Looking to Outsource Editing

I've decided to try outsourcing some of my editing: I'm not very good at it and indecisive by nature and would prefer to spend more to actually shooting and interfacing with clients, not to mention spending more time with my kids and less on the computer. Just making the decision to hire someone who's talented in this area has felt incredibly freeing

With that said, I turn to all you who current outsource, or partner with an editor if you will.
What's your process like? How many people cull themselves and who turns all the images over and has someone else chose keepers? Is there a company you recommend or do you have a working relationship with an individual? One site I found and like is http://www.photographi​eboutique.com/portfoli​o/

I'd be using the editing services for probably 3-5 weddings a year, and some senior/family sessions.

I didn't see many posts on this topic so if anyone has anything to add to the conversation, be my guest

www.nightowlpp.com is the best.

Wow, I had no idea such a business existed. That's pretty cool.

Check out Shoot Edit Love, as well.

I've never used them, but evolveedits.com

Sal Cincotta sells them pretty hard when he teaches on Creative Live (for good reason, being a part owner). May be worth a look if nothing else...

I've always been comfortable with culling and editing my own work - do a lot of fine art shooting and that's an integral part of it - so I can't provide a constructive recommendation.

I believe they will charge by the file, so it would be to your advantage obviously to cull before you send them. Things to keep in mind:

Do you shoot RAW and would they work on those if that is the case?
Do the return processed JPG's or TIFFs?
Do you need just "global adjustments" like WB, exposure, brightness, contrast, etc.?
Do you expect selective retouching and sharpenning?

I have a pretty good work flow and probably spend 4-6 hours culling/processing the files from each wedding. Then there is perhaps another 2-3 for retouching/finishing the selected images. If you are doing about 5 weddings/yr that would be maybe 50 hours of your time over 365 days. It doesn't sound like a lot, but then again that's just me.

One thing that would make me nervous Kyle about having somebody else cull the shots is that person wasn't there, and wouldn't know what was really important. A perfect example would be a beautifully time, emotional such of an important relative that is OOF. You editor might delete that as poor work, and that could be a big mistake.

At the very least, YOU should really go through all of your work - I see that as being part of the job of a responsible wedding photographer. You are the one who knows the sequence of who, what, where, when and why. Processing is like our old dark room work. I know people who were great shooters but poor in the DR. I can understand how that might be the better route for you. Although photo-finishing is FAR easier now than it was in the past. You may save aggravation, but the time savings may not be as much as you would like - you still have to check the other person's work.

At what point does the image no longer become yours but your editor's?

I don't mean actual ownership of the image, but style-wise? After years in the business my images have my "look", my "style" to them and can be recognized as such. What happens if you change editors? Does that mean that your image style just changed?

In it's most basal form the question is, how important to you (and your business) is your particular style?

FeXL wrote in post #16281403
At what point does the image no longer become yours but your editor's?

I don't mean actual ownership of the image, but style-wise? After years in the business my images have my "look", my "style" to them and can be recognized as such. What happens if you change editors? Does that mean that your image style just changed?

In it's most basal form the question is, how important to you (and your business) is your particular style?

You make a very important point FeXL.

Does the editor use certain filters or plugin's, or does he/she just make adjustments on individual merits? Also, do you already have a website or gallery that shows your own current style and will that of the "editor" clash with this?

And then there is timelines and scheduling. You now have to work within the schedule of another contractor and what happens if they are backed up? I'm not saying this can't work as long as you plan ahead. It just adds more steps to the process.

I have had many of the same thoughts as the original post about potentially outsourcing and many of the same arguments in my head, as everyone else, against it. When I really think about it, it doesn't come down to time spent doing culling and editing. It comes down to the overwhelming journey of learning how to use the software to do it. I have purchased a book or two and just feel overwhelmed by all of it (I have CS4 and PS Elements 9) and haven't gotten much beyond the 'auto-correct' modes.

I say all that to say that I am not a master editor giving this advice. I really think your best bet is to learn the software, take the time to develop your own style, and then hold on to that style for life. I think in the long run you will be much more satisfied and you won't have to worry about all the potential problems with an editor.

FeXL wrote in post #16281403
At what point does the image no longer become yours but your editor's?

I don't mean actual ownership of the image, but style-wise? After years in the business my images have my "look", my "style" to them and can be recognized as such. What happens if you change editors? Does that mean that your image style just changed?

In it's most basal form the question is, how important to you (and your business) is your particular style?

Depends who you use. I know that NightOwlPP tries to match your editing style and will consult with you about your style. A lot of the other companies just ship out to India to get cheap labor.

Evolve does the same. I believe they end up dedicating an editor or two to your account, so they know what workflow and processing works best for your images.

Regarding images, I know that Evolve can send you back the .xmp files, so all edits are just appended to your existing library/catalog. After which you can export to whatever file type you want.

Here are some FAQ's:
http://evolveedits.com​/faq/

Think I just found a way to may some extra money on the side lol.

Thomas Campbell wrote in post #16280326
www.nightowlpp.com is the best.

Thanks! I'll check'em out!

Thanks for all the tips and insights and possible leads.

They way I work right now, after a wedding I toss out anything I would be embarrassed by What's left gets a real quick color-corection and then it's off to the private web-gallery where the clients get their first look at their images. Depending on what wedding package they had purchased, they get so many images they choose that is part of their collection. THEN I start making the real edits, after the clients have shown what they want.

So I'll still be culling, meeting with clients and helping them put together a collection they like and I enjoy making. I'm just needing someone to step in after and help with the final 30-50 or so images. I guess I didn't specify in my opening post that I'm really interested in this being more of a collaborative partnership, one in which I of course have the final say in style I'm definitely NOT sending my photos off to a photo-mill in India. . . which is why I came here looking for some direction in who's offering such services.