Highlights
Highlights is a common term in photo editing that refers to the brightest parts of an image. When photographers or editors talk about working with highlights, they mean adjusting the brightest areas of photos to create the right balance and mood. This could involve making bright areas less intense to show more detail, or brightening specific parts to draw attention. It's a fundamental skill in photo editing, similar to adjusting shadows or contrast. Photo editors might use various software tools like Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, or Capture One to work with highlights.
Examples in Resumes
Expertly adjusted Highlights and shadows in wedding photography to create dramatic effects
Restored lost detail in overexposed photos by recovering Highlights
Balanced Highlights and shadows in product photography for e-commerce websites
Typical job title: "Photo Editors"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Photo Editors
Online Communities
Professional Networks
Learning Resources
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How do you handle a batch of photos with severely blown-out highlights from an important client event?
Expected Answer: A senior editor should discuss their workflow for salvaging overexposed images, including using multiple editing techniques, possibly combining multiple exposures if available, and explaining how they'd communicate with the client about the limitations and possibilities.
Q: How do you maintain consistency in highlight treatment across a large volume of photos?
Expected Answer: Should explain their system for batch editing, using presets or templates while still maintaining individual attention to each image's needs, and how they ensure consistency across different lighting conditions.
Mid Level Questions
Q: What's your approach to balancing highlights in different types of photography?
Expected Answer: Should explain how highlight treatment differs between various types of photography (e.g., wedding, product, landscape) and demonstrate understanding of appropriate highlight levels for different purposes.
Q: How do you decide when to recover highlights versus letting them remain bright?
Expected Answer: Should discuss artistic choices in highlight treatment, understanding when bright highlights add to the image versus when they detract from it, and how this relates to the client's needs.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What tools do you use to adjust highlights in photos?
Expected Answer: Should be able to name basic tools in common editing software and explain simple highlight adjustment techniques like using the highlights slider or tone curve.
Q: How can you tell if highlights are too bright in a photo?
Expected Answer: Should demonstrate understanding of how to read a histogram, recognize visual signs of overexposure, and know basic concepts of highlight clipping.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic highlight and shadow adjustments
- Understanding of exposure concepts
- Familiar with basic editing software
- Can identify overexposed areas
Mid (2-5 years)
- Advanced highlight recovery techniques
- Batch editing efficiency
- Multiple software proficiency
- Understanding of different photography styles
Senior (5+ years)
- Expert in complex highlight management
- Advanced color theory application
- Training and team leadership
- High-volume workflow management
Red Flags to Watch For
- Unable to identify badly exposed photos
- No knowledge of professional editing software
- Can't explain basic exposure concepts
- No portfolio or before/after examples
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