Editing is crucial. Whether it be editing the maternity shoot you just shot in a field, or the classic “Star Wars” films (no, I haven't seen “The Last Jedi,” no spoilers please), it can make or break your project. RocketJump breaks down the differences between the first and final screenings of "Star Wars: A New Hope."
Having a screening of your film or even having someone else look at a photo project before you release it to the general public is incredibly important. I can't tell you how many times I've seen an image in a Facebook group being posted as a final image only to have glaring mistakes (I've done the same). Just today someone posted a great maternity shot in a local group, but it was immediately critiqued for a panty line showing, creating a weird bump in the dress that was very unflattering and distracting. The photographer commented back, "I didn't even notice it!"
And I think that is a pretty common thing. So many times we get too close to our work and miss mistakes that could easily be fixed. Also, if you've poured hours and hours into something, critique can sometimes come across as personal and hurt your ego. But this video serves as another great reminder that help from outside sources could turn your "probably isn't going to break box office records" into "Star Wars." OK, maybe not that far, but you catch my drift. None of these crucial outside opinions can help if you're not ready to listen to them, though, as George Lucas thankfully did.