How to Outsource Photo Editing Without Losing Your Style

Thinking about outsourcing your editing because you’re drowning in galleries or your body’s begging for a break? I get it. But before you hit send on that first Lightroom catalogue, let’s talk about what actually needs to happen behind the scenes.

In this episode of Keeping It Candid, I sat down with Janelle from Janelle Joy Private Editing to talk about how to outsource your photo editing without losing your style. We cover what the hand-off process really looks like, how to build trust with your editor, and what systems you should have in place first—especially if you’re managing chronic illness, burnout, or just a full wedding season.

Keep scrolling for the full transcript, or hit play if you’re ready to listen in.

Episode Highlights

Here’s what we cover in this episode of Keeping It Candid
(Don’t feel like listening? You’ll find the full transcript below!)

• 03:36 – Welcome, intro to our topic & the behind-the-scenes of outsourcing
• 04:17 – What it took to say “yes” to outsourcing my editing
• 07:02 – The top hesitations photographers have about outsourcing
• 09:25 – How to find a private editor who truly matches your editing style
• 12:27 – Maintaining creative control when handing your edits over
• 19:47 – How outsourcing impacts your workflow, consistency, and client experience
• 22:33 – Why outsourcing can elevate—not detract from—personal client service
• 27:56 – Final words: balancing burnout, systems, and sustainable scaling

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How to Outsource Photo Editing Without Losing Your Style (Transcript of my interview with Janelle Henningson)

[00:03:36] Sandra Henderson:
🎵 (Intro Music)
Welcome to Keeping It Candid. I’m your host, Sandra Henderson, an international wedding and family photographer and business coach. I help wedding photographers use systems to build out the backend of their businesses to gain control and continue to thrive—no matter what life throws their way.

And on a more personal note, I’m a strong Enneagram three-wing two who’s obsessed with tacos. My love for travelling, combined with navigating chronic illness life, are just two of the many things that drive my passion for all things systems, workflows, and beating burnout as a business owner.

Join me every week for a candid behind-the-scenes look at what it’s really like working as a wedding photographer, where I’ll give you actionable steps to take your business to the next level. Absolutely no fluff here, friends—so go grab your favourite notebook and pen and let’s dive into this week’s episode.

🎵 (Music fades out)

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Interview

[00:04:17] Sandra Henderson:
Hi Janelle, and thank you so much for joining me today from all the way across the seas! Before we dive into all the goodness I know you have for this episode, I’d love it if you could introduce yourself and let listeners know a little bit about what you’re all about.

[00:04:32] Janelle Henningson:
Sure, I’d love to! I’m Janelle of Janelle Joy Private Editing. My team and I are private photo editors—mainly for wedding photographers from all over the world. We edit one-on-one for them so they can free up such a huge chunk of their time and not feel bogged down. That’s the business side.

On the personal side—I’m a mom to three amazing girls. We’re currently living in France for a year, which is quite the adventure. I’m glad we could get together and do this.

[00:05:10] Sandra Henderson:
Yeah, me too! A little off-topic—but how are your kids adjusting to the move? I feel like as adults, we’re used to big changes, but how are they handling it?

[00:05:23] Janelle Henningson:
That’s such a great question. Honestly, they’re doing really well. My oldest is almost 19 and still back in the States doing her adult thing (which is so weird to say!). The younger two—12 and 8—are adapting incredibly well. We’re homeschooling, which helps a lot since they’re not enrolled in the French school system.

[00:05:54] Sandra Henderson:
I remember listening to a podcast back in 2020 about a family that moved to Italy for a year so their eldest could have that life experience before graduating. My stepson is 16 now, and I keep nudging my husband like, “You know what would be really cool…”

[00:06:21] Janelle Henningson:
I’m a huge advocate for it. We hit the perfect window and just went for it. We’d been dreaming about this for 15 years. We hadn’t even been to France before—we just decided to jump in.

[00:06:39] Sandra Henderson:
I love that! I need more people like you to back me up so I can take this idea to my husband, haha.

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[00:07:02] Hesitations About Outsourcing

Sandra Henderson:
Let’s get into it. Today we’re talking about outsourcing your editing—the hesitations photographers might have and what they need to know. I know you have photography experience yourself, so I’m sure you’re familiar with all the feelings that come up around this.

Janelle Henningson:
Absolutely. I hear the same hesitations all the time from photographers—and not just my own clients, but the community in general. The top three are:

1. Fear of losing control – “Can someone else really match my editing style?”
2. Cost – A lot of people assume private editing is way more expensive than it actually is.
3. Past bad experiences – Maybe they tried outsourcing and it didn’t work, or they went with a big box editor and didn’t get the results they wanted.

Sandra Henderson:
Yes! I’ve been through all of those myself. If I had let my first editing experience define everything, I’d still be manually editing all my galleries today.

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[00:09:17] Tips for Finding the Right Editor

Sandra Henderson:
You really do have to work through it to find the right fit. Everyone has different skills—just like any other creative field.

Janelle Henningson:
Exactly. Some editors just don’t have the eye for it, and that’s okay. It’s a specific skill—matching contrast, tone, style—and not everyone can do it, even if they technically know how to edit.

Sandra Henderson:
One thing I always say is: the right editor can sometimes edit your photos better than you can. Most photographers I know want to be behind the camera—not stuck editing in their office all day.

Janelle Henningson:
Yes! And you’re not giving up creative control. Editors like my team use “anchor images”—your own edited photos—as the guide. We don’t bring in our style; we match yours, consistently.

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[00:12:27] Maintaining Creative Control

Sandra Henderson:
That’s such a key difference. I used to love opening my catalogue and watching all the edits load. I’d still go in and do my final tweaks—maybe a little mask here or there—but I saved so much time.

Janelle Henningson:
Exactly. You still touch your images, especially for albums or blog posts—but you’re not manually editing 800 photos anymore. And that time adds up fast.

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[00:13:29] Finding the Right Fit After a Bad Experience

Sandra Henderson:
For photographers who’ve had a bad outsourcing experience—do you have tips for how to find the right editor?

Janelle Henningson:
Yes, but first—ask yourself: do you actually understand your own editing style? It’s not just “light and airy” or “clean and classic.” You need to know your version of that style. How do you achieve it? What do your images need to look like?

If you’re not sure, it’ll be hard to communicate your expectations—and that’s where most editor-client relationships fall apart.

Sandra Henderson:
That’s such a good point.

Janelle Henningson:
And once you know your style? Start asking in your photography communities. Referrals are gold. Learn who your friends trust and how the experience worked for them.

[00:14:57] Sponsor Break: PicTime

Sandra Henderson:
Today’s episode of the podcast is sponsored by PicTime.

This is the gallery service I use in my photography business that honestly doesn’t compare to anything else I’ve tried. First and foremost, it’s fully accessible to Canadians. Other platforms might be available here, but they limit features due to printer options, tax issues, or general US-only headaches.

But with PicTime? Everything works. Canadian pricing. Canadian printers. Full feature access. And yes—if you’re in the US, you’ve got plenty of options too. But as a Canadian? That accessibility made me very happy.

PicTime also offers pre-made and custom automations to help boost your print sales year-round. There’s optional AI facial recognition, watermark protection, custom storefronts with international pricing, and even HoneyBook integration. You can literally view gallery images right inside your HoneyBook client profile.

If you’re looking for a new gallery platform this busy season, head over to my website or the show notes to grab my affiliate link. You’ll get one free month on top of the free trial PicTime already gives you—so that’s two full months to try it out, get everything set up, and boost your client experience.

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[00:16:30] Janelle Henningson:

Instagram is a great way to find an editor—we get so many inquiries there. But it’s important to do your research. Look at their website, check testimonials, set up a consult call if needed.

That’s step one: do your homework.

And then—just interview them! Make sure you feel comfortable. Because giving feedback is a huge part of this process. If you feel awkward giving notes, you’ll never get what you want from the edits.

We want your feedback. If your white balance feels off, or the exposure isn’t quite right, we need to hear that. If you don’t say anything, nothing will change—and you’ll assume we’re just not good. When in reality, we’re flying blind.

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[00:17:42] Sandra Henderson:

Yes! I remember when I started working with Jade, she said, “Don’t worry—any feedback you give me, I won’t take it personally. That’s how I do my job better.” It was such a relief.

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[00:17:56] Janelle Henningson:

Exactly. And please, if you’ve tried outsourcing before and it didn’t work—don’t give up. Your editor is out there. I promise. And when you find them? You’ll be like, “Where were you three years ago?!”

But here’s the thing—if you’re stuck making tiny, hyper-specific adjustments like +1 tint or -2 exposure tweaks… you might not be ready to outsource. That level of control will make the experience frustrating. You have to be okay with someone else doing 95% of the work—even if you still add the finishing touches.

What matters is: does the catalogue look cohesive? Can the images sit side-by-side in an album and feel consistent? That’s what success looks like.

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[00:19:32] Sandra Henderson:

YES. Maybe it’s the wedding photographer in me, but that level of consistency is just so calming. Doesn’t matter if it’s 2PM sun or a 10PM reception—when everything flows, it’s magic.

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[00:19:47] The Impact of Outsourcing on Style and Workflow

Sandra Henderson:
So speaking of style—how do you think outsourcing affects the actual work photographers put out?

Janelle Henningson:
Great question. Honestly? We’re removed enough to avoid second-guessing. You know how photographers re-edit a gallery three times? Editors don’t do that.

We match your anchor image and deliver consistent work all the way through. No triple-checking. No magenta adjustment rabbit holes.

Sandra Henderson:
Oof. That’s so me. I even have a sticky note on my monitor that says “done is better than perfect” to stop myself from going down that path.

Janelle Henningson:
Exactly. Most people—including your clients—can’t even tell the difference between a +2 tint and a neutral version. That’s usually just us being in our heads. Your photographer friends might notice. Your clients? Probably not.

Sandra Henderson:
Totally. Once I started working with an editor, it made my style more consistent—and helped speed up my entire workflow because I had someone waiting on me to deliver the catalogue. That accountability helped so much.

Janelle Henningson:
YES. That’s the goal. We want to be a part of your workflow—not an add-on, but a partner. So you deliver faster, with less stress, and your clients get their galleries sooner than expected.

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[00:22:33] Enhancing the Client Experience

Sandra Henderson:
Here’s a question I hear a lot—do you think outsourcing takes away from the personal, hands-on client experience photographers are known for?

Janelle Henningson:
Honestly? No. I think it makes it better.

Serving your clients doesn’t mean being glued to your laptop editing. It means showing up for them. Being responsive. Being present. And during busy season, that’s hard to do when you’re four weddings behind on edits.

Think about it—are you showing up for your October clients the same way you showed up for your May clients? Probably not… unless you’ve built systems and support around you. That’s what outsourcing allows.

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Sandra Henderson:
That was such a strong point to end on. We think outsourcing is just about saving time—but when you zoom out, it actually creates space to serve your clients better.

Whether you’re saving five hours or twenty-five, that time can be re-invested into delivering a better experience.

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Janelle Henningson:
Exactly. I’m a big advocate for being intentional with your time—that’s probably why I became an editor after being a photographer.

Sandra Henderson:
Same here. Chronic illness life means my time is unpredictable, so anything that takes something off my plate while maintaining quality? I’m in.

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[00:25:26] Choosing the Next Adventure

Sandra Henderson:
Okay—last question! Inspired by your current adventure in France: once your year abroad wraps up, would you rather live in England or Italy next?

Janelle Henningson:
Haha—funny you ask because we’re doing both! I’ve been to England before, but I love Italian food, so I’m especially excited for that part of our next stop.

Sandra Henderson:
Same. I’m a huge foodie. I need a good place to sleep, great food, and then everything else is just bonus.

Janelle Henningson:
Right? Give me pasta and gelato and I’m in.

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[00:26:27] Wrapping Up

Sandra Henderson:
Thank you so much, Janelle. This was such a valuable conversation. I hope everyone listening feels inspired to go find their perfect editor match.

Before we jump off, can you share where people can find you online?

Janelle Henningson:
Absolutely!

• Instagram: @janellejoy_photo_editor
• Website: janellejoy.com
  I answer DMs and emails, so don’t hesitate to reach out.

Sandra Henderson:
Perfect. Thanks again, Janelle!

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[00:27:56] Final Thoughts

Sandra Henderson:
If you ended last year feeling burnt out and overwhelmed, take this episode as your sign to outsource your editing.

There’s a learning curve. It takes a few weeks to hit your stride. But if you go in with realistic expectations, you’ll set yourself up for success.

Build the cost into future bookings. Eat the cost for the weddings you’ve already booked. You’ll get photos out faster, your clients will be happier, and you’ll actually have time to rest.

You can’t rest if you’re constantly editing—or worrying about all the editing you haven’t done. Outsourcing, paired with systems that support you, is how you scale without burning out.

It’s not about working harder. It’s about working smarter.

That’s it for this week, friends. I’ll see you back here next Wednesday with a new episode.

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💬 Want someone to clean up your HoneyBook so you’re actually ready to outsource?
Book a Done-For-You Setup and let me get your workflows working behind the scenes while you focus on what you actually want to be doing.

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About Janelle

Janelle is the founder and owner of Janelle Joy Private Editing. After being a photographer for 14 years she saw a huge need for personal photo editing and decided to launch Janelle Joy Private Editing back in 2016. She now runs a thriving and successful editing business helping wedding photographers from all over the world take back their time, enabling them to upscale their business, create better client experiences, and have a personal life in the process.

In-fact, the high-demand for Janelle’s personal and unique approach to private editing ended up growing from a one woman show to a team of 6 editors in a period of just 1 year! Janelle is in all the details and definitely delivers a premium experience and service to all of her clients. Janelle and her team work with extraordinary high-end luxury photographers all the way down to the every day wedding photographer. She thrives by the motto, “Time is a luxury we can’t afford to waste. So use it wisely and purposefully.”

Instagram | Website

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