The Waiting Game: What Happens After Your Session?
Spoiler alert: I’m not just binge-watching Netflix.
You’ve had your session, you’re riding the high, and now you’re refreshing your inbox over and over like it’s tracking a your Door Dash order. As a professional senior and family portrait photographer in Seattle, I know the wait is hard. But guess what? That LONG wait, it’s intentional and worth it. Here’s why:
The Culling Process:
Culling is basically The Bachelor for photos; only the most dazzling get a rose. After each session (which is usually full of laughter, movement, and magic), I walk away with two memory cards overflowing with images. And then comes the heartbreak: sorting through dozens of nearly identical shots, trying to decide which one(s) truly deserves a spot in your final gallery. Sometimes it comes down to the tiniest detail like a slightly more relaxed smile, or hair that catches the light just right, or an image that’s a smidge sharper than the rest. To be honest, it’s a painstaking process, but it’s how I make sure every photo you receive is a knockout.
The Editing Magic:
We live in a day and age where you can instantly take, edit, and post a selfie. We do it all the time (some of us more than others). We have been spoiled by iPhones, TikTok, and Instagram. There is filter for every situation and every scenario. So, why does it take photographers so long to edit photos? Because editing photo files by hand is an art form, not just the click of a button.
You may have noticed in your search for a Seattle lifestyle family or senior portrait photographer that there are so many different photographers in the Puget Sound area, and all of them are different. That’s because we have all taken the time to figure out what our style is as an artist, not only in how we pose and interact with our subjects, but also in how we bring those images to life. Professionally editing photos is like cooking a gourmet meal; while editing a selfie is like microwaving a Stouffer’s lasagna (all of the work is done for you).
The pro photo is also a giant, high-resolution file full of rich detail that a phone couldn’t even dream of capturing. That means when I edit, I’m not just adjusting brightness; I’m fine-tuning skin tones, removing random photobombers, fixing flyaway hairs, color-correcting for perfect skin and skies, and sometimes even doing light dental work (yes, I’ve whitened teeth in Photoshop). Basically, I’m not just tapping "Valencia" and calling it a day. I'm in there like a pixel ninja making your photos look timeless and effortless.
Want to see the final product? Take a look at these final client galleries:
Your Photographer is Human:
I’m a photographer—but I’m also a mom to two teenagers (send all the snacks), wife to a very patient husband, and wrangler of two wildly dramatic dogs. While I absolutely pour my heart into every session and every photo, I’m also juggling real life—like forgotten school projects, weekly sporting obligations, and the occasional need to sleep. So when I say your gallery will be ready in 2–4 weeks, just know it’s because I’m giving your photos the attention they deserve and making sure my family doesn’t eat cereal for dinner every night
When do You Get the Gallery?
There’s nothing like seeing your story come to life, one image at a time. When your online photo gallery hits your inbox, it’s like unwrapping a beautifully curated time capsule. Every image from your Seattle photo session is edited with care, intention, and a whole lot of love. Getting to see your reaction is my favorite part of the process.
To tide you over, I often send a sneak peek or a teaser image or two within the first few days (because I know the wait can feel like forever when you're this excited). By the time your final images arrive, you’ll have a full story to scroll through. A story that’s cohesive, heartfelt, and made to last.
You deserve more than fast, you deserve forever:
So yes, great things take time. And your final gallery isn’t delayed—it’s being thoughtfully crafted, one intentional decision at a time. I’m not just delivering pretty pictures; I’m preserving a chapter of your life in a way that’s meaningful and lasting.
If you're looking for a Seattle family or senior photographer who pours heart into every pixel, I’d love to chat.
