From RAW to Finished Image

People often ask how I edit my images, and how they look the way they do.

I use a single Adobe Camera Raw preset as a starting point, one I developed over several weeks after getting the Sony A1 II. The preset evolved from a Kodak Portra–inspired film look and gets the image around 80% of the way to the final result. I don’t share the preset or my RAW files because that foundation is part of how I make my images uniquely mine. A RAW file is just data collection, not the image itself. I usually underexpose slightly to protect highlights, so files can look darker on the back of the camera.

Once the images are on my computer, that first click brings them very close to the finished look. The final 20% is where each image is shaped individually, refining light and colour, some clean-ups and guiding the eye toward the subject. The difference people respond to is the gap between what was captured in the RAW file and the finished image they actually see.

Nothing fancy, just time, intent, and a bit of experience.