The Magic of Photo Editing: Why Post-Processing Matters
Would you hand over a roll of undeveloped film and call it done?
Yesterday, I showed up at a school expecting to snap a few quick photos of a bake sale happening outside. But when I arrived, there was no table, no cookies, no students. The sale had been postponed - because inside, a magic show was underway for students in the Extended School Year program.
Curious, I wandered into the building. The show was already in full swing, and I hadn’t planned to stay long - my gear bag was still in the car. But instead of running back out, I decided to work with what I had on me: a camera and lens I would not have chosen for a dark auditorium.
Still, I know and trust my equipment - and just as importantly, I know and trust my editing software and process. I knew I could get the raw material I needed, and correct and enhance it later in post.
As school communicators, we work in fast-paced, unpredictable environments. Yes, taking time to edit photos is extra work. But in a moment when our jobs can feel replaceable by AI or by someone with an iPhone, I truly believe that this is one of the skills that sets us apart.
Back in the days of film, capturing an image was only half the process. The rest happened in the darkroom: adjusting exposure, dodging and burning, perfecting color. Digital photography is no different. I never hand over raw files - that would be like giving someone an undeveloped roll of film. Half of my process is development, only now it happens on a computer in Adobe Lightroom.
The images I’m sharing here are from the magic show yesterday. The raws? Underexposed, shot from too far back, overly warm from tungsten lights, and full of digital noise. But with a few quick edits - exposure, white balance, cropping, noise reduction - they are transformed. Each one took just seconds to adjust, and the difference, as you can see, is dramatic.
To my fellow school PR pros: take the time to "develop" your photos. It doesn’t have to be elaborate - but it will absolutely elevate your work, underscore your value, and help position you as essential to your district.