Photo Editing for ADHD

 

Have you ever returned from such an extraordinary trip that you found yourself with hundreds of photos to sort through? Well I have THOUSANDS.

I have a SEA of thousands of unedited photos from trips dating as far back as 2016 that I am absolutely drowning a very slow and painful death in. The digital age has gifted us with countless opportunities to capture life’s adventures in pixels, but for those of us grappling with ADHD and its best-friend, executive dysfunction, managing this visual bounty can seriously trigger our perfectionism trait and end up feeling like an insurmountable task.

Day-after-day, excuse-after-excuse, it’s now been SEVEN years, and they’re still not done! Every time I try to start, I get overwhelmed and can’t decide which photos to keep and which to toss. I can spend an hour just trying to tweak one photo, but then what if I decide that I don’t like the editing and I want to go back and change it? Well then I need to keep a folder of all my edited photos and a separate folder of all the originals! But what if the new edit isn’t better than the last edit or the original ?? Spiralling into a vortex of mental fatigue, I tell myself “Oh my God this is ridiculous!”, and give-up in futility ??‍♀️.

I can never just sit down, figure my sh*t out and start editing! How do you manage to commit to something that you feel is important, but clearly not important enough to actually commit to!? I keep telling myself, as soon as I get the right editing software, or as soon as I get a laptop with a bigger screen, or as soon as I LEARN how to properly edit photos….blah blah blah blah. I don’t even believe myself. Now here I am with a sea of photos that could drown me in my own apartment. I need therapy. But I’m already going to therapy to fix my other problems ?. Do I need to create an action plan!? Do you have an action plan for this type of a project?? How do I overcome this? What tips do you have?

Rather than being able to relive the incredible experiences from my travels, I get annoyed in frustration over my ADHD. So, how does one navigate this labyrinth of digital imagery (or frankly any other cumbersome task) without succumbing to the overwhelm? Here are some battle-tested tips to help you tame the travel photo beast and turn it into a manageable, even enjoyable, task:

1. Set Realistic Goals

Acknowledge that Rome wasn’t built in a day, and your photo library won’t be sorted in one either (my brain still begs to differ though). Break down your editing and organizing tasks into smaller, manageable chunks. For example, aim to edit and organize 50 photos per day rather than attempting to tackle the entire collection at once.

2. Create a System

Establish a consistent naming and filing system for your photos. Use descriptive filenames or tags to categorize images based on location, date, or theme. Organizing your digital assets in a structured manner can significantly reduce decision-making stress down the line.

3. Embrace the Power of Batch Editing

Instead of agonizing over each photo individually, leverage batch editing tools available in photo editing software. Apply consistent edits (e.g., color correction, cropping) to groups of photos simultaneously, saving both time and mental energy.

4. Limit Editing Time

Set a timer for editing sessions to prevent hyperfocus and burnout (something I’m very much prone to). Allocate a specific amount of time (e.g., 20 minutes per photo) for editing tasks, allowing yourself to make decisions without getting lost in endless tweaking.

5. Embrace Imperfection

Perfectionism can be a double-edged sword, especially when coupled with ADHD. Embrace the beauty of imperfection and accept that not every photo needs extensive editing. Trust your instincts and focus on capturing the essence of each moment rather than striving for flawless perfection.

6. Seek External Feedback

Share your edited photos with trusted friends or online communities for feedback. External perspectives can provide valuable insights and help break decision-making deadlocks.

7. Use Technology Wisely

Explore AI-powered tools and plugins designed to assist with photo curation and editing. From automatic tagging to intelligent editing suggestions, these technologies can streamline your workflow and alleviate some of the cognitive load.

8. Practice Self-Compassion

Above all, be kind to yourself throughout this process. ADHD and executive dysfunction present unique challenges, but they do not define your capabilities. Celebrate small victories, acknowledge setbacks without self-judgment, and remember that progress, no matter how incremental, is still progress.

By trying out these tips and taking a thoughtful approach to managing your photos, you can take back the reins on your travel memories. Instead of feeling overwhelmed, you’ll turn sorting through your 3000 travel photos into a rewarding adventure, discovering gems with each click of the camera. These photos aren’t a hassle but a collection of precious moments just waiting for you to explore – one snapshot at a time.

I hope you found this post relatable and helpful! Send me your feedback!

Jen