Your Editing Style - Finding Your Voice In Photoshop with Morgan Burks

Photographic artist Morgan Burks chats to me today about how developing an editing style through experimentation will empower you to edit confidently and creatively in Photoshop.

Introduction (2:27)

What is your editing process? (2:46)
I have standard steps to create a clean base edit for each photo (exposure, white balance, noise reduction). Then I will experiment and have fun with editing.

How do you decide what to do creatively? (5:01)
Because I’m hired for my creativity, I can experiment freely, depending on what is suited to each different photo.

What are your thoughts on retouching? (6:45)
I don’t change anything that is permanent, unless requested. I want to flatter and enhance, much like contouring in makeup. Always ask clients what they want.

How do you feel about Instagram filters? (9:16)
I usually ignore it - people are not doing it with malicious intent. I trust people will come to my website to see my work, and not book me based on one Instagram photo.

How to find time to be playful and creative? (11:52)
Set business hours for doing all the necessary client activities. Then you’re able to play creatively outside of those hours. Also make time to shoot just for yourself.

What’s your favourite new Adobe feature update? (14:31)
The sky replacement feature creates one-click replacements. It’s not perfect, but a great start.

How to find your editing style (15:40)
Start with a clean base edit. Style is then just experimenting with one or two extra editing steps to see what appeals to you.

How to apply what you’ve learned to your own images (17:20)
Just experiment and try things,  and accept that not everything will stick. You may discover new things.

How to deal with self-doubt (18:32)
Know that even self-doubt is still thinking about yourself. So just turn it around and think about how the things you are doing for people are making a huge difference in their lives.

What’s your ultimate favourite Photoshop tool? (21:04)
The brush tool. It’s so versatile – I use it for dodging/burning, painting sunlight, changing colour of objects, etc.

How can you be both efficient and creative with client images? (22:03)
It all comes down to workflow. Some things need to be mechanical to be efficient, but then you can have fun with more creative edits.

Favourite music to edit to? (23:08)
Coffee shop, bluesy, folk.

What’s the most transformative lesson you’ve learned? (23:46)
There isn’t one thing – rather just learn the tools and how you can use them.

What your favourite image you’ve created and why? (25:36)
My favourite images are usually the ones with connected couples and big skies. 

Where to learn more about you? (26:25)

What are you artistically curious about? (26:39)
All the things I don’t do in my own workflow.

Discover more about Morgan Burks

Website: www.morganburks.com
Facebook: @MorganBurksPhotography
Instagram: @morgan_burks

Bio: Morgan is a sky-obsessed portrait photographer and Photoshop instructor living in Manhattan, KS. She creates and sells editing tools and educational resources for photographers, including her free weekly Tutorial Tuesday videos and online e-Course, The Photoshop Fanatic. When not spending time with her husband and two kids, she can usually be found perusing the depths of Photoshop with an iced coffee in hand and a true-crime podcast playing in the background.