When it comes to wedding photos, one of the biggest questions people ask me is: what’s the difference between lightly edited photos and retouched photos? Since I just delivered a wedding gallery where I did both, I thought this would be the perfect time to break it down and show some examples side by side.

Lightly Edited Photos

This is my main style as a photographer. When I say “lightly edited,” I mean adjusting things like brightness, contrast, colors, and sharpness. I’ll make sure the skin tones look natural, the lighting feels balanced, and the overall vibe matches the mood of the day. Think of it as giving your photos a clean, polished look without changing who or what is in the picture. If a cloud rolled in or the room lighting was a little harsh, light editing smooths that out.

Retouched Photos

Retouching goes a step further. This is when I actually remove or change specific details. For example, I might smooth out skin, whiten teeth, take out a blemish, or even edit a distracting object in the background. Retouching is more detailed. Although I may retouch a few photos, I mainly stick to light editing unless specifically requested. It’s not part of my everyday style because I like to keep my images true to the moment.

My Approach

I always lean toward light editing because I believe weddings should look authentic. Of course, if you want a handful of photos retouched, that’s always an option. Most of my couples love the lightly edited versions, but sometimes they’ll request a few retouches for portraits or close-ups, and that’s totally fine.

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At the end of the day, both lightly edited and retouched photos have their place. Light editing keeps things natural and timeless, while retouching can give certain shots that little extra polish. Below, I’ve shared a few side-by-side comparisons from my recent wedding gallery so you can see the difference for yourself.

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Photographer: KB Visualz

Blog Editor: Kat D