Whites
Whites refers to the bright or light areas in a photograph or digital image. When someone talks about "working with whites" in photo editing, they mean adjusting the brightest parts of an image to ensure they're not too bright (overexposed) or too dull. This is a fundamental skill in photo editing, similar to working with shadows or mid-tones. Photo editors need to carefully balance these bright areas to create professional-looking images that maintain detail and don't appear washed out. This term is often mentioned alongside other editing concepts like "highlights," "exposure," or "balance."
Examples in Resumes
Expertly adjusted whites and highlights in wedding photography portfolios
Developed standardized workflow for managing whites in product photography
Restored detail in overexposed whites for architectural photography projects
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 wedding photos where the whites are consistently overexposed?
Expected Answer: A senior editor should discuss their systematic approach to recovering detail in overexposed areas, batch processing techniques, and how they'd prevent this issue in future shoots by communicating with photographers.
Q: How do you maintain consistency in whites across a large product photography catalog?
Expected Answer: Should explain creating standardized presets, quality control processes, and how to maintain consistent white balance across different product materials and lighting conditions.
Mid Level Questions
Q: What tools do you use to adjust whites in various editing software?
Expected Answer: Should be able to describe using histogram, levels, curves, and exposure tools in common editing software, and when to use each approach.
Q: How do you handle whites differently for print vs. digital output?
Expected Answer: Should explain different considerations for screen display versus printed materials, including color space and how printing can affect bright areas.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What is the difference between whites and highlights?
Expected Answer: Should be able to explain that whites are the brightest parts of an image, while highlights are slightly darker, and why this distinction matters in editing.
Q: How do you check if whites are properly balanced in a photo?
Expected Answer: Should mention using the histogram, checking for clipping (loss of detail in bright areas), and basic visual assessment techniques.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic brightness and contrast adjustments
- Understanding of histograms
- Simple white balance corrections
- Basic exposure adjustments
Mid (2-4 years)
- Advanced highlight recovery
- Batch processing and presets
- Multiple software proficiency
- Detail preservation techniques
Senior (4+ years)
- Complex lighting corrections
- Team workflow management
- Color management systems
- Client consultation skills
Red Flags to Watch For
- Cannot explain basic exposure concepts
- No knowledge of color management
- Unfamiliar with professional editing software
- No experience with batch processing
- Unable to identify overexposed areas
Related Terms
Need more hiring wisdom? Check these out...
Breaking the Mold: The Unseen Power of Building a Diverse Leadership Team
Breaking Down Barriers: How to Build a Truly Diverse and Inclusive Hiring Process in 2025
Diversify Your Interview Panels: Unleashing the Power of Inclusive Hiring
