I’m David Collado, photographer and founder of Collado Photo in Madrid. For years, I’ve worked with both private clients and commercial brands — and one of the biggest expectations is fast, high-quality delivery. Over the past few months, I’ve restructured my entire post-production process. Now, I can deliver a fully edited session the very next day. Here’s how I do it.
Efficiency Starts with Habits
When shooting frequently, post-production needs to follow a clear system — not a series of improvised steps. In my workflow, I import, select, and begin editing right away. Experience helps, of course, but choosing the right tools is just as important.
My workflow begins at the shoot itself: I always shoot in RAW and manage color using Color Checker tools — both for camera and monitor calibration (I use the Display Pro calibrator). This gives me a solid, accurate base for color correction.
After importing the RAW files to my computer, I open them in Lightroom and apply color correction using the Color Checker profiles. I also fine-tune each image individually at this stage to get the best possible base.
Then I export the files in JPG sRGB and move to Photoshop for individual editing. This is where Retouch4.me comes in — it saves me 5–10 minutes per photo by automating tasks like skin cleanup and tone adjustment. If needed, I add manual touch-ups and export the final high-res image.
I used to do everything by hand. Now I use a hybrid approach: automate the technical side, refine the creative side manually. It saves time without losing control over quality.
How Retouch4.me Became Part of My Workflow
One of the tools that changed everything is Retouch4.me. It’s not a miracle solution and doesn’t do everything — but it handles technical retouching brilliantly: skin smoothing, blemish removal, tone adjustments. The best part? It keeps images looking natural.
What really helps is batch processing. When I’ve got 50 or 100 shots to deliver by morning, running them through automated retouching makes a huge difference.
When Automation Isn’t Enough
For portraits that demand precision, I still rely on frequency separation in Photoshop. It lets me work on tone and texture separately — smoothing problem areas while preserving natural skin detail.
For me, it’s not a replacement for Retouch4.me — it’s the next step. Automate the base, then refine.
What’s Changed
Post-production used to take me an evening — sometimes two. Now, if I stay focused, I can get it done in half a day. I can shoot a portrait session in the afternoon and deliver the edited images the next morning. And I know the client will be happy — with both speed and quality.
Why I’m Sharing This
Many photographers think that faster means sloppy. Or that automation kills your style. My experience says the opposite: you can move faster without losing your voice. The key is picking the right tools — and being open to blending manual and automatic work.