What’s Taking So Long? A Peek at the Real Work After Your Session
So you’ve had your photo session — the laughs were real, the lighting was magical, and hopefully someone brought snacks. But what happens after the camera stops clicking?
Great question. At Mill Town Photo Co., the magic doesn’t end when the session does. Here’s a little peek behind the scenes at what happens next:
1. Backup & Basic Cleanup
First things first: your photos are backed up in multiple places to make sure your memories are safe. Then I begin sorting through the hundreds of images to find the best of the best — the real moments, the emotion, the magic. (And yes, even those silly in-between frames that you didn’t know I caught — especially those.)
2. The Editing Magic (and the Human Behind It)
This is where your images really start to shine. I hand-edit every photo with care — adjusting color, light, contrast, and tone — while preserving the natural beauty of the moment.
In a world where AI is starting to take over everything — even photography — it’s worth noting that some photographers now use computers to pick out the “best” images from a session. And while that can be helpful for some workflows, it’s not how I choose to run Mill Town Photo Co.
I believe in looking at every single image myself. I need to see the emotion. The glance. The fleeting smile. The honest, unscripted moments that technology can’t always recognize — but I can.
Have you ever looked at a photo and thought, That doesn’t even look like them? It’s possible to have a technically perfect photo that doesn’t feel like the person you know and love. That’s why I take the time to hand-select the ones that truly reflect your story — the way it felt, not just the way it looked.
One of my absolute favorite moments as a photographer is when a client sees their gallery and says, "Ooh! I didn’t even know you took that one — it’s one of my favorites."
That’s the good stuff. The magic in the unnoticed. And I live for it.
📧 3. Gallery Delivery
Once your images are fully edited, I upload them to your private online gallery and send over your link. You’ll be able to view, download, share, and even order prints straight from your gallery. Easy, fast, and gorgeous.
4. What To Do With Your Photos
This is the fun part — but it can also feel a little overwhelming. If you need help choosing prints, building an album, or designing a wall layout, I’m here for you! Whether it’s for your home, a gift, or something totally custom, I love helping clients bring their images to life off the screen.
5. A Photographer’s Brain Never Stops
Even when I’m not shooting, I’m thinking. Driving to sessions? I’m scouting locations. I’m watching how the light falls across a field, noticing where the wildflowers are blooming, making a mental note of a textured old fence or an open patch of golden grass.
I can’t help it — my brain is always seeing the world in frames.
I’m constantly thinking about upcoming sessions, remembering what my clients have told me they love, and trying to match their vision with the perfect spot. Someone wants whimsical and sun-drenched? I know just the place. Someone else wants rustic and woodsy? I filed that tree-lined road away three weeks ago while running errands.
And the light? Don’t even get me started. I think about it constantly — where it hits at golden hour, how it wraps around certain landscapes, what time it drops behind the treeline. I could probably tell you sunset times by month without checking my phone. (Okay, maybe that’s a little dramatic — but not by much.)
Anyone who’s ever driven with me knows this is true:
At some point, I’m absolutely going to ask you to stop the car because the light hit something just right, and if we drive past it, I’ll be thinking about it for the rest of the day. It’s just how my brain is wired — chasing beauty, noticing the unnoticed, always storing inspiration for when the moment comes.
Being a photographer means your creative brain is always on — building visual stories even before the shutter clicks.
6. Staying Connected
The session may be over, but the relationship doesn’t have to be. I love seeing your photos out in the wild — framed on your walls, shared with family, or saved as phone backgrounds. Whether it’s your first session or your fifth, I’m always honored to be a part of your story.
So what happens after your photo session? A lot.
But at the heart of it all: care, creativity, and connection.
Because around here, it’s not just about pictures — it’s about people.
— Karin
Mill Town Photo Co.
