So, You Wanna Be an Outsource Editor? Here’s the Real Talk.

You love editing. You could sit in Photoshop all day, blending, tweaking, fixing, and making magic happen. Maybe you’ve even had that moment where you thought:"I could do this for other photographers."

And you can. But let’s talk about what it actually takes to build an outsourcing business that doesn’t leave you burnt out, underpaid, and wondering why you ever thought this was a good idea.

Step 1: Figure Out What You Actually Want to Offer

Not all editors do the same thing, and spoiler alert—not all photographers need the same thing. If you don’t decide upfront what type of editor you want to be, you’re gonna attract every kind of job, including the ones you absolutely hate.

Ask yourself:

🔹 Do I want to focus on Lightroom edits (culling, color correction, batch editing)?🔹 Am I more of a retoucher (skin smoothing, dodge & burn, object removal)?🔹 Or do I thrive in Photoshop magic (face swaps, background extensions, advanced composites, fixing bad lighting)?🔹 Do I want to do all of the above, or just one specialty?

The clearer you are about what you offer, the easier it is to find the right clients (aka, the ones who don’t make you want to rage quit).

Step 2: Set Boundaries—Or Get Steamrolled

Photographers are artists, and artists can be control freaks. Some will send you their raw images and say, “Do your thing!” Others will have very specific (borderline obsessive) preferences.

This is why you need clear boundaries.

✅ What’s included? Are you doing light edits or full retouching? One revision or unlimited?✅ What’s your turnaround time? If they want it in 24 hours, are they paying rush fees?✅ What’s your pricing? Are you charging per image? Per gallery? Retainer clients?✅ How do they send files? Dropbox? WeTransfer? Google Drive? (Please, not a billion email attachments.)✅ What’s your revision policy? You need this, trust me. Otherwise, you’ll be tweaking the same image forever.

Your time is valuable. Set boundaries before you start taking clients, or you’ll end up editing all night for pennies.

Step 3: Find Clients—Without Feeling Like a Used Car Salesman

Ah, marketing. The thing we all hate but have to do if we want to make money.

So where do you find photographers who need an editor?

🔹 Facebook Groups – Yes, they still work. Join groups where photographers hang out (not just outsourcing groups—photography groups). Engage, answer questions, be helpful before pitching.

🔹 Instagram & TikTok – Show before-and-afters. Talk about common editing mistakes. Make fun of bad Photoshop jobs. (Photographers will relate and want your help.)

🔹 Referrals – Once you get your first happy client, ask them to spread the word. Word-of-mouth is gold in this business.

🔹 Cold Outreach – DM photographers with busy schedules. Offer a test edit if you want to hook them.

Finding clients isn’t about screaming “HIRE ME!!” into the void. It’s about showing up, being visible, and being valuable.

Step 4: Deliver Like a Pro (Even If You’re Just Starting Out)

Okay, let’s say you’ve got your first client. Congrats! Now, how do you keep them coming back (and telling all their photographer friends about you)?

Here’s what makes a great outsource editor:

✅ Fast & clear communication – Respond to messages in a timely way. No ghosting.

✅ Attention to detail – If they say they like warm tones, don’t send them cool-toned edits.

✅ Meeting deadlines – If you promise a 3-day turnaround, make it happen.

✅ Consistency – The first edit should match the 100th edit. Photographers hire editors to save time, not to redo everything.

Being reliable is what separates a successful editor from one who can’t get repeat clients.

Step 5: Price Yourself Like You Actually Want to Make Money

Here’s where most new editors screw themselves over. They charge too little.

Photographers aren’t just paying for your time.

They’re paying for:🔹 Your skill🔹 Your speed🔹 The stress relief of not having to edit

If you price yourself too low, you’ll burn out, hate your business, and end up working for less than minimum wage.

💡 A starting point:

• Lightroom batch edits: $0.30 - $1 per image

• Basic retouching: $3 - $10 per image

• Advanced Photoshop work: $15 - $100+ per image (Yes, really. High-end retouchers charge $$$.)

The more specialized your skills, the more you can charge.

Step 6: Scale Up (Without Losing Your Mind)

Once you’ve got steady clients, you have two choices:

1. Stay solo and increase your rates as demand grows

2. Build a team of editors and start delegating work

If you go with option two, you officially become the boss. Which means…

• Training other editors to match your style

• Managing deadlines

• Paying out team members

It’s not for everyone, but if you want to grow big, it’s the next step.

Final Thoughts: Is This for You?

Starting an outsourcing business as an editor is totally doable. But it’s not just about being good at Photoshop—it’s about:✅ Knowing what services you want to offer✅ Setting clear boundaries & pricing from the start✅ Finding the right clients (and avoiding nightmare ones)✅ Delivering consistent, high-quality edits on time

If that sounds like something you can handle, go for it. It could be the best thing you ever do.

Have questions? Thinking about starting? Drop a comment—let’s talk about it! 👇

All My Love,

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