Finishing the Story – Editing Travel Images with Purpose (Smartphone Editing) with Lisa Carney

This seminar is for CreativeLive subscribers only. Not subscribed? Start here!

The final class connects capture decisions to post-production, showing how thoughtful editing can clarify and amplify a travel story rather than overwhelm it. Designed for beginner to intermediate photographers and content creators working primarily with smartphones and entry-level cameras, the session focuses on practical, repeatable editing choices that strengthen narrative intent. 

Using a mix of mobile apps such as Lightroom Mobile and the native Photos app, Lisa will demonstrate simple but powerful edits for tone, color, and local adjustments while keeping a series visually consistent. Students will see live before-and-after walkthroughs, learn a complete editing workflow from import to export, and take part in interactive Q&A focused on their specific software and storytelling questions.

This class includes a dedicated 30 minutes of Q&A directly with Lisa Carney.

Please note this is Part 3 of Lisa's "Travel Series," though it can be taken individually. Part 1 is "Seeing on the Road," and Part 2 is "Shooting with Intention."

What You'll Learn

• Decide what a travel image is “about” before editing so every adjustment supports the story rather than a trendy look.
• Use essential global edits such as exposure, contrast, color balance, and cropping to fix problems while preserving mood and intent.
• Apply local adjustments, including dodging, burning, selective color, and radial or linear tools, to guide the viewer’s eye through the frame.
• Create a consistent visual look across a set of travel images using presets, copy-and-paste settings, and sequence-based editing.
• Build a repeatable end-to-end workflow from import to export for social sharing, printing, or assembling a travel story portfolio.

Who It's For

• Beginner to intermediate photographers who want their travel edits to feel intentional and story-driven.
• Content creators editing primarily on smartphones who want stronger, more cohesive visual results.
• Photographers looking to move beyond presets and trends toward purposeful tone and color decisions.
• Anyone assembling travel albums, social posts, or portfolios who wants a consistent and polished final edit.

How to Join

• This class is available exclusively to CreativeLive subscribers. Not a subscriber? Join here.
• This class was recorded live on Zoom and is now available on demand.