Pro Photo Tips by Huibo Hou

My Top Postprocessing Tip

By Huibo Hou

I am often asked whether there are any “secret sauces” in my postprocessing. If I had to give one, it would be this: take your time.

When I return from a trip, I usually immediately browse through my images and mark the ones that stand out. But I don’t start processing them right away. Instead, I let them sit—sometimes for days, sometimes for weeks, and occasionally even months.

There’s a reason for this delay. Right after a trip, my mind is still filled with emotions and vivid memories of what I experienced. I already have favorites in mind, and for some of them I can clearly see how I want the final image to look. At that stage, I’m deeply attached to the feelings I had in the field.

That connection is important, but it can also be limiting. When we are so emotionally invested, we risk becoming overly subjective. We may overlook flaws in the original image or miss other opportunities to unlock its full potential.

By stepping back and giving the images time, I’m able to return with fresher eyes. This distance allows me to examine the photos more objectively: to notice technical issues I initially ignored, to rethink how I might approach the processing, or even to discover potential in an image I had dismissed earlier.

Some might think this contradicts the idea of staying true to our intuitive response in the field. But in fact, the two approaches complement each other. My initial intuitive response from the field provides the emotional anchor, while my more objective perspective helps me judge how far the image is from that vision—and what steps are needed to bridge the gap.

Taking time also means allowing room for iterations during editing. I rarely consider an image “finished” after just one round. Most of us don’t have perfect ideas in a single sitting. My first pass is usually about exploring possibilities without worrying too much about technical precision. Then I set the image aside—sometimes for a few hours, sometimes for a few days—before returning to evaluate how close it is to my original vision.

By the second round, I often get much closer. But rarely is the process complete without a third pass, and occasionally more. Later iterations are usually very small refinements, but those subtle adjustments can make a huge difference. This is especially true in black-and-white photography, where every tonal decision shapes the interpretation of the scene. Such choices often benefit from careful thought and time.

An image carries our vision and emotions each time we press the shutter in the field. The role of postprocessing is to help that vision come alive—to bring out the full potential of the image so it communicates our personal expression. For me, patience and time are the key ingredients that make this possible.