Quoted By:
Editing is going to vary from person to person. A seasoned photographer using a tripod and doing pretty much the same kind of shots over and over...say, a portrait... will get to know exactly what settings will give the desired result. They will still work the shot in post, but far less than in a rapidly changing environment. Times when lighting and distance are constantly changing.
And, editing can save a shot that you do not have any possibility of a second chance. But, as stated, you can't polish a turd. Learn to know when a shot can't be saved. Learn what went wrong and move on.
As for the editing workflow itself, there's all kinds of resources out there. Explore as many as you can. Try editing in several different ways. You'll get to know what works best for you and your camera. If I were to offer 2 pieces of advice, it would be 1) always start with color temperature. It's the foundation of every picture unless it's B&W. 2) No matter what the adjustment is, after you move a slider and see what you like, back it off a little. You will end up with a more natural looking picture.
