not-edit-their-pictures#post-690593 Thu, 04 Apr 2013 08:55:34 +0000 Maysprout 690593@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with it a bit. I think editing can add a lot sometimes but the colors often get messed up. I like natural looking colors better than the highly edited colors that are popular lately in photos. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-someone-a-better-photographer-if-they-do-not-edit-their-pictures#post-690588 Thu, 04 Apr 2013 08:54:55 +0000 Mrs. Lovejoy 690588@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think being able to edit well is part of the art of photography as they go hand in hand.. But the composition, lighting and other aspects of actually taking a picture are obviously important too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-someone-a-better-photographer-if-they-do-not-edit-their-pictures#post-690575 Thu, 04 Apr 2013 08:52:38 +0000 autumnlove 690575@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree.. I want the photographer to shoot well and know how to adjust for different lighting situations. I don't want overly processed pictures that are fixed with Photoshop actions. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-someone-a-better-photographer-if-they-do-not-edit-their-pictures#post-690574 Thu, 04 Apr 2013 08:52:30 +0000 Anagram 690574@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pui: I had a guy friend post something along those lines on Facebook just recently. He always posts travel pics that are nice (but I don't think they are professional quality at all) and when someone complimented his latest travel pics, he said they weren't edited at all and "real" photographers don't need to edit or do any post-production.</p> <p>Obviously, I disagree. With post-production techniques, you can take a really good photo and make it amazing. *Especially* if you are photographing people, like doing baby, engagement, or wedding photos, and you're dealing with humans who aren't models and less-than-ideal lighting conditions, I think it's a major disservice to the client NOT to do a decent amount of post-production work. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-someone-a-better-photographer-if-they-do-not-edit-their-pictures#post-690572 Thu, 04 Apr 2013 08:52:15 +0000 prettylizy 690572@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't know if I agree with that. I can see that a better photographer might not blur the edges and ad heart graphics to every photo, but I'm sure they all do some sort of post processing. Look at the gazillion dollar wedding photographers, they all do something right? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-someone-a-better-photographer-if-they-do-not-edit-their-pictures#post-690568 Thu, 04 Apr 2013 08:51:06 +0000 pui 690568@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsLipGloss: Ah, that's a good distinction! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-someone-a-better-photographer-if-they-do-not-edit-their-pictures#post-690567 Thu, 04 Apr 2013 08:50:54 +0000 Pink Champagne 690567@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The photographer who did my maternity and newborn shots had a preview on Facebook the next morning after the shoots, and the whole albums up to look at within a couple of days. I am certain that she edits very little, if at all, so I would prett much agree with the idea that a good photographer is one who doesn't need to edit. Also, think of all the great photographers that existed long before digital cameras and photoshop- it was so much more about skill then. Now, I think there are more people who are good at photoshop than there are good photographers.<br /> However, I am not a photographer, so I would be interested to hear their point of view :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-someone-a-better-photographer-if-they-do-not-edit-their-pictures#post-690561 Thu, 04 Apr 2013 08:50:05 +0000 MsLipGloss 690561@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pui: I should add that I don't equate *editing* with *correction* . . . being edited does not mean that you are fixing/correcting a mistake! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-someone-a-better-photographer-if-they-do-not-edit-their-pictures#post-690553 Thu, 04 Apr 2013 08:49:01 +0000 illumina 690553@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know what you mean. I'm too lazy to edit afterwards or adjust settings on the camera, so I always point and click. I give a lot of thought to composition though, which I think makes people think my photos are half-decent. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-someone-a-better-photographer-if-they-do-not-edit-their-pictures#post-690551 Thu, 04 Apr 2013 08:48:38 +0000 pui 690551@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsLipGloss: Yeah I agree there! I know my wedding photographer edited my pics to make them all "match". </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-someone-a-better-photographer-if-they-do-not-edit-their-pictures#post-690540 Thu, 04 Apr 2013 08:46:16 +0000 MsLipGloss 690540@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think so . . . I think editing can make up for things that are beyond your control (environment), and can also make a series of photographs look more like a *collection* in that the photographs all have the same look/feel to them? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-someone-a-better-photographer-if-they-do-not-edit-their-pictures#post-690504 Thu, 04 Apr 2013 08:38:55 +0000 pui 690504@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>One of my co-workers said today that a "better" photographer doesn't ever need to edit his/her photos.</p> <p>What do you think?</p> <p>I would agree to a degree... I guess if the photos are VERY edited to the point it's not even the same photo, then I would say that person is great at Photoshop, not photography. However, I also think this depends on what the photo is of and what it is being used for.</p> <p>I'm definitely not a professional photographer, but it's one of my hobbies. I often have to adjust the RAW files off the camera slightly (like contrast or brightness a bit) to get the perfect look and I still think that means I am relatively good at taking pictures. I think the pictures I take have "good bones", they just need a bit of correction to make them perfect. </p>