Why Editing Matters
Ever wonder what happens after your session ends and we wave goodbye? Let’s take a look behind the scenes as we dive into this sweet maternity session.
This session took place at Hampton Park on a cloudy day — we had a few brief breaks in the clouds, but the light stayed mostly soft and overcast. Normally, I aim to get my settings as close to perfect in-camera as possible, but sometimes I intentionally shoot a bit darker so I can capture those spontaneous moments — especially with little ones who never stop moving!
During this session, mom had to play and giggle with her toddler to get those big smiles. Between the laughter and quick glances at the camera, I focused on capturing genuine connection over perfection. That means some photos start out a little darker, but they’re full of life and love — and that’s what editing helps bring out.
For me, editing isn’t about slapping on a preset or chasing trends. It’s about preserving the memory — enhancing what was already there so that every photo reflects the feeling of the moment, not just how it looked. From culling to the final edit, my goal is always to honor the story your family is telling.
First Things First ...
The first — and often hardest — part of the editing process is culling. This is where I go through every image and carefully select the best of the best. When I cull, I’m looking for things like posture, facial expressions, lighting, connection, and movement.
I delete the blurry photos, the ones with random blinks, and those funny faces parents make while trying to get their toddler to smile. My goal is always quality over quantity — I want to deliver a cohesive, meaningful gallery that tells your family’s story beautifully.
Here are a few examples of photos that didn’t make the final cut (and why):
- Photo 1: He’s absolutely adorable — but I had several similar shots where he’s smiling at the camera instead of sticking out his tongue. It’s cute, but another frame told the story just a little better.
- Photo 2: This one’s more obvious. I snapped it before anyone was quite ready — Little Guy looks grumpy, Dad’s busy with his back pocket, and Mom’s caught mid-distracted. It happens to all of us!
- Photo 3: I love the playfulness here, but I had so many beautiful images of Mom and Little Guy playing together that I decided this one wasn’t the strongest of the bunch.
Culling is tough because I see something special in almost every image — but choosing the right ones helps create a gallery that flows naturally and captures your family at its best.
Now I Edit
My editing style leans toward light and airy, while still staying true to color and adding a touch of warmth to each image. Most of the work happens in Lightroom Classic, where the process begins by adjusting exposure and fine-tuning skin tones. Once the skin looks natural and even, it’s time to start layering in detail through masks.
Different masks serve different purposes: one for skin to soften and smooth, another for hair to add contrast or adjust texture depending on the lighting and movement. Clothing often gets its own mask to refine highlights, contrast, and clarity, while the background is shaped to bring the entire image into balance. Occasionally, brush tools help reduce bright spots or soften harsh shadows — for instance, when photographing under the white gazebo at Hampton Park, a few brush strokes help lift shadows, even out highlights, and add subtle warmth and contrast.
When Lightroom is complete, the image moves into Photoshop for the final polish. This is where distractions disappear — tiny blemishes, stray hairs, makeup smudges, or background clutter that can pull the eye away from the subject. Some images are slightly expanded for better composition, and sharpening is applied selectively in both programs to highlight details without overdoing it.
The last step happens in Topaz, a program that reduces grain and enhances clarity without compromising texture or facial details. The result: a finished image that feels clean, warm, and timeless — true to the moment it captures.
As I wrapped up editing this maternity session, I couldn’t help but smile at how it all came together — the overcast light, the laughter between mom and her little one, and those quiet in-between moments. Every photo tells a piece of their story, and editing allows me to bring those pieces to life just as they felt in that moment. From softening shadows to lifting warmth, every step is a blend of art and emotion. It’s where the connection meets the craft.
