As a professional photographer, you love pouring your creativity into your photo shoots, but what you might not love so much is editing in post. You’re not alone! Though editing is satisfying and a creative endeavor on its own, it can also be difficult to spend hours on. However, most professional photographers will spend about half their billable hours editing the photos they take. It pays to discover how to make photo editing less exhausting for yourself. Below are some helpful strategies! 

Invest in an Ergonomic Setup

First and foremost, an ergonomic setup should be your priority. A comfortable chair, a desk at the right height, and proper monitor placement can greatly reduce strain on your back and neck. These physical pains can make hours of editing feel overwhelming, and you can avoid them. 

You should also look into blue-light-blocking glasses to reduce eye strain. Additionally, a mouse and mousepad with hand and wrist support can be helpful. 

Play Something in the Background

Your primary focus should be editing, but the activity can be rather passive. Therefore, if you’re the kind of person who can concentrate on passive tasks with something else on in the background, take advantage of this!

Whether it’s your favorite music, a podcast, or an engaging audiobook, background audio can elevate your mood and distract from the monotony of repetitive tasks. Playing something enjoyable helps you stay relaxed while you concentrate on enhancing your images. 

Avoid Visual Media

Though some people can focus on two screens at the same time, it’s probably best to avoid putting on a TV show or movie in the background. The only images you should be focusing on are your clients’.

Switch Up the Location

Variety is the spice of life! Consider changing your editing location from your usual workspace. Whether it's a cozy cafe, a coworking space, or a park, changing your surroundings can refresh your mindset and spark creativity. 

Pro Tip

You can rock a convertible laptop backpack to make transporting your work laptop to secondary locations easier and more stylish. 

Be Organized

Some editing pains are perfectly avoidable, such as playing hide-and-seek with lost folders and sorting through files without a consistent naming system.

Therefore, establish a folder structure for your projects on your laptop to facilitate easy access to your files and assets. Additionally, use clear file naming conventions and tags so you can quickly find what you need. 

Outside of your computer, create to-do lists that break down large projects into manageable tasks, allowing you to celebrate small victories as you complete each step. This is particularly helpful if you’re editing projects for multiple clients at the same time.

Photo editing might not ever be your favorite part of your job, but now you know how to make it less exhausting. In doing so, you can power through long editing sessions and deliver top-notch images to your clients without draining your creative battery. Best of luck!