Hey friends!

Can we have a real heart-to-heart for a minute? I get this question ALL the time: “Alisha, why does it take so long to get my photos back?” And honestly, I totally get why you’re asking. In our instant-everything world, waiting feels like forever, especially when you’re dying to see how gorgeous you looked during our session together.

So let’s pull back the curtain and talk about what really happens after I click that camera for the last time. Spoiler alert: the magic is just getting started!

The Truth About “Just Taking Pictures”

Here’s the thing that might surprise you – the actual photo session? That’s maybe 20% of the work. I know, I know. Mind blown, right? When people see me with my camera, they think, “Oh, she just takes pictures and hands them over.” But honey, that’s like saying a chef just throws ingredients on a plate and calls it dinner.

Every single photo that lands in your gallery has been through what I like to call “the transformation process.” And trust me, it’s a process that requires patience, skill, and a whole lot of coffee.

What Really Happens Behind the Scenes

Let me walk you through my typical post-session workflow, because I think once you see what goes into each image, you’ll understand why I can’t just hit “send” the next day.

Step One: The Great Sort First, I upload anywhere from 200-500 photos from our session (yes, really!). Then comes the fun part – going through every. Single. Shot. I’m looking for the perfect expressions, the best lighting, the moments where everyone’s eyes are open and smiling. This alone takes 2-3 hours for a typical session.

Step Two: The Technical Cleanup Even with perfect lighting and posing, every photo needs some technical love. I’m adjusting exposure, fixing white balance, correcting any lens distortion, and making sure skin tones look natural and gorgeous. This isn’t Instagram filter territory – this is professional-grade color correction that makes you look like the best version of yourself.

Step Three: The Artistic Touch This is where the real magic happens, and honestly, where most of my time goes. Each photo gets individual attention for things like:

• Smoothing out temporary blemishes (because we all have those days!)
• Enhancing your natural features without making you look fake
• Adjusting lighting to create mood and depth
• Sometimes removing distracting elements from the background
• Making sure every detail is perfect

Step Four: The Final Polish Before any photo makes it to your gallery, I give it one final review. Does it meet my standards? Does it represent the vision we talked about? Would I be proud to put my name on it? If the answer to any of these is no, it goes back for more work.

Why I Don’t Rush the Process

Look, I could absolutely get your photos to you faster. I could skip the detailed editing, do batch processing, and have everything ready in 24 hours. But here’s the real talk – that’s not the Lilley Photography experience you’re paying for.

When you choose me as your photographer, you’re not just getting someone to document your moment. You’re getting an artist who cares deeply about creating something meaningful for you. Every adjustment I make, every detail I perfect, is because I want you to look at these photos in 20 years and still feel that same joy you felt during our session.

I’ve seen too many photographers who rush through editing, and honestly? It shows. Colors look off, skin looks unnatural, and the photos just don’t have that professional polish that makes them truly special.

The Emotional Investment

Here’s something I don’t talk about enough – the emotional investment I put into every single session. When I’m editing your photos, I’m reliving our time together. I remember the jokes we shared, the way your face lit up when you saw that perfect shot on the back of my camera, the story behind each smile.

That connection? It can’t be rushed. It’s what transforms a good photo into a piece of art that tells your unique story.

Setting Realistic Expectations

I know waiting is hard. Trust me, I’m just as excited as you are to share these images! But I’ve learned that it’s better to under-promise and over-deliver than to rush the process and disappoint.

My typical turnaround is 1-2 weeks for individual sessions, and honestly? Most of my clients tell me it was worth the wait. Because when you finally see your gallery, you’re not just getting photos – you’re getting memories that have been crafted with love, skill, and attention to every tiny detail.

The Bottom Line

Professional editing takes time because professional results require time. There’s no magic “make it perfect” button (though wouldn’t that be nice?). Every stunning photo you see in your gallery represents hours of careful, intentional work.

So the next time you’re wondering what’s taking so long, just remember – I’m not just editing your photos. I’m creating heirlooms. I’m preserving your memories. I’m making sure that when you look back at these images years from now, you’ll still feel that same flutter of happiness you felt when we captured them together.

And honestly? That’s worth waiting for.

Until next time, Alisha – The Camera Lady 📸