1. Consistency

It can be very difficult to find consistency when outsourcing your editing. By consistency I mean in terms of editing quality, turn around time, availability, etc.

This can be a major issue since you can start to rely pretty heavily on your editor. If you need the photos in 12 hours, but they aren’t delivered on time, you’re stuck with a client that’s expecting the images while you have nothing to send them.

You can see how this issue can play out across a number of different consistency related areas.

2. Communication Challenges

Many times you will be using an editor that is not based in your own country. It’s just as likely that the editor won’t be in your time zone either. This can cause a few different issues.

First, there might be a language barrier. In my experience, this isn’t too big of a deal thanks to Google Translate. However, it might be difficult for you to explain the finer details of what you want to achieve in terms of the look of your images.

Second, if you’re like me and your editor is located on the other side of the globe, they will very likely be sleeping when you send them editing jobs. This can lead to huge gaps in your messaging and can be a problem if you need to communicate something quickly.

3. Finding An Editor

Finding the right editor for you could be somewhat difficult and that’s why I’m listing it as a con. The search for a proper editor is one that’s going to mean a lot of trial and error.

The lower your expectations in terms of image quality, the faster you’ll be able to find a suitable editor. However, if you expect high quality editing, you’ll need to find an editor that’s available and capable. This is the part that can take some time.

With that being said, once you do find the best editor for you and your style, they can quickly become a staple in your business and a huge help overall. Just be prepared to spend a lot of time looking and testing.