Editing Workflow

Software Stack

Capture One Express Fujifilm

Free

Primary RAW Processor

Universally regarded as the best RAW processor for Fujifilm X-Trans sensor files. The Express Fujifilm version includes optimized camera profiles, excellent colour rendering, better detail extraction from X-Trans RAW files than any other software, and session-based workflow that keeps projects organized.

Lightroom Classic

$13/month

When You Need the Adobe Ecosystem

Add the Photography Plan later if you want Photoshop for retouching and Lightroom Mobile for on-the-go culling. Recent updates (14.4+) dramatically improved X-Trans handling.

Key Fuji settings: Apply ~20% Denoise to all X-Trans RAW files. Use the Enhance Details checkbox. Set Sharpening Detail slider to 0 (avoids the "worm" artifact).

Aftershoot

AI Culling

Processes 2,000 RAW files in approximately 20 minutes. Flags blur, closed eyes, poor expressions, groups duplicates. Learns your preferences over time. Works offline, flat pricing. Turns an evening of culling into a 30-minute review session.

Topaz Photo AI

Retouching

Best noise reduction and sharpening for images that need rescue (high ISO, slight blur, low detail). Use sparingly and on specific images, not as a batch process.

The Complete Editing Workflow

Import and Backup (Day 0)

Import RAW files from both cards into Capture One session or Lightroom catalog
Immediately copy to backup external drive
Start cloud backup to Backblaze B2 ($6/TB/month)
Never touch the original cards until gallery is delivered and backed up

Cull (Day 1-2)

Run Aftershoot AI for initial pass (20 minutes for 2,000 images)
Review AI selections, adjust as needed (30-60 minutes)
Target: keep 30-40% of shots
Result: 2,000 shots become 600-800 selects

Sneak Peeks (Day 2-5)

Select 5-10 best images across the full story arc
Fully edit these individually
Upload to Pic-Time as a separate gallery
Send delivery email to clients
Post to Instagram (with client permission)

Full Edit (Week 2-4)

Apply base preset to all selects (colour temperature, tone curve, saturation)
Individual adjustments per image (exposure, crop, white balance)
Hero shots get extra attention (skin retouching, detail work)
Consistency check: all images should feel like they belong together

Export (Week 4)

Full resolution JPEG (sRGB colour space, quality 95%)
Web-sized versions (2048px long edge, quality 80%)
No watermarks

Deliver (Week 4-6)

Upload to Pic-Time gallery
Organize chronologically with emotional pacing
Open with landscape, close with celebration
Send delivery email with gallery link and download instructions
Set up Early Bird print promotion (Pic-Time does this automatically)

Developing Your Editing Style

Study these photographers' editing approaches:

Melissa Clark (Queenstown) — Honest, timeless, documentary style. Warm but natural tones.
Joshua Yates (Queenstown) — Artistic use of light and shadow. Nostalgia-driven warmth.
Kate Roberge (Queenstown) — Artful, delicate, emotional. Quiet elegance.

All three share: warm earth tones, natural skin, desaturated greens (olive/sage), lifted blacks slightly, subtle grain. This is the Adventure Weddings aesthetic.

Style Rules

Warm earth tones — skin warm but natural, greens toward olive/sage, highlights creamy
Film-inspired, not film presets — subtle grain at 15-20%, lifted blacks slightly
Consistent across gallery — same preset base, adjust exposure per image
Skin tone accuracy — natural across all ethnicities, check in multiple lighting