Becoming a Full Time Photo Editor
- WHY I SCALED BACK MY OWN PHOTOGRAPHY & BECAME A FULL TIME PHOTO EDITOR -
If the shutter click is a photograph’s moment of conception, then the editing process is where it finds its soul.
At least, that’s how I’ve always felt. Don’t get me wrong - I love the excitement of being behind the camera, documenting priceless memories. I love finding the perfect light, the hidden details, and capturing those special ‘guard-down’ moments between people.
But my favorite part comes afterwards, in stolen moments of peace while my daughter naps, a mug of strong coffee in front of me, light streaming through my window and a catalog full of images ready for me to review and bring to life.
So last year I did the unthinkable. I scaled back the ‘taking photos’ part of my business (yes, I know - a bold move for a photographer!) and started picking up other photographers’ editing overflow. The thought of retouching another artist’s work was a little daunting at first. Photography is such a personal thing. What if they hated it? What if I couldn’t capture the right look? But client by client, I’ve learned to trust my ability to emulate another person’s style; to really get their vision and bring it to life while they get on with growing their business.
A year on, I’m so happy that I took the leap. And here’s why:
⚫️ Flexibility to see the world ⚫️
I’m not here to bash being a photographer - like I say, I still love that part of my job. But I also love that it’s only a small part of my job. We’re an adventurous family and now that all I need to do my work is my laptop, it means we have more freedom to travel. It even meant we could move from Florida to our beloved Terceira island in the middle of the Atlantic in April of 2021. We’re truly embodying the concept of remote working! And we can’t wait to show our daughter more of the world over the next few years.
⚫️ More time to spend with my family ⚫️
Editing is hard work. It’s hours spent in front of a computer paying painstaking attention to the finest details. But when I’m needed for cuddles, emergency chips or grazed knees, all I have to do is close my laptop and I’m there. My lovely clients know that I have a fast turn-around time, and if that means working until 3am, so be it, because I know that after a bit of much-needed sleep, I’ll get to spend the next morning with my family hiking up a volcano, playing on the beach, or just chilling on the sofa with a movie.
⚫️ I get to do what I love ⚫️
I believe the key to being both successful and fulfilled in your line of work is to recognize where your talents and interests really lie, and to channel your energy there. Editing is my forte and it’s what brings me the most joy. It gives me the opportunity to collaborate with some incredibly talented photographers, work in a range of different styles and participate in bringing to life many, many people’s happiest and most important moments.
The leap from photography to editing was pretty big for me, and while snapping memories will always be my happy place, for now I’m super excited to see where Moss & Meadow Creative Co. takes me, my family, and all the wonderful photographers I work with.