If you’ve never done this before, it can feel overwhelming trying to figure out what the best feedback you can give me is. Below I’ve outlined a few things that will help us communicate clearly so you get everything you’re dreaming of in as few rounds of editing as possible.
Good feedback is an essential piece of the editing relationship.With your valuable feedback and insight, I’ll continue to revise and refine the work until you’re happy, because that’s the ultimate goal.
Let me do the work
I’m not looking for solutions- I want your honest, direct feedback. Instead of “make the shadows darker”, tell me what’s bothering you about the shadows/dark tones. Let me worry about how to fix it -it’s what I’m here for!
I want to know WHY you’re requesting the change
Instead of just making change requests, I’d like your feedback to be specific and all about the WHY as it helps me edit more effectively for you. When I know the problem, I can come up with the right solution to fit your aesthetic and overall look.
You’re an expert too!
You know more than I do about your clients, strategic brand goals, and internal processes so please, use that knowledge to influence our work together. I’m looking to you to ensure that what I’m delivering is in line with all of that.
While I do dig deep to get to know you and your clients as deeply as possible, you’ll always know more than I do. I trust and respect that knowledge so don’t hesitate to let me know if anything is out of alignment.
Give feedback early and often.
Ultimately, you hire a editor because you want to outsource to a pro and hopefully they know stuff you don’t and can do it faster and possibly even better.
You have an opinion; I’d like to hear it.
I want you to be happy with my work, and I really can’t read your mind (yet)!
Take your time
Take time to carefully look at the first draft I deliver to you. Make a list of the corrections you would like to see and state all of them at once. I won’t revise your images until you’ve confirmed that you’ve noted ALL the changes you want this round.
If you don’t give all your changes at once, it draws out the process and takes longer to get the project completed.
I’m not a mind reader
In general, if you don’t tell your editor something must be changed, they won’t know there’s an issue.
At all times, be as specific as possible with feedback. Come with examples of image styles, colors, and images you’d like to refer to (and be able to verbalize what it is about those examples you like), or be able to point to specific elements you would like changed.
This isn’t about you coming up with a solution. Instead, it’s about you communicating what you DO like visually, rather in just words which require interpretation and can be colored by experience. For example, what you see as fun or elegant might not be what I would label as such so by showing me other images that you feel are fun/elegant, I can SEE what you mean.
Instead of “That looks weird,” say “The colors feel a bit bold/saturated here and their skin is too warm”
In the same way, be specific about the elements of the edit that you do like. If there’s a part of the edit that you want to see more of, be sure to point it out specifically.
Learn the Lingo
Useful article to help you become familiar with editing terms (WRITE THE ARTICLE!)