I get a lot of questions about what the digital “darkroom” process looks like. The consumer-grade cameras out on the market today have made it really easy for the average person to get some pretty awesome photos with just a click. Professional equipment gives photographers even more options, especially when combined with the (nearly) unlimited choices for how to “finish” the images. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of excessive (and often poorly-executed) photoshopping done in the name of “beauty,” these days, so I wanted to show off what my version of post-processing looks like. I don’t remove all of your pores, I don’t paint out your stomach, plump lips or do any digital cosmetic surgery. I like to show you how gorgeous you are, just AS you are…but I also want to make sure the images look great, from a photographic perspective! Since I know that people are sometimes confused about why professional photographers often won’t give clients our “straight out of the camera” images, I also wanted to put together a visual tutorial on what digital imaging post-process looks like (at least, for me!) So, here’s a brief run-down of what I do with my images, using my favorite photo from Hazel’s session. 
RAW files (straight out of the camera)
Images that come straight out of the camera have had zero retouching or editing. They have not been color-corrected, exposure-balanced, or had any blemishes removed. They are often low-contrast, and sometimes have a bit of a foggy, cloudy look to them. The photographer’s eye can see the potential for a final image, but the untrained eye might think the image looks fine as-is. That is, until they see the difference! I personally choose not to show my RAW files to anyone. Since they have had no retouching done to them, they don’t present you in the best light possible. I will never release any images that a client finds embarrassing, even to the client! If you would happen to lose the disc, I want every single image on there to be one that both of us are happy to show others.
Proofs (basic editing applied)
Now that’s starting to look a little better! Basic editing is what I apply to images before they are released to you in your photo gallery, and are also what you can expect to see at your viewing session. Basic edits help bring out some of the color and contrast of the image, remove the fogginess, highlight details, and give an overall better idea of what kind of image data is available to use in the finished images.
Final Images (advanced/artistic edits, and retouching)
Now THAT’S a frame-worthy photo! Advanced, artistic edits and basic retouching are applied to your final selection of 35 images. These edits may include making an image black and white, adding fancy color effects, removing stray hairs or blemishes, and perfecting the overall contrast, tone and image quality. I am not an excessive retoucher, by any means! My overall goal is to show you that you are gorgeous just exactly as you are. That said, I typically edit anything that is a “temporary” condition (under-eye darkness, or an unfortunately-placed pimple that showed up the day of our photo session!), and leave more permanent issues (ie: freckles, scars, tattoos) alone, unless requested otherwise. I’m never going to use the “liquify” tool (truth be told, I don’t even know HOW), because your photos should look like YOU, in all of your gorgeous glory.
And that’s it! That’s what I do to pretty much all of my images. I like to call it “ethical editing.” I’m happy to answer any questions, if you have ‘em.
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