E:6 Sarah’s Non-Negotiable – A Post-Processing Workflow to Gain Back Valuable Time (part 2)
Editing is where the magic happens, but without a solid workflow, it can also be where burnout sneaks in. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by your editing queue, struggled with consistency, or spent WAY too many late nights tweaking images, this episode is for you.
In Part 1, we talked about Kellie’s non-negotiable: Outsourcing and hiring a VA, and how it completely transformed her business growth. In Part 2, we’re diving into post-processing workflows and how using AI for culling and editing can help you gain back your time while maintaining consistency in your edits.
Why a Post-Processing Workflow Matters
A strong workflow isn’t just about efficiency—it’s about sustainability. Editing is an essential part of photography, but if you’re spending all your time behind a screen, you’re missing out on what makes your business thrive: booking more sessions, connecting with clients, and having a life outside of work.
Sarah’s non-negotiable? A streamlined post-processing system that allows her to deliver galleries in two weeks or less—without sacrificing quality.
How to Build a Post-Processing Workflow That Works for You
1. Culling Faster with Aftershoot AI
Sorting through hundreds (or thousands) of images is one of the biggest time-sucks in editing. Instead of manually clicking through every shot, Aftershoot AI Culling can help you speed up the process by automatically selecting the best images based on factors like sharpness, eyes open, and composition.
Sarah swears by it to cut culling time in half while ensuring she only edits the best images from a session.
2. AI Editing for Consistency & Speed
Once you’ve selected your images, the next challenge is maintaining consistency across an entire gallery. That’s where AI editing tools like Imagen AI and Evoto AI come in.
- Imagen AI learns your editing style and applies it to your images, helping you achieve consistent, high-quality edits in minutes.
- Evoto AI provides retouching and enhancement tools that take portrait editing to the next level, perfect for skin smoothing, exposure correction, and color grading without hours of manual adjustments.
By implementing AI editing, Sarah has been able to reduce her time spent in Lightroom by 70%—giving her more time to focus on growing her business.
3. Delivering Images in Two Weeks or Less
Speedy turnaround times make clients happy and keep your workflow moving. With AI tools handling the bulk of the heavy lifting, Sarah can confidently promise gallery delivery within two weeks, ensuring she never falls behind on edits.
If quick turnaround times feel impossible, consider: ✅ Automating repetitive tasks (like culling and applying base edits) ✅ Creating Lightroom presets that align with your editing style ✅ Outsourcing the final retouching if needed
The Biggest Takeaway? Your Time is Valuable.
If you’re feeling bogged down by your post-processing workflow, it’s time to take an honest look at what’s draining your time the most. Maybe it’s culling, maybe it’s editing, maybe it’s retouching—whatever it is, there’s a way to automate or outsource it so you can get back to doing what you love.
Take Action:
💡 Identify one task you can start outsourcing or automating to save yourself stress and speed up your workflow.
🎧 Hit play and let’s get RAW.
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About Raw Edit
Hosted by Kellie Rochelle and Sarah Monson, two photographers who have been through all the highs and lows, this podcast is your safe space for honest conversations about what it actually takes to thrive in this industry.
Each week, we’re bringing you behind-the-scenes stories, industry insights, and hard-earned lessons—so you can skip the mistakes and fast-track your success!
🌐 Connect with Us:
Kellie Rochelle Photography
- Website: https://kellierochelle.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellierochellephotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kellierochellephotography/
Sarah Monson Photography
- Website: https://smonsonphotography.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahmonsonphotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SarahMonsonPhotography
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