Beware The Wedding Photographer Who Abuses Photoshop

In the digital age of photography, after effects is arguably as important as taking the picture. And with amazing improvements in post-processing software, like Photoshop, a photograph can be manipulated to astonishing levels – even to a point of being unrecognizable from the starting point.

Unlimited potential is why some wedding photographers, mostly part-timers but also some seasoned photographers, go horribly astray. No doubt, it’s great to use some different effects to a few shots. But, good wedding photography incorporates post-production in the same way a effective wedding make-up artist plies their trade (ie) even if there is a lot of make-up, it’s subtle and in good taste.

Undoubtedly, subtlety and taste are usually debateable. So, when it comes to deciding on the best wedding photography one needs to examine the photographer’s handiwork to evaluate their use of effects after the fact.

For example, many wedding photographers will do some skin smoothening, in particular for the couple shots. This is one of those tools that if taken too far looks dreadful – like the front of magazines that have gone so far that the celebrity looks like anime. Conversely, done well this effect will only bolster the image. After all, the objective is for the subject to look like the finest version of themselves, not like a mannequin.

Meanwhile, many other tools can be used with unfortunate results – like bad fashion from decades past. The difference is that bad fashion often makes a comeback, which is almost always not the case with over-zealous post-production.

Save yourself the embarrassment as you look at your photos twenty-five years on.  The best wedding photographers employ post-production software to deliver shots that stand out in all the right ways. In other words, see to it that the post-production on your wedding photographs is on the right side of that fine line.  You’ll thank yourself later.