Knowing when to stop editing a photo is one of the biggest challenges in photography. With endless tools at your disposal, it’s easy to push an image too far. Colors become unnatural, skin loses texture, and the final result can feel more artificial than real. Understanding when to stop isn’t just about technical limits—it’s about maintaining authenticity in your images.
Coming to you from David Bergman with Adorama, this insightful video breaks down the shift from film to digital editing and how it changes the way you approach photography. With film, you had to make creative choices before pressing the shutter—choosing a specific stock, metering exposure carefully, and even using physical filters. There was little room for adjustment after the fact. Digital photography flips that completely. You’re capturing raw data, and all the creative decisions—color, contrast, exposure—can be made later. This flexibility is powerful, but it comes with a problem: the temptation to tweak an image indefinitely.
Bergman discusses how over-editing often leads to unrealistic results. Neon blues, overly smooth skin, extreme sharpening—these are all signs that an edit has gone too far. High dynamic range (HDR) processing can also be a common trap. Used correctly, it helps preserve detail. Pushed too much, it creates an artificial, over-processed look. One way to avoid this is by stepping away from an image and revisiting it with fresh eyes. What looked fine in the moment might feel excessive an hour later.
Editing standards also depend on the type of photography you’re doing. In photojournalism, heavy editing isn’t an option—images need to reflect reality. In commercial photography, clients may expect significant retouching, but even then, there’s a balance. If an image looks too polished, it can lose impact. In fine art, anything goes. Some photographers completely reimagine their images in post-processing. The key is knowing what serves your style and intent. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Bergman.
