Edit like a pro, earn like a boss, and still make it to bedtime.
Edit like a pro, earn like a boss, and still make it to bedtime.
Editing Academy
The Newborn Photography
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I'm here to tell you that this reality can look very different.
It's 2am and you're staring at your screen, coffee gone cold beside you, toggling between three different presets trying to make this newborn session look halfway decent. Nothing's working.
The baby has flaky skin and horrible acne. Somehow, they're jaundiced as well as red. To top it off, your camera was acting funky that day, and some images are underexposed. The white balance is all over the place.
You can't quite put your finger on what's wrong, but something feels off. So you tweak, and tweak, and tweak some more.
You second-guess every adjustment.
What looked good an hour ago now seems too saturated. Even though all these images were shot in the same session, they look completely different from each other. Some warm, some cool, some contrasty, some flat.
Your Instagram grid looks like it belongs to five different photographers.
picture this
YES. PLEASE.
Create a signature look clients instantly recognize (and can't get anywhere else)
Feel confident raising your prices (and have clients happily pay them)
Have clients be willing to wait until their baby is 6-8 weeks old because they need YOU to be the one to photograph their baby.
Take actual vacations without worrying about your business collapsing
(and be able to actually afford them.)
Put your children to bed... and then go to bed with your partner instead of back out to your office to work.
Be excited to sit down to edit because you know exactly how to handle any editing challenges that come your way. (bring it on flaky skin and red feet!)
what if instead you could...
the baby isn't yours, yet you're up all night.
Before I started working with tiny babies, my background included retouching for magazines like Entertainment Weekly, and companies like Nordstrom, and Eddie Bauer. Working with them taught me how subtle adjustments can completely transform a photo and make it impossible to ignore. And now I use those skills to make my newborn images stand out in a market crowded with talented photographers.
In the last 8 years I've:
- Gone from charging $150 for everything to $2500/ newborn session averages.
- Brought in 200k a year for 3 years in a row WITHOUT a full time staff or outsourcing my editing
- Taken 8 weeks off the past 2 summers to be with my kids
- Traveled with my kids to 7 out-of-state gymnastics meets every year and never miss them because of work
- Stopped working weekends entirely
And just a few weeks ago I bought myself my dream car (A brand new Rivian R1S!)... all because of my photography business.
professional editor & newborn photographer
About Your Teacher
Paige McLeod
This is my reality now. And I'm here to teach you how phenomenal editing skills can make it yours too.
You can keep struggling for years hoping to figure it all out... or you can take the express lane to the photography business of your dreams - and the life that comes with it!
Have the confidence to raise your prices (and have clients happily pay them)
Develop a signature style that attracts high-paying clients repeatedly
Cut your editing time in half (without sacrificing quality)
Imagine having a rock-solid editing process that not only creates consistent, stunning images but also becomes your signature style—the one that makes clients seek you out specifically and pay premium prices for YOUR unique vision.
your dream photography business can be your reality.
With A FEW SIMPLE CHANGES you COULD:
Transform your work from generic to instantly recognizable
holy shit, i want that.
First, I want to tell you a story.
and here's why these things actually matter.
Three years ago, I made the most money I've ever made. I'd opened my new studio 2 years before, and I had finally figured out my workflow and—more importantly—my style. I was consistently putting out work that people recognized as the unique Glean & Co look and bringing in 200k+ a year and averaging over $2500 per newborn session. (And no, it's not because I live in a big city with a ton of ideal clients. I live in tiny Boise, Idaho where most newborn photographers are charging $400 for all the images.)
I realized that while this was great for my bank account, I also really wanted more time with my family. (Because burnout is real, even when you're making good money.) So you know what I did? I took it. Last summer, I took 8 entire weeks off from the studio to spend with my boys. Not a day here or there—eight full weeks.
And I'm doing it again this summer. Just the other day, one of my clients who's due at the beginning of June told me, "I'd rather wait and have you take photos later when the baby is 6-8 weeks old than have anyone else do their photos."
That's what happens when you develop a style that's uniquely yours. Clients don't just want photos—they want YOUR photos. They'll wait for you. They'll pay your prices. They'll work around your schedule.
That's what developing your own distinctive editing approach can do. It's not just about prettier pictures—it's about creating a life where your photography business serves you, not the other way around.
Can you imagine how different your life would be with a calendar full of ideal dream clients, more time and more money?
While everyone's obsessing over props, poses, and the latest gear, it's your editing that truly makes or breaks your business.
The endless props? They just break your bank account.
I'm In! SIgn me up!
Time-saving workflows to cut your editing time in half and file organization tactics so you never lose your files
Advanced color correction and skin smoothing methods specifically tailored for newborn imagery
A foolproof system for culling and softproofing, perfect for IPS or Online/Hybrid selling styles
Step by Step Photoshop and Lightroom techniques for swoon-worthy newborn images
THIS newborn editing course IS FOR YOU
IF YOU WANT TO LEARN
Lifetime access to step-by-step video tutorials that don't just teach techniques—they guide you to discover and refine your signature editing style. These aren't one-size-fits-all lessons; they're the building blocks for creating work that's uniquely yours.
Plus, receive downloadable presets and actions that serve as starting points—not final solutions. I'll show you how to customize them to enhance your workflow while maintaining the distinctive style that will set you apart.
Revisit the tutorials whenever you need inspiration or a refresher. Your style will evolve, and these resources will grow with you.
Now let's talk about what The Academy actually includes:
Creative compositing skills to push your artistic boundaries
BONUS: And a brand new section all about the latest and greatest AI features that will make you go "holy shit, where have you been all my life?"
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- Learn why today's clients are willing to pay BIG money for those wow-worthy, polished edits
- Overview of the entire editing workflow
- Setting up your workspace for efficiency
- Essential keyboard shortcuts for speed editing
- Why presets should really be called postsets
Newborn Editing
intro to
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- Never lose another photo again with our no-fail file system that keeps everything organized
- Cut your culling time down with our proven selection techniques
- Put AI to work for you and speed up your workflow instantly
image Workflow
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- Creating a swoonworthy client gallery, without excessive editing time
- Best client practices for higher sales
- Using presets effectively
- Exporting softproofs for sales sessions ... and what to do with them once they're purchased.
seamless Softproofs
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- Gentle skin smoothing: Creating local and global adjustments for delicate newborn skin
- Handling common newborn issues: Addressing jaundice, baby acne, and flaky skin
- Enhancing newborn details: Refining lashes, hair, and tiny features
newborn Essentials
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- Using adjustment layers for non-destructive editing
- Mastering curves for precise tonal control
- Correcting difficult skin tones across ethnicities
- Color change techniques for props and accessories
color Correction
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- Combining multiple images for seamless poses
- Using digital backgrounds
- Creating seamless transitions between elements
- Mastering blending modes and masking
creative Composites
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- Using Actions within your workflow
- Creating your own presets from scratch
- Glean & Co actions and presets included, plus instructions on how to make them your own
- Exclusive vendor discounts from some of our favorite action and preset creators!
Presets and Actions
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- Exporting for various print sizes
- Adding watermarks to images for social media
- Optimizing web images for fast loading
- Batch exporting black and white versions
- Exporting for different aspect ratios
- Organizing exported files for easy client delivery
Exporting 101
Editing Academy
The Newborn Photography
course outline /
Before & After
because who doesn't love a good
While some familiarity with editing software is helpful, you don't need to be an expert. We cover the basics of each task, making it accessible for beginners while still offering advanced techniques for more experienced editors. If you can open Photoshop and Lightroom, we'll guide you through the rest!
Is this course suitable for beginners, or do I need prior editing experience
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frequently asked q's /
You get lifetime access to all course materials, including future updates.
How long do I have access to the course materials?
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frequently asked q's /
You'll need Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom. We also highly suggest Photo Mechanic for culling and provide guidance on obtaining if you don't already have it.
What software do I need to follow along with the course?
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frequently asked q's /
This course is all about empowering you to create the look you've been dreaming of. We focus on teaching you the underlying techniques and principles behind effective newborn editing. By understanding how things are done, you'll be able to utilize presets and actions more effectively and even create your own.
Will this course help me develop my own editing style, or is it about replicating a specific look?
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frequently asked q's /
Absolutely! The techniques taught are applicable to both posed and lifestyle newborn photography - in studio, on location, in home or outdoors!
I mainly shoot lifestyle/ in-home newborn sessions.
Is this course still relevant for me?
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frequently asked q's /
Yes, we dedicate a full module to addressing common newborn skin issues in post-processing. Our flake removing action is also included!
Does the course cover how to handle difficult editing situations like jaundice or baby acne?
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frequently asked q's /
Inside the course we provide an entire folder of practice images, but we also encourage you to apply techniques to your own work.
Are there practice images provided, or do I need to use my own?
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frequently asked q's /
Our course is specifically tailored for newborn photography and offers a comprehensive workflow from culling to final delivery. We also cover softproofing! An essential technique for reducing your editing time and increasing your profit margins.
How is this course different from other editing courses available online?
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frequently asked q's /
While this course is tailored for newborn photography, the editing techniques and workflow principles we teach are valuable for many types of portrait photography. The skills you'll learn—such as advanced skin retouching, color correction, and efficient editing workflows—can be applied to a wide range of subjects. Whether you're photographing families, children, or even adults, you'll find many of these techniques transferrable. Plus, the course's focus on developing your own editing style and streamlining your workflow is beneficial for photographers in any niche.
I'm not a newborn photographer. Can I still learn from this course?
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frequently asked q's /
Yes, we offer 24/7 email support and have an open zoom call once a month where you can ask questions and get feedback. We also offer 1:1 mentoring sessions if you need extra help or just want personalized feedback.
Do you offer any support if I have questions while going through the course?
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frequently asked q's /
Remember why you started photography in the first place? That squeal with joy feeling when an image just lights you up?
Let's find that feeling again.
No more burnout from endless editing sessions. No more missing bedtime stories with your kids because you're stuck behind a computer.
This course isn't just about prettier photos—it's about getting your life back and actually enjoying your work again. Because let's be honest—don't you want to love your job again? We thought so.
Join us in the first step to making your dream photography business a reality.
ENROLL Today
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...or, Spread the cost over time with monthly payments as low as $63/month.
How it works:
997
$
Say goodbye to 2 AM editing marathons. Join The Newborn Editing Academy today and transform your workflow for good.
are you Ready?
- aaron schlichting
“"When I think about the best photo retoucher and teacher I have ever had the pleasure to work with, one name comes up, Paige McLeod."”
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