How I Cut My Editing Time in Half (and My Costs Too!) with Aftershoot
Why I Switched to Aftershoot
As a full-time photographer running both a business and a household, I’m always looking for ways to save time without sacrificing quality. Aftershoot has been the biggest game-changer for my workflow… hands down.
I used to pay up to $500 per wedding to outsource editing. Between the culling, preview exports, communication back-and-forth, and waiting for revisions, it felt like I was constantly behind.
Now I pay $500 per year for unlimited culling and editing through the Aftershoot Founders Plan.
Yes, unlimited.
Aftershoot uses AI to do the heavy lifting for both image selection and editing, but you still maintain full creative control. Whether you're a high-volume photographer or just tired of being stuck in Lightroom every weekend, this tool will give you back hours of your life.
If you’re a photographer looking to get your life back, this is for you. Here's exactly how I use Aftershoot with Lightroom to cull, edit, and deliver full galleries faster than ever.
Getting Started with Aftershoot
Once you’re signed up, here’s how to set up your system to work seamlessly with your current editing workflow.
✅ Step 1: Set Up & Import
Install & Update
Download Aftershoot for desktop
Make sure you're running the latest version to access the newest features and improvements
Explore the Dashboard
The interface is clean and easy to navigate
You'll see options to start Culling, Editing, or manage your settings
Import a Session
Click Import
Select your photo folder from a recent shoot or wedding
Organize by session or client name (ex:
SmithWedding_2024-07-15)
Build a Custom Profile (Optional)
If you'd like Aftershoot to create a style profile that learns your editing style, upload at least 2,500 RAW images from one client
The AI will begin to recognize consistent exposure, contrast, color tones, and style decisions
📁 Pro Tip: Keep your folders clean and organized. Aftershoot respects your folder structure and metadata—making it easier to track what’s been culled or edited.
⚙️ Step 2: Customize the Culling Settings
Aftershoot gives you powerful control over how images are selected:
Facial Recognition
Focus priority
Eye openness detection
Lighting and exposure checks
Duplicate detection and rejection
You can adjust how strict or flexible these parameters are.
💡 Save these as presets!
If you photograph repeat clients or consistent styles (like branding sessions or newborns), you can save your favorite settings as presets for faster culling in the future.
Alternatively, Aftershoot offers pre-made profiles to help you get started faster. You can always tweak the results later in Lightroom based on each client’s preferences.
⚡ Step 3: Let the AI Cull
Once your images are uploaded and your criteria are set:
Click “Start Culling”
Aftershoot will analyze every photo and sort them into:
Selected (Best shots)
Duplicates (Visually similar)
Blurred or Rejected
This usually takes just a few minutes, even with large weddings.
✅ Review the selected set
Do a quick pass to confirm nothing essential was missed. If you’re picky (like I am), you can still manually flag favorites or adjust selections—while saving hours compared to manual culling.
🖼 Step 4: Export & Import into Lightroom
Once you're happy with the culled gallery:
Click Export
Choose your export location
Select file types (JPG, RAW, etc.) and include metadata if needed
Open Lightroom
Drag the folder into your catalog, or
Use File > Import Photos and Videos and select the exported set
If Aftershoot ever releases direct Lightroom plugin support, I’ll be first in line to try it—but even now, the export/import process is super simple.
🎨 Step 5: Edit & Deliver
If you’re using Aftershoot’s AI Editing feature:
Apply your chosen AI profile to the culled set
Let the software handle white balance, exposure, contrast, and color corrections
Export from Aftershoot to Lightroom to fine-tune your favorite photos
💡 Client Style Tweaks
Every client is a little different, and I always want my galleries to feel intentional. Sometimes I make a few light adjustments in Lightroom—but many sessions are spot on right out of Aftershoot.
Once I’m done, I export high-res files and upload them to my gallery platform as usual.
🎯 Final Thoughts
Here’s what I gained by switching to Aftershoot:
Saved $500+ per wedding
Delivered galleries faster than ever
Spent less time editing + more time with my family
Gained consistency across all sessions
Stayed fully in control of the final look
Ready to Try It?
If you’re still editing every photo by hand or outsourcing and spending a fortune… Aftershoot will change the game for you.
👉 Sign up for Aftershoot here. You’ll wonder why you didn’t try it sooner.
