FAQs

I have put together several documents to help guide my clients through the preparation for a photo session. Here are a few of them:

Additionally there is a lot of industry jargon that is used in photography and videography. This is to set some standard definitions of what I mean in my documents and communications.

Editing

Here are a few terms and explanations.
Here is a post with some examples of my editing vs retouching.

Editing Levels Explained

Not all edits are created equal. Below is a breakdown of the different levels of image processing and retouching I offer, so you know exactly what to expect with your final images.

Color Corrected

I correct the color balance of the images because nobody has blue or green skin — nobody that I’ve met (yet), anyway. I also apply a consistent color profile across all images to ensure continuity and tonal consistency.

This is the technical starting point for every photo and is typically reserved for delivery to graphic designers or retouching professionals. I consider this an incomplete image and not suitable for direct client delivery.

Edited

In addition to color correction, this includes adjustments to exposure, contrast, saturation, cropping, straightening, and overall tonal balance. This is the base level of editing I consider fully deliverable.

This is the standard editing level for most client galleries and the majority of wedding photography.

Retouched

In addition to standard editing, this includes selective Photoshop work such as removing distracting background elements, basic teeth whitening, eye brightening, and blemish removal.

Some wedding images receive this level of attention. All portrait sessions are delivered at this level of retouching.

Portfolio Retouch

This is a no-holds-barred edit. These images are treated as if they’re destined for magazine covers, large-format prints, or my professional portfolio.

This includes full skin smoothing, blemish removal, softening lines, eye brightening, teeth whitening, background cleanup, and removal of distracting elements — essentially anything that elevates the image to its highest possible level.

This level of detail takes time — typically 1–2 hours per photo — and is reserved for select images.

Delivery

Image & Video Delivery – FAQs

Below are answers to the most common questions about what you receive, when you receive it, and how I handle edits, culling, and file requests.

Delivery & Turnaround

How many images will I receive?

This varies depending on the type of session, length of coverage, and complexity of the shoot, but I generally deliver 75–100 finished images per hour of coverage.

For weddings and events, that often results in several hundred carefully curated and fully edited photographs. For portrait sessions, the total image count is lower, but each image receives a higher level of individual attention and retouching.

My focus is always on quality over quantity — delivering a strong, cohesive collection of images rather than overwhelming you with near-duplicates or filler shots.

What is your typical turnaround time?

My standard delivery timeframe is roughly 3–4 weeks for most event type photography projects.

Larger productions, destination weddings, multi-day events, and projects involving heavy retouching or video editing may require additional time, which will always be communicated clearly in advance.

If you have a tight deadline (publication, marketing launch, submission, etc.), let me know — rush delivery options may be available depending on scheduling and workload.

Selection, Culling, and Proofs

Can I see all the photos from my session?

One of the reasons you’re hiring a professional photographer is trust in my eye, experience, and editing style. You’ve seen my work, you like my work, and that same care goes into selecting which images are delivered to you.

I carefully cull every session to remove duplicates, near-misses, technical failures, and unflattering frames — leaving you with the strongest possible collection of images.

If you truly want to see almost everything, I can provide a broader proof gallery. However, I reserve the right to remove any images that I consider true “clunkers” — photos that I don’t feel represent my work or serve you well. Just as you wouldn’t go sharing an unflattering photo of yourself, I don’t want to share unflattering examples of my work.

For perspective: some sessions (especially weddings) can generate 700+ images per hour. A huge portion of my post-production time is spent reviewing near-identical frames and selecting the best moment, expression, and composition for delivery. I’ve been culling professionally since 2006, and while I’m not infallible, I have a pretty good grasp on what’s good & what isn’t.

Unedited and RAW Files

Can I have the unedited photos or video?

Short answer: no.

My editing style is a core part of my photographic identity and a major reason clients hire me. Unedited images are flat, dull, low-contrast, and unsaturated — not because something is wrong, but because that’s how professional RAW files are designed to look before processing. (There are technical reasons for this, but the short version is: they’re meant to be edited.)

And honestly, you wouldn’t want them anyway — they look pretty bad 🤪.

There’s also a reputation factor at play. I am only as good as the work people see attached to my name. I want every image out in the world to reflect the quality I’m proud of and that you’re excited to share. If something doesn’t pass my quality control, I don’t want it floating around for someone to say, “Yeah, James’ photos on his website are phenomenal, but those photos that ‘X’ was showing me from their session were just bad”.

Can I have the RAW photos or video files?

Unless you are a business or creative agency hiring me as a consultant to interface with your team to provide a cohesive brand standard for your images, then no (also see “Can I have the unedited photos?”).

RAW files are the digital negatives of photography and videography. Granting access to them — along with the associated rights — involves pricing structures that typically make most people’s wallets run and hide.

You might also find my list of some industry standard terms useful.