5 Unconventional Tips to Improve Your Editing and Managing Post-Processing Workload

In today's fast-paced world of photography, managing the post-processing workload efficiently is almost a non-negotiable skill, especially when we are all guilty of shooting too much, only to suffer when dealing with large quantities of images. In this article, we will discuss several unconventional tips that I have learned throughout my career, including back-to-back assignments and trips, to address the challenges of editing fatigue and compromised post-processing.

With over 15 years of editing experience, I've curated these tips to help you streamline your workflow and improve the speed of your editing process. Even small improvements of 1% or 2% can significantly boost productivity across the hours of editing, giving you more time to enjoy, meet tight deadlines, or take on additional projects and hopefully increase your income.

To provide context on my usual workload, a typical month will usually be filled with roughly 5-8 shooting days that result in close to 3,000 to 5,000 images, sometimes more. This workload extends beyond just the shooting days, which includes more days of post-processing that might involve image selection, curation, heavy retouching, manual stitching, and blending. Each image demands high attention to detail and a large file size, causing tasks as simple as saving and viewing that take a few seconds per photo to end up cumulating into a significant amount of time in the long run.

The balancing act between continuity, efficiency, and quality is crucial in consistently managing such a demanding workload effectively. Despite the challenges, maintaining a disciplined approach to processing and curation ensures that each image receives the attention it deserves. This dedication extends to finalizing files for archival storage and delivering completed work to clients or for online use. Here are a few key takeaways in the constant pursuit of efficiency without compromising on the quality of the final output.

Time Management

Your mind will be far more productive if you take breaks. Therefore, to effectively manage your workload, try to divide them into 2-3 hour concentrated work blocks with short breaks in between rather than an 8-hour straight editing. This would mean constantly curating your work in small batches or even email replies during your break and editing the standout singles during your work block. That way, you can keep your mind and objectives fresh at all times.

Investing in Good Computers and Storage Drives

Computers with higher specs tend to process everything faster. That would mean getting more done in the same amount of time if you are using a slower computer. A faster storage drive, an SSD, will also shorten the data transfer time by a considerable amount. Not to mention, the editing and rendering times will also benefit from faster storage drives.

Data Management

Do not delete or archive anything until you are done with the whole set of images. Nothing is worse than needing to dive back into your storage drives for that one image that fits the story better. That being said, another tip would be to also process all the similar images together. That way, it is easier for you to assess what to keep and what to discard. This would ensure the highest level of visual consistency from a stylistic perspective. It may also be helpful for you to keep a copy of master data on one of your portable drives. This way, you could access the images and start working on any computer on the go. Lastly, always back up your archive so a hard drive failure will not result in a complete loss of a project.

Invest in Yourself

The next time you are pouring your money into the next new equipment that you don’t need, think about how you can invest in a better ergonomic chair or even a standing desk to make sure you are comfortable while editing. Nothing slows you down more than a bad body ache after hours of desk work. You should also be investing in your own mental health. While the freelance industry often promotes the grind culture, you should be comfortable taking breaks every now and then and not feel guilty about it. Nothing is worse than a stressed and worn-out creative trying to push out creative work.

Training and Mentorship

If possible, invest in some quality training from other industry professionals. This would greatly pay you back in terms of time-saving and a proper workflow. Nothing is more dreadful than spending hours looking at random YouTube channels hoping that the information is correct, which ends up mostly impractical and non-related to what you are trying to achieve. A structured course will give you more confidence in playing with the latest techniques that may just be quicker and more efficient. Some of these courses may also come with mentorship to guide you through your issues professionally.