Need Motivation

[morgandavis]

When you don't do photography as your source of income ...
How do you get motivated to go through the pictures and edit them?

I have quite a few pictures sitting here unedited, waiting to be worked with. I have shots of my kids and other shots of buildings, sculptures, etc. I look at the pictures and think "I should do something with these." Then, I get overwhelmed. I pick one, work with it a bit, then feel like I've not done any good.

Any advice or comments to help get me moving?

[BCampbell]

If it's a hobby, and you're not enjoying it, why do it?

[elkidogz]

Originally Posted by BCampbell

If it's a hobby, and you're not enjoying it, why do it?

This is true. I may not be the best photographer in the world, and I know I'm no where near the best editor of said crappy photos but I do enjoy it.

[morgandavis]

I do enjoy taking the photos. Its fun, relaxing, and even a bit of an escape.
I just feel that when it comes to editing, I don't do them justice. And perhaps, that is just in my own mind.

[Niresangwa]

Perhaps you need a reason to work on some. Any occasions coming up (father's day?) where you could use a couple as a gift? Maybe finding some new editing tutorial would help also. With a new technique to play with and a reason to get something done, perhaps you'll find a little fire to work with.

[zona5101]

I think a good way to start might be to go though your pics and quickly give them a rating - hopefully your photo editor allows that! Rate them 1 to 5 or "x" x for delete 1 for it's "ok to keep but not very good"....3 "I like it, has potential"...5 "favorite/best".
Then you can select a photo from the "5"s to edit...when those are done move to the "4"s - that way you are investing your editing time on only your best shots and not spending time on pics that don't have the best potential.

[Dangelica]

Originally Posted by morgandavis

I do enjoy taking the photos. Its fun, relaxing, and even a bit of an escape.
I just feel that when it comes to editing, I don't do them justice. And perhaps, that is just in my own mind.

step 1. Transfer originals to computer.
step 2. Take a little time to grade your pics from Keeper through to bin it.
step 3. Go make a coffee. make the phone calls you need for the day. feed the cat to the dog.
step 4. Get back and look at your grading finalize it and follow through on throwing out bad shots.
step 5. Back up the keeper originals.

Now the fun part. Make a copy of your original. Open your editing program of choice and GO TO TOWN. Do the most ridiculous things you can think of add layers and masks and effects and liquify. Then you will notice a couple of things.

1. It was fear of making a mistake that held you back. It doesn't matter if you bone a copy. You have an original.

2. You are learning things you can do to a photo that make it fun to play around. (seriously you want to liquify your mother in laws face until she looks like Satan its therapeutic).

Have a look at a couple of youtube videos on different effects and techniques. You will find you are either addicted to getting the best out of your photos in PP or you will decide that you just want to take snap shots and back them up.

Have fun with it

[BCampbell]

Originally Posted by morgandavis

I do enjoy taking the photos. Its fun, relaxing, and even a bit of an escape.
I just feel that when it comes to editing, I don't do them justice. And perhaps, that is just in my own mind.

Shooting and editing go hand in hand.

Certainly you could just find some settings you like and use photos straight from the camera... I'd suggesting setting contrast up one notch and sharpness up two. If you go that way.

If you don't have the motivation to edit, for fun, there's no reason to toture yourself over it.

If you feel like you've hit a plateau, I understand that. You might benefit from grabbing a book about your editing software and learning some new techniques. I think it's pretty easy to feel like you've hit a wall on the editing side, much more so than on the shooting side.

[Indigo November]

Couldn't have said it any better! Sure way to get to like editing!

Although, in my case I would be feeding the dog to the cat!

Originally Posted by Dangelica

step 1. Transfer originals to computer.
step 2. Take a little time to grade your pics from Keeper through to bin it.
step 3. Go make a coffee. make the phone calls you need for the day. feed the cat to the dog.
step 4. Get back and look at your grading finalize it and follow through on throwing out bad shots.
step 5. Back up the keeper originals.

Now the fun part. Make a copy of your original. Open your editing program of choice and GO TO TOWN. Do the most ridiculous things you can think of add layers and masks and effects and liquify. Then you will notice a couple of things.

1. It was fear of making a mistake that held you back. It doesn't matter if you bone a copy. You have an original.

2. You are learning things you can do to a photo that make it fun to play around. (seriously you want to liquify your mother in laws face until she looks like Satan its therapeutic).

Have a look at a couple of youtube videos on different effects and techniques. You will find you are either addicted to getting the best out of your photos in PP or you will decide that you just want to take snap shots and back them up.

Have fun with it

[CheaperKings]

I usually just shoot'em perfect in-camera...(yea, yea, I know that's BS but she doesn't know that so shhhhh)