Just like I shared with the baseball composites, I love being transparent about what happens behind the scenes in photography. Today, I want to show you a before-and-after example from this year’s band photos and talk about how editing plays such an important role in the final result.

Shooting Indoors with a Backdrop

This time, I had the opportunity to collaborate with another photographer who specializes in using a backdrop and lighting setup. This was the perfect option for photographing a large group like the band—over 100 students in one day! Shooting indoors allowed us to avoid distractions, unpredictable weather, and even the challenges of the wind (a huge plus when you’re trying to keep uniforms, hair, and instruments in place).

Working with this setup also gave us the consistency we needed—every student photographed in the same lighting and angle so the final gallery felt polished and cohesive.

Transforming the Final Image

The left image shows what the photo looked like straight out of camera. Clean, well-lit, and simple. From there, I was able to take it to the next level through editing:

✨ Silhouette effect: Converting the image into a striking silhouette made the musician and instrument stand out in a bold and timeless way.
✨ Custom background: Adding a dramatic orange background not only removed the plain backdrop, but also gave the image energy and school spirit.
✨ Highlighting details: Subtle adjustments made sure the school logo and instrument details were still visible while keeping the focus on the overall silhouette.

Why This Matters

Editing isn’t about hiding flaws—it’s about telling the story in the most impactful way possible. For the band, these edits created images that feel powerful, unified, and representative of the group as a whole. With so many students to photograph, every minute counted, and this workflow ensured they got back to rehearsal quickly while still receiving unique and professional images.

✨ Whether it’s sports, seniors, families, or full marching bands—my goal is always the same: capture the moment efficiently and then edit with care to make it shine.