As a photographer in Manhattan Beach, one of the most common questions I get after a session is about editing.
Do you edit every image? Do you give out RAW files? What’s included? What counts as retouching?
Whether it’s a newborn, family, maternity, or milestone session, the answer is usually the same.
Photography doesn’t end when I click the shutter. The final images you receive are a combination of the moment being captured and the editing process that follows. Editing is a huge part of my creative process and one of the reasons my work has a consistent look and feel.
My style is polished but natural. I want your images to feel timeless while still looking like you and your children.
Do You Give Out RAW Files?
The short answer? No.
A RAW file is the image straight out of the camera before it has been edited or converted into a finished JPEG. If you’re familiar with Nikon cameras, those files have a .NEF extension. RAW files contain significantly more image data and are designed to be edited before they are viewed, printed, or shared. In most cases, they also require special software just to open.
There is a whole lot more photography nerdiness I could dive into here, but I’ll spare you the technical details.
The simple answer is that RAW files are never included with my sessions.
Photography is about more than taking a photograph. The images you see throughout my website, blog, and social media are the result of both the moment being captured and the editing process that follows. My editing style is a huge part of my work and what clients hire me for. Have you ever looked at a photograph and instantly known who took it? That’s because photographers develop a signature style, and editing plays a big role in creating that recognizable look.
I want every image that leaves my studio to meet the standards I believe accurately represent my work. Delivering RAW files would be like a baker handing over ingredients instead of a finished cake.
When you hire me, you’re not just hiring me to take photographs. You’re hiring me to create finished images that represent my work from start to finish.
Do You Edit Every Image?
Yes and no.
Yes, every image that leaves my computer and is delivered to a client is edited. Exposure, color correction, contrast, cropping, and my overall signature style are applied to every photograph. I want every image in your gallery to meet the standards I believe accurately reflect my work.
The “no” comes when we’re talking about extensive retouching.
Sometimes a mom may not be feeling her best and would like additional body contouring. Other times a client may want a watch tan removed, a hair tie edited off a wrist, glare reduced on glasses, wrinkles smoothed from clothing, or gray hairs blended. These types of edits go beyond standard editing and move into detailed retouching.
While I’m happy to help with those requests, they are much more time-consuming and are typically completed on a smaller number of images rather than an entire gallery.
If I have time and it’s something simple, like removing a few people from the background, I usually just take care of it.
More detailed edits can take anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes per image, which is why they’re handled separately after a small number of complimentary adjustments.
Last year I photographed over 300 sessions, and only about five clients requested additional retouching beyond standard editing. That number makes me incredibly proud. Most families already love how they look in their images, and my goal is always to enhance that, not change it.
How Many Images Are in a Session?
Every session is different.
Mini sessions include a set number of images, which is clearly outlined at booking.
Full sessions vary depending on children’s cooperation, family size, and how the session flows.
There is no strict cap for full sessions. You receive all the best images from your session. If it’s not a duplicate, test shot, or out of focus, it’s included.
What’s Included in My Standard Editing?
Every image includes:
- Exposure and color correction
- Contrast and tonal adjustments
- Cropping and straightening
- My signature editing style
- Minor blemish removal
- Small distractions removed when possible
My goal is always a clean, natural, polished final gallery.
What Is Considered Retouching?
Retouching includes more detailed Photoshop work such as:
- Head swaps
- Extensive background cleanup
- Newborn acne correction
- Body contouring
- Hair or wrinkle removal
- Bra strap removal
- Glare or watch tan removal
These edits vary in time and complexity, which is why they are limited to select images after a small number of complimentary adjustments.
Why Retouching Is Limited
Some edits take minutes. Others take close to half an hour per image.
With galleries often containing 100+ images, full retouching across an entire session would quickly become unrealistic.
Instead, I encourage clients to focus detailed retouching (like those listed above) on the few images they plan to print, frame, or share most.
For most sessions, that ends up being a very small number of images.
This approach allows me to keep galleries consistent, protect editing time, and ensure every image gets the attention it deserves.
A Note About Newborn Editing
My philosophy is simple: babies should look like babies.
Temporary things like scratches, flaky skin, or baby acne can be softened. But I avoid over-editing or making skin look overly smooth or artificial. Details like newborn texture and peeling skin are part of this short season and worth preserving.
Permanent features like birthmarks or scars are never removed.
Every family has different preferences, and I’m always happy to do what they prefer!
I photograph newborn, maternity, baby, and family sessions throughout Manhattan Beach and the South Bay, including Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, and Palos Verdes. My goal is always the same: images that feel beautiful, natural, and true to your family.