EdIT STILL LIFE
Refine your photography with subtle yet effective digital imaging techniques
To maintain high-end imagery it’s advisable to shoot in RAW, so that any adjustments made in post will retain their quality. Saying this, it is better to get everything as close as possible to the final result desired in-camera so that postprocessing is minimal. Unless of course you are looking for a special effect, in which case the way you shoot will be pre-emptive to the effect you are looking for in post. It is a good idea to have a vision of your final image, as this way you are going in with the knowledge that certain aspects will be edited for effect, rather than needing to edit mistakes.
Best practice is to back up all your RAW files straight away. I do this on an external hard drive, but you can back up to a cloud if you prefer. Once I’ve selected the images I want to work with I’d make a copy of the RAW image, before I open my file in Camera Raw where I’d make my first adjustments. I tend to bring down the highlights and push up detail in the shadows. I’d then recoup my blacks and maybe increase the clarity marginally. The changes are slight but make a difference.
I’d then open up the image in Photoshop for some fine-tuning. Ultimately I want to show my images in print and I use a specialist art printer that I have worked with for a few years now. The choice of paper will also have an important impact on the final image, and I still get excited every time I see my images in print.