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Creative teams at companies like CVS Pharmacy and Complex found a straightforward solution: They outsource routine photo editing to Path. Their designers now spend time on strategy and creative problem-solving while professional editors handle the technical work. Here’s how this approach can work for your team.

Why creative teams should outsource photo editing  

When you look at how your team spends their time, routine photo editing probably takes up more hours than you’d like. Here’s what most teams discover when they start outsourcing this work:

Specialists handle it better

Professional photo editors work on thousands of images regularly. They’re faster, more consistent, and catch details that someone juggling multiple responsibilities might miss. A marketing manager doing quick background removal between meetings isn’t going to deliver the same quality as a dedicated editing specialist.

It costs less than you think

When you factor in salary, benefits, software licenses, and training time for an in-house editor, bulk photo edits through a service like Path often work out cheaper. Plus, you only pay for what you need instead of keeping someone busy during slow periods.

Helps handle seasonal changes

Holiday campaigns and product launches can create an unexpected amount of editing work for your team. On the other hand, professional editing services scale with your needs without the need to hire someone new.

You get consistent results

When different team members handle editing based on who has time that week, it’s hard to keep consistency. Professional services maintain the same quality standards across thousands of images.

Here’s a realistic cost comparison: Editing 30 product images for a campaign could cost around $12–-#$30 with Path, depending on complexity. If your team handles those same edits internally, that could be 2–3 hours of work, even for people who already know the tools well. When you consider what those hours cost in salary, outsourcing often breaks even or saves money while freeing up your team for other projects.

Ready to see what consistent, professional photo editing looks like?

Try two free edits

Which editing tasks should your team outsource?

To decide which editing tasks to outsource, think about your workflow and which tasks eat up the most time without requiring deep brand knowledge or creative decision-making. For example:

High-volume, low-creativity tasks:

• Background removal and clipping path services: Basic cutouts that follow clear specifications.
• Bulk retouching: Consistent adjustments across product catalogs and seasonal campaigns.
• Color and other general corrections: Standard photo retouching adjustments that follow brand guidelines.
• Shadow and reflection work: Technical enhancements that require precision but not creativity.

Complex but routine edits:

• Ghost mannequin: Apparel photography that needs to show fit and drape consistently.
• Sports photography cleanup: Action shot enhancement and standardization.
• Corporate headshot processing: Standardized retouching across employee photos.
• Product consistency: Ensuring thousands of products follow the same visual standards—or apparel is perfectly symmetric.

And here’s what we suggest to keep in-house:

• Creative concepting: Initial vision and artistic direction.
• Brand-critical decisions: Color choices and styling that define your brand’s visual identity.
• Photo selection: Choosing which shots best represent your brand and message.
• Campaign strategy: How visuals fit into your broader marketing goals.

The key is knowing which photo editing services you need for each type of project and delegating accordingly. You don’t necessarily need to outsource everything, just what makes sense for your team’s resources, workflows, and skills. 

Photo outsourcing benefits for your team and business

The more obvious cost savings aside, you’ll likely also notice your people have more energy for complex projects and deadlines become less stressful. Here’s what typically happens across different levels of your organization when you start outsourcing your photo editing.

For creative directors:

• Teams tackle complex creative challenges instead of spending time on technical busy work.
• Campaigns move from concept to launch without getting stuck waiting for photos to be edited.
• You know exactly what editing costs instead of guessing how much internal time projects will need.

For team members:

• Designers and marketers spend time on projects that actually use their specialized skills.
• Repetitive tasks that drain creative energy get handled by someone else.
• Time gets freed up for learning new techniques and taking on challenging projects.

For the business overall:

• Product launches and campaigns happen faster without editing delays or numerous approvals between team members.
• You can create more content without needing to hire more people to handle the extra work.
• Professional standards get maintained across all visual content, which is particularly important if you sell on marketplaces like Amazon.

Should you consider AI editing instead of outsourcing?

AI editing tools promise quick fixes but often create more problems than they solve for professional teams. You might end up spending more time and money fixing AI mistakes than if you’d used human editors from the start—and AI is notoriously ineffective for maintaining consistency and making those small, precise fixes.

When fully outsourcing photo edits to AI, teams often encounter these challenges.:

• Inconsistent results: The same edit on similar images produces different outcomes.
• Complex subject struggles: Hair, transparent objects, and intricate details confuse algorithms and they don’t deliver a high-quality edit.
• No problem-solving: Can’t always adapt when unusual scenarios come up in real projects, like when you’re retouching portrait photos and need to keep someone’s natural freckles or distinctive features while smoothing overall skin texture.
• Quality control gaps: No revision process when the AI delivers poor results.
• Communication barriers: Can’t always explain specific requirements or request adjustments.
• Security concerns: Uploading client photos or images with people in them to AI platforms raises privacy concerns, since you can’t always control how those platforms store or use the images.

Professional editing services like Path give you the speed and cost efficiency you want from AI, but with actual people handling your work. You get consistent results, direct communication when you need changes or have any questions, and the flexibility to handle complex requests that algorithms might struggle with. 

Every image gets edited to the same professional standard, whether it’s 10 photos or 1,000. When unusual requests come up or you need revisions, you can actually talk to someone who understands your specific needs. Plus, your files are handled securely with proper accountability, and anyone on your team can place orders without needing to learn prompt engineering or worry about how to phrase requests correctly.

Don’t risk your brand’s visuals on AI tools—trust Path’s human editors for consistent, enterprise-level photo editing that scales with your team.

Work with Path’s editors

How to choose the right editing partner for your project

Not every photo editing service works well for larger teams. The right partner should handle 1,000+ images monthly without delays, maintain consistent quality across big projects, and meet tight deadlines when needed. 

You also need secure file handling for brand materials, real people for support (not just chatbots), and pricing that’s transparent with bulk discounts.

Watch out for these red flags when shortlisting photo editing services:

• AI-only services claiming professional quality
• Bulk pricing that isn’t transparent 
• Chat-only support that can’t handle complex requests
• No revision options when professional work needs adjustments

Path works well for enterprise teams because we use human editors exclusively, offer volume pricing and different types of photo editing services, and provide support with 24/7 availability. We’ve built our reputation working with enterprise clients across industries, and teams processing thousands of images annually can even become affiliates to earn commission on referrals.

How to get started with outsourced editing 

Making the switch to outsourced photo editing doesn’t require overhauling your entire workflow overnight. Most teams start by testing the process with a small batch of typical work, then gradually increase volume as they see how it fits their needs and timeline.

1. Try it with real editing requests: Path offers two free edits so you can test the process with actual images from your current projects. Pick something representative of what your team usually handles.
2. Build up gradually: Once you see how it works, you can buy Path credits to handle larger batches when your workload increases. Credits don’t expire, so you can purchase them when it fits your budget cycle—and you also get bonus credits when you top up.
3. Scale to enterprise pricing: Teams regularly processing 1,000+ images monthly can access bulk rates starting from $0.25 per image, making large-scale outsourcing more economical.

Why enterprise teams enjoy working with Path for their photo edits

Professional sports photographers like those working with multiple teams each season have found that outsourcing routine editing work lets them focus on capturing the action and building client relationships instead of spending hours in post-production. But they’re not the only ones.

Creative agencies, ecommerce brands, and other companies that use visuals also share similar feedback. They can now dedicate their talent to strategy and creative problem-solving instead of routine technical work that would require proper training and systems.

Outsource editing and let your teams focus on what they do best

We’re certain your teams don’t want to spend hours editing photos, when there are more impactful and rewarding tasks and projects to tackle. With a choice between spending valuable time and energy on these routine tasks or delegating them to specialists who can candle them faster and more consistently, we believe it’s an easy decision.

Instead of letting the AI deliver work that needs double-checking or redoing, free your creative talent to focus on the work that actually differentiates your brand and drives business results.

Start with a small test batch to see how professional editing fits into your workflow. Once you experience the time savings and quality improvements, you’ll wonder why you waited so long to make the switch!

Editing thousands of images each month? Get enterprise pricing and priority support.

Contact for bulk rates

The post The Smart Way for Creative Teams to Scale: Outsource Photo Editing, Not Creativity appeared first on Path Edits.

Affiliate programs often get dismissed as something only solopreneurs and influencers can benefit from. But your entire team, agency, or department can turn your professional networks into serious passive income through team affiliate marketing.

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You use your combined professional relationships to refer people who need editing services for different purposes than what you do. Photo editing affiliate programs like ours work particularly well because they offer high-value services, repeat customers, and longer commission windows. Read on for tips on how to make the most of it.

Why choose the Path affiliate program for photo editing

Here’s how Path’s affiliate program stands out compared to typical industry affiliate programs:

You earn for 12 months, not just once. Most affiliate programs pay you once when someone buys, then you’re done. Path pays you 20% commission on every single order that customer places for their entire first year. One good referral keeps paying you for months.

It doesn’t have income limits. There are no earning caps or referral limits. Refer 5 customers or 50—you get paid for all of them.

Our program works for individuals and businesses. Your agency can participate as a team, pooling referrals and sharing commissions however you want.

You get a longer tracking window. Path tracks your referrals for 60 days using cookies. Most programs only track for 30 days, so you have more time for people to actually place their first order.

The program has a low payout threshold. You get automatic monthly payouts via Wise once you hit just $25. 

You receive Industry-competitive rates. Photo editing services typically offer 15–50% commissions, but most pay only on the first purchase. Path’s 20% rate for 12 months means you earn significantly more per referral over time. For example, if a customer spends $500 total on Path editing services in their first year, you earn $100 compared to just $20 from a typical one-time commission program.

You’re recommending quality service. Path uses human editors, not AI. It makes referrals easier because you’re recommending a service that actually works and has a good, established reputation with tons of 5-star reviews.

How the Path affiliate program works 

Getting started with our affiliate program takes just 5 minutes:

1. Apply online: Fill out our application form. We manually review each application, which usually takes 1–3 business days.
2. Get your link: Once approved, you get access to your affiliate dashboard and unique referral link. The dashboard shows real-time stats on clicks, conversions, and earnings.
3. Share and earn: When someone signs up with Path through your link, they get 20% off their first order. You earn 20% commission on that order plus every order they place for the next 12 months.
4. Get paid automatically: We send payments via Wise. Once you earn $25 or more, you get paid automatically in the first two weeks of each month.

We designed this affiliate program for photo editing to be simple enough for you and your team to share your links and get paid without waiting for large withdrawal thresholds.

Who should join the Path affiliate program 

Our program works best for teams already working in creative and photography spaces. Remember, your team’s combined network is bigger than any individual’s, and you’re not referring Path to competitors, but people who need editing for different purposes or different scales than your work. Below are some ideas and tips for specific referral opportunities for each type of business.

Creative agencies and studios

You outsource editing work, have clients who need consistent photo editing, and can recommend Path when clients need more support. For example, small business clients who need product photos but can’t afford full agency services, startup clients doing their own photography who need professional editing, freelancers you work with who need editing support, corporate clients’ in-house teams handling basic photography, and marketing teams  you work with on different projects.

Ecommerce teams and managers

Product photography is part of your daily routine, and you know how frustrating inconsistent editing can be. You can recommend Path to other ecommerce brands in non-competing industries, suppliers who need better product photos for catalogs, and retailers you sell through, such as ecommerce shops that might need different edits for different marketplaces.

Sports photography businesses

You can refer other photographers in different specialties (real estate, weddings, events), smaller companies who can’t afford your services but need editing, and freelancers you collaborate with or mentor. Even venues you shoot for might benefit from a variety of edits when they advertise competitions or events across social media, websites, and print materials like leaflets or posters.

Corporate photography services

Your ongoing relationships with HR departments and corporate clients can create natural moments where editing recommendations come up in conversation. For example, you might deliver a series of team headshots but their marketing team will need to use them in different formats across websites, LinkedIn, or  other platforms.

Solo professionals and freelancers

Content creators, photography educators, consultants, business coaches, and equipment vendors all connect with people who need editing help. And unlike agencies and larger brands, solo professionals and freelancers often share behind the scenes of their workflow and tools with others in the same space.

How to maximize your Path affiliate earnings 

Successful referrals generally come from understanding your network and making the conversation feel natural, not forced:

• Start with pain points: Your network deals with editing challenges, such as inconsistent quality, slow turnarounds, high costs, no dedicated editing staff. These conversations are where Path fits naturally.
• Make it helpful, not salesy: Work Path into existing conversations, emails, and social posts. You’re sharing a useful resource, not pushing affiliate links.
• Time it right: Promote during busy seasons when people need more editing help, such as during holiday ecommerce prep, sports championships, school headshot seasons.
• Track your progress: Our dashboard shows which referral sources convert best, so you can double down on what’s working and improve campaigns that might not be performing well.

Natural referral touchpoints

If you’re wondering what actual conversations might look like, we have some ideas below. The main idea is to frame your content as helping others, not promoting yourself, because you want your network to trust you, not see you as salesy.

For agencies and studios:

• “If you ever need editing support beyond our scope, I have a great resource.”
• Include Path in a “resources we recommend” section in project wrap-up emails.
• Mention Path in casual conversations about workflow challenges at networking events.
• “Hey, found this editing service that might help with your editing backlog.”

For ecommerce teams:

• “Your online store photos could really benefit from professional editing.”
• Casual chats about business challenges at industry conferences.
• LinkedIn posts: “Here’s how we streamline our product photography workflow.”
• Include Path in a “Resources that might help your business” section in supplier newsletters.

For photographers:

• “If you need future editing support, here’s what I recommend.”
• Answer questions or share editing tips in photography Facebook groups, especially during busy wedding seasons.
• Recommend Path to photographers you’re helping during mentoring conversations.

General social sharing ideas:

• “Great tools for small businesses” roundups.
• “Resources we recommend” posts.
• Answering industry questions without revealing your own processes.

How to sign up as an affiliate with Path

Ready to get started as our affiliate? Here’s how it works:

1. Fill out the application. Head to our affiliate page and complete the form. We’ll ask about your business and how you plan to share Path with your network.
2. Wait for approval. We review each application manually, which usually takes 1–3 business days. Having an established business in creative or photography spaces definitely helps.
3. Get your dashboard and link. Once approved, you’ll get login details for your affiliate dashboard and your unique referral link. Everything updates in real-time so you can track your progress.
4. Focus on your existing network first. Spend your first 30 days talking to people you already know rather than trying to find new contacts. Your established relationships are where you’ll see the best results.

Start earning passive income with Path today

If you’re looking to earn passive income from recommending a reputable service to your network, Path’s affiliate program is a great fit. You earn 20% commissions for 12 months, there are no earning caps, and it’s designed for teams and agencies who want to monetize relationships without competing with similar businesses. Apply today and start earning!

Earn 20% commissions while helping others level up their visuals—with a human-powered photo editing partner they trust..

Learn more

The post Earn 20% Commissions for 12 Months With the Path Affiliate Program appeared first on Path Edits.

30,000 sales and marketing pros get our insights, tips, and best practices delivered weekly.

The contest

The Talent Hunt was created with a few goals in mind: 

• to identify exemplary photo editing techniques an
• to recognize the editors behind the edits—we do everything by hand here, no sloppy AI shortcuts
• to foster innovation and future leaders in the industry

We let everyone get in on the fun—our in-house folks, temp workers, and even our subcontracting team—to see who can make the best, the fastest, and the most accurate photo edits. And not only that, but how the rest of our organization can learn from them. It’s just another way we’ve found to continuously innovate and push ourselves to always do better.

We had three categories for winners:

1. Speedstar Editor: the person who can edit images in the least amount of time while maintaining quality standards
2. Quality Wizard: the editor who can edit images with extraordinary quality by using different techniques outside of their traditional quality within the defined timeframe
3. Technique Mastermind: for the most creative editing techniques that still deliver quality and speed

We also had a judging panel, made of:

Creative review

• Md. Ataur Rahman, Senior Manager, Production
• MD. Shahadat Hossain, Senior Manager, Customer Support
• Md Shaharia Kabir, Assistant Manager, Audit
• Rayhanul Islam, Senior Executive, R&D
• Abdullah Al Jasim, Executive, R&D

Overall organization and coordination

• Rifat Rahmatullah, Manager, Human Resources
• Shams Al Mujahid, Senior Executive, HR and Admin

Final decision

• Md. Atiqur Rahman Molla, CEO
• Rokaiya Yesmin, COO

The winners

Seven participants competed in the Talent Hunt, with two emerging as the top contestants. These editors displayed exceptional proficiency in all types of edits. Their techniques not only streamlined editing processes but also elevated the overall quality.

Get to know the winners—some of the very people who edit your photos:

Bishojit Sarker, 1st place

• Category: Quality Wizard
• Technique: image masking and photo retouching
• Prize: mobile phone

Mohammad Ripon, 2nd place

• Category: Speedstar Editor
• Technique: raster to vector
• Prize: tablet

What’s next?

Sure, the Talent Hunt was a lot of fun! But there’s also a business goal behind it. Our top editors have innovated to bring new editing techniques and workflows to their work.

By having this Talent Hunt, we can bring our larger team of editors together, identify top talent, and learn from them. The Talent Hunt winners can share their expertise, learnings, and techniques with the rest of the Path editing team to help continue to propel the quality of our services higher and higher.

Thanks for being a part of our family

We wouldn’t be able to edit images, innovate, and give back to our people without our customers. To us, Path is more than just a photo editing studio. It’s a family. And we’re happy to have you a part of that big, extended Path family. 

The post Putting People First: Congratulations to the Path Talent Hunt Winners! appeared first on Path Edits.

Although Bangladesh has hot weather for most of the year, the winter season brings significant challenges for two to three months every year. And rural communities get hit the hardest. 

Many families in rural areas, especially students, already lack access to basic necessities, and this is only heightened in the winter months when they need blankets and warm clothing. The cold weather makes it challenging for students to stay healthy and focus on their studies.

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Plus, government aid often doesn’t reach remote areas like Chandipur Union in Gaibandha, one of the poorest regions in the country.

That’s why, every year, we acquire and distribute blankets to those in need at Chandipur Union.  

Here’s what YOU helped us accomplish this year:

Together, you helped us raise more than $3,500 on Giving Tuesday. We purchased blankets and successfully distributed them on January 13, 2025 to 715 students in 14 different residential schools. 

Now they can make it through the winter without the added burden of enduring the severe cold. They can stay warm, healthy, and focused on school.

It’s because of your support that we’re able to make a difference in the lives of the people in Gaibanda. Thank you for being part of our extended family.

The post Thank You for Helping Our Community: Blankets in Bangladesh appeared first on Path Edits.

30,000 sales and marketing pros get our insights, tips, and best practices delivered weekly.

Choose from 25 supported currencies

Previously, you were able to convert prices to your local currency, but you were still billed in USD. That has all changed.

Now, when you select a currency, that’s also the currency you’ll be billed in. That means no foreign transaction or currency conversion fees from your issuing financial institution.

Here are the currencies you can choose from, in alphabetical order:

• AED د.إ: UAE dirham
• AUD$: Australian dollar
• BDT ৳: Bangladeshi taka
• BRL R$: Brazilian real
• GBP £: British pound sterling
• CAD$: Canadian dollar
• CLP$: Chilean peso
• CZK Kč: Czech koruna
• DKK kr: Danish krone
• EUR €: Euro
• HKD$: Hong Kong dollar
• HUF Ft: Hungarian forint
• ILS ₪: Israeli new shekel
• LBP ل.ل: Lebanese pound
• MXN$: Mexican peso
• NZD$: New Zealand dollar
• NOK kr: Norwegian krone
• SAR ر.س: Saudi riyal
• SGD$: Singapore dollar
• SEK kr: Swedish krona
• CHF: Swiss franc
• TRY ₺: Turkish lira
• USD $: US dollar
• VND ₫: Vietnamese dong
• ZAR R: South African rand

If a specific currency is unavailable for a particular location, the default currency will be set to USD.

Change the currency anytime

Head to the upper right corner of the website to select the currency of your choice.

Our site automatically detects your location based on the IP address your device is connected to, and so we’ll adjust to your local currency for you. If your currency isn’t available, the default is USD. You can override this at any time.

If you create a Path account, we’ll default to the address associated with your account settings—even if you’re physically in a different location or country.

You can change the currency at any point. Maybe you want to see the prices listed in USD, but once you place your order, you want to change it to CAD. You can go ahead and do that at any time—as long as you haven’t entered and submitted your payment information yet.

Pay for orders without conversion fees

The amount shown during checkout will match the amount charged to your credit card, as long as the card is in the same currency you selected on the website.

If the card is in a different currency, your card issuer may apply additional foreign transaction or currency conversion fees. This may mean there’s a slight difference from billing and invoices than what’s actually been charged to your account. However, Path doesn’t issue or receive any foreign transaction or currency conversion fees—this all happens with your financial institution.

Your invoices will list the currency you used to pay for the order. A copy of the invoice is automatically sent to your email right after you submit payment, so you’ll be able to review it straight away.

If you missed or misplaced the email, you can always access and download invoices in the customer dashboard. You can also check out billing history, outstanding invoices, and unpaid orders in the customer dashboard.

Path does it best

Ever since we started this business, we’ve been aware of the stiff competition. That’s why we’re so committed to adding a human touch to every project—completing every edit by hand and even using real customer support agents instead of AI to walk you through the ordering process or troubleshoot any issues you might have.

Now, currency conversion is another area our competitors can’t beat. And while it’s not necessarily a “human” element, it’s a major differentiator.

We scoured the websites of our competitors and can’t find a single one that offers this option. As a global service provider, we care about everyone’s needs—not just the clients who use US dollars. Just another way Path delivers the most convenient, affordable, and quality photo edits to professionals around the world.

Save money and time with Path professional photo edits

We know how important it is to cut costs without sacrificing the quality of your work. That’s why we’re always looking for ways to improve your experience and make it more convenient to get your photos professionally edited.

The post Now You Can Choose From 25 Global Currencies for Path Orders appeared first on Path Edits.

You might not know, but our operations are based in Gaibandha, Bangladesh—one of Bangladesh’s poorest districts.

Over 47% of people in Gaibandha live below the poverty line. And frequent flooding, cyclones and other disasters pose incredible challenges that keep people in a state of struggle.

This is where I grew up, and where I started Path alongside my family.

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And from the beginning, we’ve made it our mission to give back. To make sure that we were taking the resources that came to us, and using them to help make change in our village. 

Since we started out as a small family business, we’ve put over $800,000 back into our community through our charitable projects and contributions. And today I’m proud to announce that we’re taking that even further, with the founding of our newly registered charity, the Anisa Foundation.

The Anisa Foundation is dedicated to making sure everyone in Gaibandha has access to the resources they need to live a good life, from life-saving disaster relief and healthcare to life-changing education and opportunities.

The foundation is named after my mother, Anisa. She has always been the beating heart of the good work we’re doing in Gaibandha. She’s now set to lead the whole family as we aim to make an even bigger difference in people’s lives. 

I also want to say a massive thank you, to everyone who has been part of this journey with us. 5% of the revenue we bring in through Path is dedicated to transforming lives in Gaibandha. So if you’ve ever placed an order with us, thank you. We very literally couldn’t do this without you, and we’re so grateful for your support. 

If you want to learn more about the work we’re doing through the Anisa Foundation you can read more about us right here, or you can contact us if you want to find out more about how you can help.

Every order, partnership and contribution makes it possible for us to help more people—and there are so many more people we want to help.

Join us, and be part of making a big difference in a place where it’s needed most. 

The post Introducing the Anisa Foundation, Our Brand New Registered Charity appeared first on Path Edits.

We let everyone get in on the fun—our in-house folks, temp workers, and even our subcontracting team—to see who can make the best, the fastest, and the most accurate photo edits. And not only that, but how the rest of our organization can learn from them. It’s just another way we’ve found to continuously innovate and push ourselves to always do better.

30,000 sales and marketing pros get our insights, tips, and best practices delivered weekly.

The contest

The Talent Hunt was created to identify and acknowledge exemplary photo editing techniques and the editors themselves while also fostering innovation and identifying potential future leaders.

We had three categories for winners:

1. Speedstar Editor: awarded to the person who can edit images in the least amount of time while maintaining quality standards
2. Quality Wizard: the editor who can edit images with extraordinary quality by using different techniques outside of their traditional quality within the defined timeframe
3. Technique Mastermind: for the most creative editing techniques that still deliver quality and speed

We also had a judging panel, made of:

Creative review

• Md. Ataur Rahman, Senior Manager, Production
• Md Asaduzzaman, Senior Manager, IT
• MD. Shahadat Hossain, Senior Manager, Customer Support
• Rayhanul Islam, Executive, R&D

Overall organization and coordination

• Rifat Rahmatullah, Manager, Human Resources
• Shams Al Mujahid, Senior Executive, HR and Admin

Final decision

• Md. Atiqur Rahman Molla, CEO
• Rokaiya Yesmin, COO

The winners

Eleven participants competed in the Talent Hunt, with four emerging as the top contestants. These editors displayed exceptional proficiency in multi-clipping path, natural shadow, white balance, and wrinkle retouching edits. Their techniques not only streamlined editing processes but also elevated the overall quality.

We had a celebration at our corporate headquarters in Uttara, Dhaka on March 29, 2024 to honor these top editors.

Get to know the winners—some of the very people who edit your photos:

Md Ishak Rahman, 1st place

• Category: Speedstar Editor and Technique Mastermind
• Technique: White balance and wrinkle retouch
• Prize: mobile phone

Md. Kamrul Hasan, 2nd place

• Category: Technique mastermind
• Technique: Natural shadow
• Prize: tablet

Jahid Hasan, 3rd place

• Category: Speedstar Editor
• Technique: Multi-clipping path
• Prize: smart watch

Md. Momin Prodhan, 4th place

• Category: Speedstar Editor
• Technique: Multi-clipping path
• Prize: crest

What’s next?

Sure, the Talent Hunt was a lot of fun! But there’s also a business goal behind it. Our top editors have innovated to bring new editing techniques and workflows to their work.

By having this Talent Hunt, we can bring our larger team of editors together, identify top talent, and learn from them. The Talent Hunt winners can share their expertise, learnings, and techniques with the rest of the Path editing team to help continue to propel the quality of our services higher and higher.

Thanks for being a part of the team

We wouldn’t be able to edit images, innovate, and give back to our people without our customers. To us, Path is more than just a photo editing studio. It’s a family. And we’re happy to have you a part of that big, extended Path family. 

The post Putting People First: Congratulations to the Path Talent Hunt Winners! appeared first on Path Edits.

Business is business, contractors will fail their deadlines and you will need to fast forward some processes to make up for the lost time en route. Speedy photo editing techniques are a lifesaver for those under time pressure—in fact, the Path team has a 6-hour turn in photo editing as well as a 12-hour time frame.

30,000 sales and marketing pros get our insights, tips, and best practices delivered weekly.

Want to know how to edit photos fast? The mission is possible, check these four techniques out.

Why you may need quick image edits

Our clients who order 6-hour photo editing service usually want us to have a 3-hour edits turnaround. But we care for quality more than we care for speed, so we can’t accommodate 3-hour edits on a standard basis. We can consider even more express turnaround on a case-by-case basis though.

These are the most popular reasons why you might need express photo retouching:

Delays from collaborators and partners

To arrange a product photoshoot, you need to:

• rent a studio and photo equipment,
• buy insurance,
• arrange delivery,
• hire models and makeup artists, art director
• choose and hire a photographer and assistant.

These are just some key ingredients that go into an ecommerce product session, and wedding photography is at times as complex.

The more people you have involved in a shoot, the more susceptible you are to delays that fall outside of your control. This may mean you’ll have to make up for the lost time later down the road, often during post-processing edits.

Seasonal sales periods

Many retailers are familiar with the seasonal rush of sales during the holiday shopping period, as well as other regular spikes in demand. Because these spikes are temporary, you can rely on a virtual studio instead of assigning the task to your already busier-than-usual team or spending the time and money hiring a new temporary staff member. These periods are fast-paced, and you might need to output edited product photos at an equally rapid pace.

Jump on trends

Ecommerce is all about selling hot items right now, while they’re in fashion. There are fun toys that all kids at school have or a specific bag that everyone uses for shopping – things that come and go in and out of vogue quickly. In the business of online sales, things move fast and so must you.

Product images from an event

You might also have photos from in-person events, like pop-up shop openings or brand launch parties. Many times, you need to post these images in real-time—or soon after. These photos help spread brand awareness, educate audiences about new outlets and products, and showcase products in a different setting and light.

You’re busy running other aspects of the business

When you started your business, you likely didn’t envision lots of time in front of Photoshop clipping out images or adding ghost mannequins. But these tedious tasks are necessary for high-quality product imagery—and those images are equally important to your bottom line. As a business owner or ecommerce professional, you have tons of tasks and responsibilities on your plate—and photo editing is often at the bottom of the list. However, you still need a photo editing solution to keep up with the pace of your business.

How to get photos edited quickly: 4 tips for faster image editing

Quality photo editing requires money, time, and effort to master complex tools like Lightroom and Photoshop. While both programs are now available at reasonable monthly subscriptions, the learning curve remains substantial. Well, who are we kidding? It’s massive. It takes tons of hours to master Photoshop.

Let’s consider every option for the mission:

Use Photoshop shortcuts: if you already know PS

Using Photoshop shortcuts in photo editing is like using mise-en-place in a busy restaurant. Imagine if you had to make a pesto sauce from scratch every time you do a pasta or meat dish with pesto? Or doing a 50 mil portion of demi-glace every time you need it? When you use shortcuts, the scale is somewhat smaller, but the savings in efficiencies accumulate, as you get to use shortcuts much more often than pesto and demi-glace in the kitchen.

Photoshop shortcuts are essentially a combination of buttons or mouse actions pressed simultaneously that trigger a specific command, which a user could also trigger by opening a series of multiple menu items in software.

Not only is it quicker, but it’s also less draining on your mental power. Shortcuts take one day to train and remember and then they are used on a subconscious level, so it’s like flying on autopilot. Instead of having to focus on clicking a series of submenu items [which are notoriously fine-print and multiple in photo editing software], your fingers just press a familiar key combination.

We have a detailed piece which Photoshop shortcuts to use for editing, but these are some of our team’s favorites:

• P: select Pen tool
• A: select the Direct Selection tool
• H: select Hand tool
• OPTION + click (Alt + click for PC) on point: create a corner at a point as you draw with the Pen tool
• COMMAND + = (CTRL+ = for PC): zoom in
• COMMAND + – (CTRL + – for PC): zoom out
• SHIFT + COMMAND + N (SHIFT + CTRL + N for PC): create a new layer
• FN + SHIFT + F5 (SHIFT + F5 for PC): fill the layer with color

Pros of Photoshop shortcuts

• Photoshop can be easy once you’ve mastered it
• Once you know how to do them, performing basic edits can offer a “brain break” from the other more intense tasks during your workday

Cons of Photoshop shortcuts

• This requires at least a baseline of Photoshop knowledge
• Photoshop takes time to learn and discipline to remember each shortcut before it comes automatically
• If you don’t use your Photoshop shortcut you’ll likely lose them, so it’s only ideal if you get to practice a lot

Perform batch edits: color correction, formatting, resizing & more

Batch edits can save you significantly more time than using shortcuts if you’re dealing with a sequence of images that need similar adjustments.

For example, you can batch edit a series of images shot with the same light in a studio with a model, or a walk in the park in the same weather conditions. In most cases, the settings you apply to tweak the size, formatting, contract, exposure, white balance, clarity, grain, calibration, and sharpening, are going to be the same for the entire series due to similar lighting conditions.

Batch editing and batch color correction methods allow you to apply the same set of edits to a set of chosen images. So once you’ve achieved the right result, you can just apply the edits in bulk to the entire selection.

Different photo editing software programs have different ways of applying a batch editing technique—you’ll need to create a preset in Lightroom, for example—but the principle is the same.

Pros of batch edits

• Tremendous time-saver for color correction, format correction, and resizing of a sequence of similar photos
• Allows for consistency across a series of images, which drives credibility and ensures a professional and clean loo

Cons of batch edits

• To do batch editing, you need to become a master of Photoshop first, which has a huge learning curve
• You may need to still apply other individual edits after batch editing of some more technical general things, like resizing and color correction
• Requires all original images to be shot in a similar way, as this won’t work for images with more variety

Use AI tools: for basic jobs only

Using AI to make image editing faster is a good idea for a basic job with little nuance. Even if you use some sort of artificial intelligence photo editing solution, chances are, you’ll need to apply manual edits after it anyway.

Robots, however trained and advanced, can’t edit photos better than humans for a variety of reasons. So this option is best if you need to edit product images with extremely simple silhouettes shot in the studio with fixed lighting conditions—think straight lines and minimal shadows.

While this is hugely time-saving, you’ll always need to manually review and often make further manual edits, as imperfections are highly likely.

Overall, despite AI getting better, there’s a general consensus that some highly nuanced creative jobs can never be replaced by AI.

Photo editing, copywriting, and customer support can be complemented by the technology, but never fully replaced by it.

Pros of AI editing tools

• Saves time for ecommerce businesses with in-house photography departments and hundreds of thousands of images per annum done in the same studios
• Mastering AI tools usually involves some learning, but not a steep learning curve, as with Photoshop

Cons of AI editing tools

• More complex multi-stage edits are either impossible or require lots of human involvement
• Useful for basic edits only
• Each image requires manual review and often additional adjustments
• Many AI solutions are finicky to work with and make it difficult to refine

Outsource all your tedious edits to a professional photo editing company

You can always outsource your photo editing jobs to a virtual editing studio with a sizable fleet of retouchers, who will perform partial or A–Z editing for your business with an express turnaround fee.

Path offers 6- and 12-hour turnaround times, which allows our clients to avoid tedious editing tasks on a scale—leaving lots of energy for creativity—and efficiently move the images down the marketing pipeline.

Depending on the channel you’re prepping your images for—we can apply multiple edits to achieve a magazine-cover quality. Alternatively, professional retouching services may have preparatory nature—get your product images color-corrected and cut out with a clipping path so you have them ready for your in-house designers for final tweaks.

Pros of outsourcing photo edits

• You have a team of professional designers who already know Photoshop and how to perform edits
• These professionals have expertise in ecommerce photography and can advise you the best way to optimize your shots
• Shift the stress of time pressure and work quality onto a supplier
• Get things done with minimum involvement from your side
• Save your mental capacity and team for creative missions or more important business tasks
• Build a relationship with a supplier who can get to know your products and brand over time

Cons of outsourcing photo edits

• Photo editing agencies may neglect corporate social responsibility (CSR) and exploit talent—ensure your vendor has ethical corporate standards
• Outsourcing your retouching jobs requires good command of technical terms to be done right—make sure you bring references along and educate yourself on the entire menu of services beforehand to avoid any misunderstandings
• The quality of edits may be subpar if you don’t do your due diligence when selecting your photo editing firm.

Express photo editing: quality above all

When it comes to the ROI that high-quality product images have for ecommerce, paying for express turnaround is always an option. It’s the case of marketing budgets well-spent.

In an ideal world, you won’t need to rush through photo edits. But we all know things don’t always go to plan, especially in business. Luckily, we’re here 24/7 so you can get photos edited fast and up to your standards—any day, any time. time-saving to be made on the photo editing stage of your marketing workflow pipeline.

FAQs about how to edit product photos fast

What is the fastest way to edit product photos?

The fastest way to edit product photos is to outsource them to a virtual photo editing studio that offers rush turnaround times. You can also use shortcuts in Photoshop, AI-powered software, and batch editing techniques. The quickest method to process multiple product images is to outsource photo editing to an agency.

How long does it take to edit product photos?

It takes approximately 5 minutes per image to edit product photos. In our survey, a quarter of respondents spent 5 minutes per image, while the second most popular answer was 30 minutes per image. It depends on the quality of the original image, requirements for the output, your editing skills, and your distribution channel.

What is the fastest way to edit multiple photos?

The fastest way to edit multiple photos is to outsource them to a virtual photo editing studio. You can also perform batch edits to a group of images shot with similar lighting and frame.

The post How to Edit Product Photos Fast: What to Do When You Have a Tight Deadline appeared first on Path Edits.

Just as clipping path services are most popular for routine background enhancements, they can also pull their weight in the most imaginative of missions.

It’s not unusual for marketing plans to include group images, collection shots, or collages—in which case multi-clipping path services come in handy. Though it’s one of the most tedious and manual jobs in photo editing, it allows you to do many things with your product images. 

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Looking to wrap your head around more uses of product clipping? Check out these seven ways to enhance your product images with this technique.

What is product clipping?

Product clipping is used interchangeably with a clipping path. Things may get confusing when different photo editing software products call similar tools differently. You may also have heard about the clipping mask, let’s scrutinize the difference between these terms in further detail later.

A clipping path is a photo editing technique to isolate or cut out objects with generally straight or smooth edges from the background it’s shot against. You can create a clipping path with the Photoshop Pen Tool to single out an object from the rest of the image. You can then edit this object independently from the background as well as put it on different backgrounds depending on how you plan to use the image. Or, if the path is reversed, you can isolate and edit the background instead of an object.

Usually, this method is applied to relatively straight-edged objects, like furniture, bags, shoes, electronics, and cosmetics.

You can also use automated tools and artificial intelligence (AI) to create product clipping paths and remove backgrounds. But this often leads to imperfections which are especially noticeable when shoppers zoom in on product images. To ensure the image looks realistic, it’s best to do your clipping paths by hand and keep the line as close to the borders as possible, zooming in on the object.

When it comes to separating objects with more complex outlines or borders, the image masking method is the best choice. You can learn more about the intricacies of clipping path vs. image masking, but here are some of the characteristic features of the masking for your quick understanding:

• Image masking used on the more ragged edges, like fur, hair, and fine-detailed jewelry.
• Masking requires more advanced skills, is more labor-intensive, and also costs more to outsource.
• You maintain all of the original images when image masking, so we can adjust how much of the original image is visible in the final version.

7 ways to use product clipping to sell more online

From swapping out backgrounds to repurposing your images for other uses, check out these seven ways to use clipping path edits for product photos.

1. Put your product on a white background for marketplace selling 

Selling on third-party marketplaces is a great multi-channel strategy. Amazon alone will be responsible for nearly $2 out of $5 spent online in the US in 2022.

When it comes to your online store, you can play with design—from funky fonts to attention-grabbing color combinations. However, this won’t fly with third-party marketplaces like Amazon, Walmart, and eBay. These channels limit brands’ creativity with rather restrictive standards—white background being one of them.

In the example below, this bright yellow camera gets a white background with the help of the clipping path method. The object’s edges are fairly even and straight with just a few minor bumps, so the clipping technique is a great fit.

Luckily, it’s relatively easy to learn how to put a product on a white background on any budget. You don’t even have to do the clipping paths yourself!

2. Prep images for your ecommerce site

Unlike marketplace selling, you have more creativity when it comes to your branded ecommerce site. This allows you to customize images to be consistent with your brand aesthetic, including colored backgrounds and text overlays.

You can follow Amazon’s guidelines or go for an off-white or pastel backdrop so as not to steal the focus from your item. Sustainable clothing brand Kotn uses a uniform light gray background look for a beautiful, clean aesthetic on its website.

As long as you stick to your brand standards—like using the same HEX color, placing objects at the same angles with identical lighting setup, or using the same filters and frames—you’ll have a consistent and professional look across your channels.

The best thing is you can reuse one product image edited with a clipping path, change background colors in Photoshop, and create a new feel this way.

3. Isolate products for further photo editing manipulations

Product editing is often a multistage process, involving a series of actions. Clipping path can often serve as the initial prep stage for succeeding photo edits.

To create a ghost mannequin effect, a garment is shot on a physical mannequin or even person while its inside part is captured separately. The photos are then combined into a single image in post-production.

In the example below, we removed the model from a black jacket only to showcase the inside print of a bikers’-beloved skull. The first step required clipping paths to isolate the subject from both the background and the model.

In the before/after image below a dress undergoes a series of post-production edits—including photo retouching to remove creases in the fabric—after the ghost mannequin manipulations have been completed.

Color change is another step that retouchers may play with to liven up an image after the technical clipping path manipulations have separated the object. The following example exhibits how a monochrome sneaker can be styled to be more playful with mix-and-match colors and shoelaces. This type of image is also excellent for marketing via email or social media. The first step involved isolating the product from its background via clipping paths.

4. Remove unwanted elements

Product photography calls for quite a bit of imagination. Maybe you want to make an object float in the air, fix it at an angle that defies physics, or use a model to display it. While there are many tricks you can do to set up the frame on shoot day, you can also rely on clipping paths to remove any props or elements you don’t want in the final shot.

Even though experienced photographers will avoid capturing unwanted things in the frame, it’s not always possible. We often remove hangers, price tags, and copyrighted labels from product photos, for example.

5. Turn photos into videos or animated GIFs for social media placement

Social media images are a separate breed of commercial photography. Here, images may be more boisterous, daring, and attention-grabbing.

Videos and GIFs work great on social media channels. In fact, video posts receive more engagement than any other content type on social media.

Why not cut out your product with a clipping path and then make a TikTok or Reel video with fast-changing bright backgrounds?

Image source

6. Create product collection photos

You can’t always plan, things slip your mind, and sometimes group images or series shots get overlooked.

Not a big deal. Use clipping service to cut out a few combinable objects and place them together for a stunning effect, like in this example by Igloo Coolers.

You might also create product bundles, in which case clipping out individual products and then placing them together in a single image also works well. And it’s a lot more efficient than reshooting all the items together.

7. Repurpose your photos for marketing

Creating a library of cut-out products using the clipping path method is a great idea for when you need to repurpose product photos for marketing collateral. This helps extend your product photography investment.

You may want to further combine your cutout object with other items or decorative elements, throw it into an infographic, or even create a collage for Facebook ads.

This Ministry of Supply example uses a wreath of green leaves behind a couple of models for a visual with immediate impact in a marketing email. The background depicts comfort, relaxation, and connection to nature. Realistically, the brand can put this image on a variety of backgrounds for different seasonal or contextual uses.

Outsource your product clipping paths to a virtual photo editing studio

The prime mission of the clipping path may be simple but it’s also rather technical—making sure the object is standalone, background-less, and still realistic. And you need to get every single pixel just right so as not to create a weirdly Photoshopped image, especially if someone zooms in for a closer look.

When you choose a clipping path service, ensure the service vendor has enough experience and creativity to use the entire arsenal of potential applications of this method—including the seven creative ones we listed.

The post 7 Ways to Use Product Clipping Paths to Enhance Ecommerce Product Photos appeared first on Path Edits.

If you just started selling online, you might be wondering how to edit product photos white backgrounds on a budget. We get that. And we’ll show you how below.

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If you’ve been in business long enough to know the power of good product imagery, you might be looking for ways to optimize the entire process—so you get the most crisp images against a really white background. At reasonable rates. On time, every time.

Why put photos on pure white backgrounds

Before getting into the technicalities of achieving a pure white background for your product images in post production, let’s understand why most products are shot against white to start with.

To support just how important image quality is for your online sales, research from Deloitte found that customers perceive content quality as a key pillar to brand building—this includes your product images. 

There are at least five reasons why ecommerce marketers want to have a product white background for their imagery:

Put white backgrounds to spotlight your product

You want to sell the product, not the background—so that’s what you want people to pay attention to. Avoid busy backgrounds and other distractions. Any colored, textured or patterned setting around your item will steal some of the spotlight from the product, making it less pronounced, competing for attention.

Marketplaces require pure white backgrounds

Amazon and many other third-party ecommerce marketplaces require your product photos to have a pure white background. Take a look at Amazon and you’ll see every pixel on the page is crowded with visual information and cues.

Marketplaces are there to make money, so they use intricate user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design to guide their users to purchase.Streamlining the visuals from their millions of vendors reduces additional distractions and creates a cohesive, on-brand look for the marketplace itself.

In the below thread called White Background Pics on Amazon’s Seller Central forum, merchants confirm that any non-white background is detrimental to product search rankings, as the algorithm suppresses those listings. 

Another seller points out, addressing such photography mistakes gives a boost in sales: 

Long story short: When on Amazon, follow Amazon’s guidelines for product photos—and whatever other marketplace you’re selling on.

Pure white background photos are easy to edit

If you want to replace an existing background with a transparent or colored one, the easiest starting point is a product image with a white background. Many photo-editing platforms like Photoshop provide a few tools in their rich arsenal designed specifically for whitening a selection or making white pop, for example.

Create a universal starting point for every channel

If you need to repurpose your product photos for other channels, white background images are an excellent base. For example, you might promote an image on Instagram, use it on your website’s product page, and list the item on eBay or Etsy—you can start with your white background images and manipulate them accordingly.

Pure white backgrounds are universal, unobtrusive and adaptable for multiple uses and channels. Ambiance-rich hues, like neon or RGB-range backgrounds, are only good in certain marketing contexts—for example on social media or in commercials. Just like textured backdrops, they are rather limiting this way.

There is a time and place to get creative though. Check out these ideas for product photo backgrounds that aren’t white.

Cultivate visual consistency

Maintaining consistency in your visual approach and branding is more complex than you might think. There’s so much nuance and detail—every pixel, font, and hue can impact consistency and brand recognition.

Plus, consistent product photos make it easy for people to comparison shop. It’s easier to compare two items when their images are similar, as opposed to products that have two different photographic approaches. Showing your product against a really white background helps consumers clearly see the object’s details, improves the professionalism of your brand, and ensures consistency.

But removing a product image from its background takes time, money, and energy. And while you can find cheap background removal services and apps, the quality and reliability of these tools may not always be up to your standards. After all, the last thing you want is for your beautiful product to look inferior after a subpar editing job.

Save a ton of time with pro background removal from 39¢ per image

7 ways to put a product on a white background on a budget

In the best-case scenario, you won’t even have to remove background from product photography in post-production, as you invested the time, effort, and skills to shoot the object against the white background to start with. However, this isn’t always possible with limited resources, as white background product photography involves quite a bit of experience in handling multiple lighting sources, reflectors, and diffusers.

Below we review the pros and cons of all available options for every budget and skillset.

1. Create a white background for your shoot

Estimated startup cost: $750+

Fixed upfront cost can include either daily studio and equipment rental or a monthly studio rental + purchasing of photo equipment. Both variants also include the services of a photographer whose per day rate or monthly salary depend widely on the skills and geography. Let’s consider daily hire for example’s sake.

• Studio rent per day: starting at $200 per day
• Equipment rental per day [camera, tripod, lighting, reflectors]: starting at $250 per day
• Photographer: starting from $300 per day
• Total per day minimum without an assistant and transportation: $750

Estimated cost per image: $2.50+

Taking perfectly white background product photos from the get-go will dramatically reduce the amount of time and money you need to spend editing them. Typically all you have to do is to touch up color contrast and retouch any minor imperfections.

While you get the best results this way, it comes with a lot of caveats and upfront investment in equipment and skill-building.

These are some considerations to account for when setting up a white background photoshoot:

1. The choice of the backdrop itself. You can use a roll of paper on a stand, a piece of acrylic as the basis, or a white seamless wall in a studio. Backdrops come in glossy and matte variants, they each have their limitations and advantages in terms of portability, reflection, and durability.
2. The distance between the object, the camera, and the background also play a role in how the lighting will reflect from your item. Improper setup could result in overexposure and flares in your photos.
3. The entire lighting equipment setup is mission-critical for any type of photography, let alone for product images against a white setting. The power of lights, angle, direction, and height all play a role into how your background will be lit, and whether it has glares or unwanted shadows. The size of the item, the studio setup, and the products reflective and transparent qualities add further complexity to this style of photography.
4. Hire a photographer who specializes in white background. A skilled photographer is needed to manage the entire arsenal of lighting equipment in the studio, and some experimentation is required to arrange all reflective elements and sources of light for a perfect shot. A few test shots will allow you to see if the light spread is even or if you need to make some final tweaks to your lighting setup.
5. Find natural light. If you need to DIY your product shoot on a budget, you may also consider a natural light source. However, there are other limitations, like time restraints, inconsistency as the sun moves relative to the object, and inability to control intensity of light overall.

While it’s best to take a high quality image with proper lighting against the white backdrop to start with, this method comes at a cost. There are hefty upfront expenses, like studio and equipment rental, as well as hiring a professional photographer to deal with the intricacies of setting up the location.

The anti-example below exhibits an unevenly creased and partially patterned background in an inconsistent natural light with shadows—everything that can and should be avoided in the above-described scenario. So this was ultimately a case for an advanced photo editing team that knows how to edit the background of a photo by hand. Needless to say, that natural hair is a bit of a challenge to edit and a variety of techniques can be used to achieve a true-to-life result, for example clipping paths and image masking. 

Polish up your product shots with pro retouching from 79¢ per image

Pros

• Results in clean, crisp, high-quality product photos—arguably the best on this list
• Only minor edits are required in post production

Cons

• Comparatively expensive, specifically for smaller batches of editing jobs in per image rates
• Time-consuming and labor-intensive
• Requires a proven photo professional to set up lighting, do test shots, and conduct the shoot

2. Choose an online automation tool

Estimated startup cost: $0

Estimated cost per image: 88¢

Remove.bg pricing plans 2022

Problem is, automated product photo editing tools rely on AI and algorithms instead of human skill. Many times, you’ll find part of your product gets removed when you didn’t want it to, or a portion of your background remains visible even after you’ve tried to get rid of it. You certainly don’t want to be the victim of a Photoshop fail.

Even when the AI photo editors do get it right, you have to spend time carefully checking each and every image for errors—a painstakingly tedious and time-consuming ($$) process.

You’ll likely need to make some detailed edits yourself. Most of these automation tools offer ways to tweak your image after the initial background removal, but trying to fight against the algorithm to fix the image can become such a hassle that the program is no longer quick—nor easy—to use.

Related: 5 Jobs That AI Can Never Replace in Your Ecommerce Business 

If you don’t take the time to finesse product images after the initial background removal, you could end up with an inferior image. But you may not get the results you desire with these limited tools. 

Apowersoft: background eraser reviews on App Store

Remember, consumers have a ton of options when shopping online, so showcasing your product with high-quality, professional images is key to standing out from the competition.

Pros

• Very inexpensive and affordable to edit white background product photos on a budget
• Easy to learn how to use, though imperfections may be difficult to fix
• Generally efficient and fast photo editing
• Can be done with a mobile phone app

Cons

• Difficult to produce a high-quality image
• Limitations in terms of maximum allowed image resolution
• Could end up costing you more in time and money to fix errors
• Unable to get perfectly crisp, detail-oriented edits

3. Learn how to remove backgrounds in Photoshop

Estimated startup cost: $9.99 per month

Photoshop pricing plans are now rather affordable, with its most affordable Photography plan starting at $9.99 per month. This plan grants you access to Lightroom and Photoshop and includes 20GB of storage. You can also test out the free trial before you subscribe. The biggest cost here is your time and effort investment into mastering this complex tool, which takes hundreds of hours of learning curve just to grasp the basics.

Estimated cost per image: varies—mostly costs you time

The above point makes per image cost rather cumbersome to calculate, as some people have plenty of free time to learn another tool and some are more strapped for time. Additionally, everyone learns at a different pace.

Adobe Photoshop CC is the professional, industry standard software for image editing and manipulation. Once upon a time, Photoshop was a very expensive piece of software. Today, however, Adobe offers a monthly plan that gives you access to just Photoshop CC and Lightroom for only $9.99/month.

Photoshop allows you to remove a background in many different ways, depending on what type of product you are working with. The wide menu of techniques including clipping paths, masks, selections, and layers gives you maximum flexibility and the ability to tweak your image’s tiniest details, pixel by pixel.

With all that power, however, comes a steep learning curve. Photoshop can take years to master, and if you have other things to worry about besides editing your product images (which you probably do), this might be the last thing you want to add to your plate. And, removing images from their backgrounds still can be very time-consuming, even for skilled Photoshop professionals.

Here are a few helpful tutorials to get started with:

• How to Remove the Background from an Image With Hair
• How to Use the Magic Wand Tool to Remove/Replace the Background
• How to Create a Transparent Background
• How to Change the Color of the Background

Pros

• Save money by DIYing your image editing
• Potential for high-quality images
• Consistency in brand visuals

Cons

• Huge time investment to learn software (you can browse more Photoshop tutorials here)
• Huge time investment to edit each individual photo
• Requires specific mindset, like attention to detail, pedantry, and spatial thinking

Get product photos that pop with background removal services

4. Assign image editing to an employee

Estimated startup cost: $4,000+

• $16 per hour rate for an assistant job in the US + benefits, tax, sick days,
• cost of hiring [$4,425 in the USA],
• office rental [varies widely, from $200 per coworking spot monthly],
• equipment [laptop from $500],
• software licensing [varies widely from $20 per user per month]

Estimated cost per image: $1.60

Let’s say you already have a junior team member looking to diversify their skills with photo editing. With an average hourly rate of $16 and productivity of 7–10 images per hour at the top capacity for a non-professional, your per image price is going to start from $1.60 per image. Once again, we didn’t accrue hiring cost, office rental, taxes, and sick days, which could easily double the pre image pricing eventually.

If you have a team working for you, you might consider assigning photo editing responsibilities to one of your employees. This is often ideal because an internal employee knows your brand inside and out, and can make edits accordingly.

Carla Kabbabe, owner and founder of Claurete jewelry, built a three-person team who collaborates on product photography for the brand. “I understand if someone is earlier in their career, but talented and going to excel in the future,” she says.

If you have someone who has expressed an interest in learning Photoshop, this could be a great opportunity for them to learn a new skill. If you already have skilled graphic designers on staff, they probably know how to produce perfect product photos on white background in Photoshop.

But if you have a large quantity of product images that need to be adjusted, asking one person to take on all photo editing responsibilities—in addition to their regular duties—is a huge time burden.

As mentioned above, even skilled Photoshop users might need a lot of time—up to an hour per image—to remove the background from a product photo. If you have to add the time (and cost) of training a new employee on Photoshop, you could be looking at a significant net productivity loss for that employee while they learn the software.

Learn how to build an in-house product photography team

And while spending all day cutting out product images might sound like a lot of fun, it isn’t. It’s tedious, boring, and often stressful. Make sure your employee really wants to take on this responsibility before you try adding this to their plate. And check in regularly to see if they’re still happy with the work. You might consider additional incentives (such as bonus pay based on number of edited images) to ensure they don’t become disgruntled.

Pros

• Save money by bringing photo editing in-house
• Give employees an opportunity to learn new skills

Cons

• Huge time investment for both skilled and new Photoshop users
• Tedious; can cause employees to become disgruntled
• Takes creative energy and time away from other business tasks
• Can create excess costs if employee needs extra incentive

5. Hire a full-time, in-house production assistant

Estimated startup cost: $4,000+

• $41,000 salary for a production assistant in the US + benefits, tax, sick days,
• cost of hiring [$4,425 in the USA],
• office rental [varies widely, from $200 per coworking spot monthly],
• equipment [laptop from $500], and
• software licensing [varies widely from $20 per user per month].

Estimated cost per image: $3.15

At the rate of 50 images per day—which is a considerably fast pace for a background editing job and other basic post production manipulations—260 working days, the annual productivity of one internal staff member is 13,000 images per year. When an average salary of $41,167 is divided by the annual output of 13,000 images the per image pricing for the editing job only is $3.15. Mind you, this calculation doesn’t take into account any of the above-mentioned fixed variables, like cost of hiring, office rental, and equipment cost. Plus, it assumes this person is only doing photo edits and not performing any other duties or administrative tasks related to their job.

Because background removal is such a mundane and unexciting task, it can quickly become a full-time job. Companies often opt to hire individuals called production assistants to take on these roles.

Whereas graphic designers tend to spend most of their time creating layouts, choosing colors and fonts, and helping design your overall branding, production assistants spend the majority of their time importing content into design templates, making edits to existing designs, or editing photos.

Production assistants are often in the beginning of their career—in many companies this role is considered a stepping stone towards becoming a graphic designer. As such, an entry-level production assistant (with two years of experience or less) can command an average salary of about $17/hour, or about $41 thousand per year in the US, according to Indeed. However, this calculation doesn’t account for additional employee-related expenses such as benefits, etc. 

If you hire a full-time production assistant, you might also have to provide benefits and paid time off. You can choose to go with a creative staffing agency where the agency takes on the burden of benefits, but you may pay more per hour for the employee, and you risk employee turnover because you are, after all, hiring a temporary worker.

Also, production assistants often take positions with the hope of moving into a design role, so they have the expectation they won’t be removing backgrounds from photos forever. Keep that in mind when you select your candidate.

Pros

• You have one person dedicated to editing all of your images
• No training required

Cons

• Significant, additional costs of an employee or temporary staff member
• Time cost of recruiting (and keeping) employee
• Risk of turnover

6. Contract an individual freelancer for background removal

Estimated startup cost: $0

There are no explicit upfront costs in this case.

Estimated cost per image: $5+

Prices range from $5–$50 per image for basic photo editing depending on the location, experience, profile strength, and rankings.

There are plenty of skilled individuals out there hungry for work, and they will happily edit your photos for you. The great thing about outsourcing to a freelancer is you pay per image or per hour—no salary or benefits—and you pay only for what you need.

Freelancers charge a bit more per hour than an in-house employee to compensate for the lack of benefits. According to Payscale, a median salary for a US-based photo editor is just over $57,000 per year or $15.95 per hour. Freelance editors based outside of the US offer their services on freelance marketplaces from $4.95 for basic edits to quadruple of that for premium service per image. This is the per image pricing by one of Fiverr’s top sellers. 

Even with higher rates, paying a freelancer could work in your favor as you pay only when you need the work done, without having to keep someone on payroll during lull times.

However, freelancers have limited capacity. If you only have a handful of images per week, a freelancer will likely have the bandwidth to handle your request. But one person can’t edit hundreds of images in a short timeframe. At least, not edit them well. So if you have a backlog of images that need backgrounds removed, a freelancer likely won’t have the bandwidth.

Also, you aren’t that freelancer’s only client. When you request work, you’ll likely end up in a queue with other clients, and your photos will be edited in turn. This might mean several weeks before you receive your edited shots. Some freelancers offer quicker turnarounds but this usually comes with a rush fee.

Furthermore, freelancers are human beings. They get sick. They go on vacation. They move. They switch careers. All of these factors can affect how quickly you get your images edited, and whether that same freelancer will still be serving you five years from now.

Pros

• Pay as needed
• Can hire someone who specializes in background removal
• No need to provide benefits, workstation, or software
• No need to provide training
• Can easily fire freelancer if it doesn’t work out

Cons

• More cost per hour than in-house employee
• Freelancer can only accommodate what her bandwidth will allow
• Slower turnaround
• May not be able to serve you through entire company’s lifetime

7. Outsource background removal to a photo editing company

Estimated startup cost: $0

There’s no upfront investment whatsoever in this scenario. However, note some services require a monthly subscription with minimum contract fees, even if you don’t use all your subscription credits within that month. Path doesn’t require a subscription or signup fee, and Path credits never expire, so you don’t have to worry about that with us.

Estimated cost per image: 39¢+

Starts at 39¢ per image with Path.

Companies such as Path specialize in removing backgrounds from product photography. When you use a service, you pay for image editing as you need it, as you would with a freelancer.

The difference: A company has more resources. So a company like Path can accommodate more images at a time than an individual freelancer would. Plus, these companies usually have very quick turnaround times. At Path, you can get your edits back in as little as six hours. And having been in business for almost 15 years, you can rest assured we’ll be here when you need us, through every stage of business growth.

Photo-editing companies employ many skilled designers and production assistants, so there’s always someone on staff who can get your image right. And because these people have the same training as an in-house designer or freelancer, edited images are high quality and professional.

Companies also typically have more longevity than an individual, so once you find one you like you know you can continue to use them as long as you need.

When choosing a company for photo-editing outsourcing, look at several factors to help you make your decision:

• How much does the company charge per image? Price is important, but keep in mind that it shouldn’t be the only factor. Remember that poor quality images can hurt your sales. Path pricing starts from 39¢ per image, so you get all of the peace of mind for a professionally executed job at that modest rate.
• What is the guaranteed image turnaround? How quickly do you need your images? Make sure that the company you choose can deliver according to your schedule.
• Which photo editing services are offered? If a company doesn’t focus on photo editing alone, they may not be the best fit as they likely have more expensive offerings they want to focus on. However, if a company only creates white backgrounds for product images, they may be too limiting for what you need. Look for companies that offer background removal (either with a clipping path or with an image mask) and can do other specialty tasks such as adding drop shadows and optimizing images for ecommerce sites.
• How long has the company been in business? Longevity says a lot about the quality of a company. A company that offers poor quality service and value-for-money will not stay in business for long. Path for instance, has been in business since 2002.
• How many people work at the company? High-quality, fast turnaround can only be achieved with a large workforce. Does the company employ a handful of people, or are there many skilled associates on staff that can handle your request as soon as it comes in? We hand-picked over 300 proficient Photoshop users to process our clients’ images in a seamless and nimble manner. Combined with the rigorous work management processes and easy client onboarding procedure, this ample talent pool allows Path to stay atop in terms of highest value-for-money ratio for our clients.

Pros

• Pay-as-you-go service, there’s no pressure to match a retainer or keep an employee busy
• No HR costs associated with in-house employment: taxes, training, equipment, office rental, recruitment cost, benefits, etc.
• No need for micro-management, as an agency is experienced enough to lead the client to the optimal mix of services in each case
• Great value-for-money with access to the best talent pool at reasonable rates
• Visual consistency across portfolio if you’re working on a long-term basis, a devoted designer with brand knowledge could be assigned to a client
• Quick turnaround due to the smooth workflow and expansive talent pool
• Possibility to negotiate a partnership contract with rates based on regular volumes

Cons

• Finding a photo editing studio may take some time as you may need to try a few vendors to find your perfect match—you can get your first two photos edited for free with Path
• Higher cost per hour than in-house employee depending on volume
• Possibility of change of executor for a new client

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Choose how to edit product photos on a white background

Depending on your needs, you have a variety of options when choosing how to edit your product photography. Remember, the cheapest option may not be the best option, because poor quality images can actually harm your business growth. Also, just because it won’t cost you extra dollars to do it yourself, it will cost you time and ability to grow your business in other areas.

Outsourcing your background removal to a photo-editing company can give you the flexibility to receive high quality, edited images in a short time. If you choose to go this route, make sure you research the company thoroughly to make sure they can accommodate your needs to your satisfaction.

CTA Let us look after your white background edits, so you can get back to the fun stuff. Try Path free.

FAQs: how to edit product photos white background

What’s the cheapest way to put a product on a white background?

• Outsource white background photo edits to a photo editing company
• Contract an individual freelancer for the edits
• Assign image editing to an existing employee
• Hire a full-time, in-house employee
• And more ideas in this post

Should product photos be white?

Yes, product photos should have a white background. The overwhelming majority of product photos have white backgrounds, as this is a requirement on ecommerce giants like Amazon and eBay. Colored backdrop images are popular in marketing and advertising, as they help grab users’ attention and add emotional coloring.

What is the best background color for product photography?

White is the best background color for product photography. White background is the most popular, universal, and versatile backdrop for product images. It puts the product and its details into the spotlight, makes images easy to edit, and allows for website design consistency. Marketplaces like Walmart, Amazon, and eBay require ecommerce images with white backdrop. 

The post How to Edit Product Photos for White Background on a Budget appeared first on Path Edits.