Why do photographers take so long to edit photos?

As a photographer, I often hear questions from my clients like:

"Why does photo editing take so long???"

My personal turnaround time is 3-4 weeks, but for some photographers, it may be longer or shorter, depending on their approach to editing. In my experience and in communication with colleagues in the industry, typical turnaround times are often 4–8 weeks. So my 3-4 week turnaround is actually quite fast. Weddings are events. If you're looking for a photographer, for example, to shoot in a picturesque city, it's important to consider this factor.

I prioritize quality over speed, and my editing process includes not only color correction, but also retouching skin, body shape, cleaning up the background, surroundings, and other elements to ensure my clients get the best possible results.

"Editing Time" or "Photo Delivery Time"

First and foremost, it's not just "editing time" but also the time it takes to deliver the finished photos to you. I usually work on editing each photoshoot for 2 to 5 days, processing them one at a time in the order they were taken. And I have shoots almost every day.

It sounds like 2-5 days is fast. So why don't I deliver them in 2-5 days? Let's break it down in detail. Let's say I edit each photoshoot for 3 days:

Shoot Date	Editing Time	Photos Delivered	Total Days After Shoot
April 1st	3 days after April 1st	April 4th	3
April 2nd	3 days after April 4th	April 7th	5
April 3rd	3 days after April 7th	April 10th	7
April 4th	3 days after April 10th	April 13th	9
April 5th	3 days after April 13th	April 16th	11
April 6th	3 days after April 16th	April 19th	13
April 7th	3 days after April 19th	April 22nd	15
April 8th	3 days after April 22nd	April 25th	17
April 9th	3 days after April 25th	April 28th	19
April 10th	3 days after April 28th	May 1st	21

As you can see, after 10 days of daily shoots, I can only deliver the photos from the first shoot after 3 weeks. Of course, not every shoot takes me 3 days to edit, but some take much longer. Imagine editing a full day of wedding photos, with all the events and activities. After such shoots, there are 6-10 thousand photos before selection. So just the selection alone will take several days! For such shoots, editing can take a week.

Why I Edit Shoots in Order

I edit shoots in the order they take place. This is a matter of professional ethics and fairness to clients who booked their shoots earlier. This approach allows me to work without rushing and with equal attention to each project.

Exceptions are possible in the form of rush processing. In this case, the terms, scope, and cost are discussed separately before starting work.

Important note: This article explains my workflow, not a universal standard.

Daily Photoshoots, Is That True?

I said "almost every day." Yes, I do photoshoots on a regular basis. To be completely honest, shoots don't always last two days in a row; sometimes I have breaks between them. But I'm not a robot, but a real person with a family. And I need to rest, spend time with the people I love, and also perform other business tasks besides editing.

That being said, I often deliver photos earlier than expected.

So, in reality, the deadline for receiving photos is more of a final deadline than a hard deadline.

You might even get your photos in just 1-2 weeks! It all depends on how busy I am.

But for example, based on my experience working with international couples and the reviews on Google and Trustpilot, they prefer the quality of the processing and the impression of receiving the entire package of photos. And for them, waiting is not a problem.

Personal Life and Business Approach

As a freelance photographer, I also spend a lot of time on marketing, promoting my services on social media, communicating with new clients, doing bookkeeping, and managing all aspects of the business. Work-life balance is important to me, and I strive to maintain this harmony while providing exceptional results for my clients. When shooting in cities like Lisbon, it is important to consider travel time and scheduling. In large cities, logistics and scheduling also affect delivery times.

I'm Told: Photo Editing Is Easy, I Can Do It On My Phone!

I understand! And I can often agree. With the advent of modern smartphone apps and AI-powered filters, light photo editing has become even more accessible, but there are hidden complexities that are not immediately apparent.

I have spent years honing my craft, learning to create natural skin tones, skies, and greens. While many programs can automatically apply filters and adjustments, they often fall short when it comes to the finer details.

At first glance, these edited photos may look great on a mobile phone screen. However, if they are enlarged, viewed on a large screen, or printed, you will notice artifacts and flaws that can be disappointing.

That's why as a professional photographer, I take the time and effort to ensure that every photo I deliver meets the highest standards of quality. It may take longer than applying a filter on a mobile phone, but the results are worth it. For example, when shooting beautiful landscapes and streets, processing is important to convey the full beauty of the place. And with the contrasting sun, photos taken in Lisbon simply require additional processing.

Of course, there are cases where quick processing is justified, and I don't work that way. For example, for reportage shooting of corporate events, business events, or other events, where a quick turnaround of material is required, deep retouching is not necessary. So here, my turnaround time is 1-2 days. Also, during a proposal shoot, at least some of the photos need to be delivered very quickly.

What the Photo Processing Looks Like

After the shoot, each project goes through a clear sequence of steps. First, I perform a selection of frames, removing technically weak and duplicate ones. Next comes basic exposure and color correction, so that the series looks consistent. The next step is to align the entire series with each other, so that the photos do not "jump" in tone and mood. After that, retouching is performed: skin, small details, background, all without exaggeration. The final stages are export in the final format, quality control, and transfer of the finished gallery to the client.

What Exactly Do You Get as a Result

I give away all the successful photos without a limit on the number. The estimated minimum is about 25 finished frames for each hour of shooting, but in practice there are often more. The photos are transferred in high resolution, ready for printing and online use. Delivery takes place through an online gallery, where it is convenient to view, download and share images. You will receive a few frames for the announcement earlier, usually within the first days after the shooting.

I have analyzed all the points in more detail in a separate article "Receiving finished photos. When and how many"

What is included and what is not included in the standard processing

Standard processing includes selection, color correction and natural retouching of each final photo. I do not transfer RAW files, as unprocessed frames do not reflect my final result and style. Additional deep retouching or complex changes are performed separately and discussed in advance. Everything you get is ready to use without the need to do anything yourself.

"But it seems like you haven't done anything to the photos!"

Haha, thank you! Actually, that's my goal. My editing style is light and natural, which is the most difficult. As a result, everyone who sees the photos thinks they are natural and not Photoshopped. Or do you prefer something more obvious?

High-End Retouching, Like For a Magazine

I can do magazine-style retouching if you need it. However, keep in mind that this type of editing will look more obvious. It will give your images a polished, ad-like look.

Remember that magazine retouching can give your photos a striking look, but at the same time create a less authentic impression. This approach may be ideal for professional portfolios, model shoots, or promotional materials, but it is certainly not suitable for all situations. For example, for interior photo shoots in Lisbon, more thorough processing is required.

Let's Do This!

If you choose high-quality retouching, just let me know. I'm here to help you achieve the look you want for your photos. No problem!