AFTER THE SHOOT

How to select and edit your final street photos

REVIEWING

So you’re back from a street photo walk with a memory card full of hundreds of images. How do you decide which photos are the keepers? You may already have a good idea, but you are still not sure which to ditch. Self-critique is an important part of being a photographer. The best time to review your photos is a few days later. Distance yourself from the shoot. If you are still compelled by that photo it’s a good sign. If the photo still excites you, it’s usually a keeper. Some elements to review:

Are there any distracting things in the photo? Does the photo work better in black and white or colour?

Does the composition work?

Did I capture the emotional content as I felt it?

Are the visual aesthetics pleasing to look at?

EDITING

Once you have established which photos are keepers, how much post-processing do your photos need? Most street photographers use either Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop to edit their images. You should aim to do only minimal editing, such as brightening, adjusting the white balance and contrast. If you know your way around the software you can do a lot more advanced editing. Avoid any clichés like HDR or spot colouring. Editing is a personal choice, but a good street scene should not need any bells and whistles. Stick to minimal post editing and let your photos do the talking.