Photo How To

Today's eye-opening post-processing lesson differs from many others we post and reveals what instructor Andy Hutchinson insists is a game-changing approach to photo editing that completely transformed his photography. As he says, "While most tutorials show you WHAT buttons to press, very few explain WHY you should make certain adjustments."

Hutchinson is an Australian pro specializing in creative visual storytelling. He also a popular instructor and the videos he posts are all about sharing his knowledge and inspiration. The secret to this episode is that "your photos are already telling you exactly how they should be edited—you just need to learn how to listen."

In the next 13 minutes you'll learn why it's crucial to understand the mood you're after before touching any sliders, when it's advisable to decrease (not increase) saturation, contrast and detail, and why the "obvious" edit isn't always the right one. In short, Hutchinson's approach involves a different mindset and perspective.

Hutchinson also explains the psychological foundations behind effective post-processing decisions, like the psychological impact color temperature has on a viewer. The bottom line is this: "if you've ever wondered why your edits don't match the vision you had when taking the photo, or why following editing tutorials never quite works for your images, this video might just change your approach."

He begins by explaining a "disconnect" that occurs between the technical purpose behind various adjustments and the reasons we make the changes we do. Or as he says, "the real skill comes from knowing the why behind each adjustment." And he drives the point hone with several illustrative photos.

Hutchinson says that in practical terms color temperature is the most important adjustment you can make, "beyond the shadow of a doubt." That's because this enhancement enables you to successfully create a variety of moods. He then explains the ramifications of saturation and contrast in ways you may not have heard before.

Other topics of discussion include tonal range and light, texture and detail, and dealing with grain and noise. The video concludes with Hutchinson's take on "how to read a good photograph" so you'll understand the viewer's response. There are many more inspirational videos on his instructional YouTube channel, so be sure to pay a visit.

We also recommend watching a video we featured with another image-editing expert recently who demonstrates an easy and effective Photoshop technique for selecting and cutting out objects in your photographs.