The 3-Day Aviation Photography Editing Workshop

DAY ONE REPLAY

What a start to the 3-Day Aviation Editing Workshop!

With hundreds of photographers joining pro photographers Rich Cooper & Tom Dalton live, the chat was absolutely on fire and the energy was brilliant from the first minute. Two hours later… we’d doubled our planned runtime (obviously!), but no one was leaving because the learning and buzz were huge!

So. Many. Takeaways!

We kicked things off with a look at why editing matters in aviation photography, and it was clear from the chat that many photographers still feel editing is overwhelming, confusing, and time-consuming. You’re not alone - and that is exactly why we run these workshops. You do NOT need to be an expert, and tonight proved how fast things can click once you have a simple, dependable process.

Next, we tackled the RAW vs JPEG myth once and for all. Through real examples, we showed how much hidden detail sits inside a RAW file… elasticity in the shadows, flexibility in the highlights, richer colour information, and smoother gradients. Your camera always captures a RAW file; choosing JPEG just compresses and throws away that data. Tonight made it obvious why RAW is the gold standard for aviation shooters.

With those foundations covered, we jumped into the real heart of the session:

The COAP 5-Step Editing Workflow!

This workflow is the backbone of everything we teach because it gives you direction, purpose, and consistency - no more guessing, no more “stabbing in the dark with sliders,” and no more endless tinkering.

We broke the workflow down step-by-step and then used it in two live start-to-finish edits, showing how quickly you can transform an image when you know exactly what to do and in what order. Even in the first three steps alone, we pulled back a huge amount of detail, clarity and structure (the reactions in the chat said it all!)

Along the way we covered…

How to avoid over-editing traps (clarity halos… we see you!)
- When and where noise hides - and how to kill it
- Why vibrance is your new best friend
- How small, controlled adjustments beat sledgehammer sliders every time

We also touched on Lightroom’s new AI tools! We talked about how to use them ethically to save time, not to fabricate images. Aviation photography falls into two main categories - corrective or creative - and today’s demo showed how AI can enhance your workflow without compromising your integrity.

We also introduced Kōlab - the brand-new free app for aviation photographers that launched TODAY. Weekly Missions to challenge your creativity, endless inspiration, genuine feedback, high-res sharing… the community is already buzzing!

Download Kōlab for iOS here

Tonight’s homework?
Give the 5-Step Workflow a go on one of your own images. Even 10 minutes while the session is fresh will lock in the learning. Share your results on Kōlab within the Night Mission (here) and we’ll choose some edits to review live during Day Two for some personal feedback!

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us live! Your energy was brilliant and made the session fly by.

The replay is below, and we can’t wait to see you tomorrow where we dive into Photoshop, and take your aviation photography creativity into the top 1%.

DAY TWO

POWER UP YOUR EDITING! Day 2 of the 3-Day Editing Workshop transformed ordinary aviation photos into eye-catching content!

We began with a quick recap of Day One's 5-Step Editing Workflow before announcing an exciting competition - one lucky participant would win FREE lifetime access to entire COAP Online! We provided an in-depth look at everything included in COAP Online: over 70 Lightroom video lessons, 50 Photoshop tutorials, portfolio projects, writing workshops, and a host of valuable resources. COAP Online is designed to take you through the basics of editing to creating professional-quality aviation content that stands out in today's competitive landscape.

The session featured a special guest appearance from Steven Wilson, a current COAP Online student! Steven shared his impressive transformation, showcasing before-and-after examples that inspired everyone - there were so many jaws on the floor! His journey from basic photography to creating professional aviation content in just a few months demonstrated what's possible when you learn the right techniques.

Then we introduced our brand new Content Creator Framework - our practical system for Photoshop that simplifies the entire process:

VISION - Setting your goal and creative direction
FOUNDATION - Applying the tools and knowledge
IMPACT - Elements that transform a photo into standout content

We demonstrated this framework by transforming an F-14 Tomcat image into a striking 250th Anniversary commemorative poster for the US Navy in a Top Gun vibe. The step-by-step process showed how to:

• Cut out aircraft with precision using selection tools
• Create dramatic backgrounds that complement your subject
• Add creative elements like motion effects and textures
• Incorporate typography and graphics that enhance the story
• Build a cohesive piece of aviation content that grabs attention

The before-and-after transformation showed how a good photo can become an exceptional piece of content that could be printed, shared, or even sold.

Photoshop might seem intimidating, but we've simplified it to the essential tools you need as an aviation photographer. Our approach focuses on giving you the shortcuts and techniques to achieve professional results without years of trial and error.

On Day Three, we'll work with YOUR images! Send us your RAW file with the subject "ACADEMY" to [email protected], tell us why you want to win a place in the Academy, and join us for Day 3 to see if you're our lucky winner!

At COAP Online, we're all about simplifying the process and giving you the shortcuts you need to help you achieve your best ever results.

SPECIAL WINTER OFFER!

100 DISCOUNT CODES FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS THAT WANT TO MAKE 2026 THEIR BEST EVER YEAR.

We also opened the doors properly to COAP Online, our ongoing aviation editing & learning hub – and gave everyone on the workshop an invite at our biggest ever discount!

Here’s what COAP Online includes:

• Full Lightroom & Photoshop video libraries (around 150+ lessons)

• Downloadable PDFs and blueprints (including the Light The Burners Blueprint eBook and other editing tools)

• A buzzing community of aviation photographers to share work, get feedback and stay motivated

• Access via desktop and mobile, so you can learn and review on the go

For this workshop, we’ve released 100 discount codes for COAP Online:

Use code WINTER100 at checkout to lock in 47% off –
from £47/month down to just under £25/month – for as long as you stay a member.

Once the 100 codes are gone, they’re gone – but if you enjoyed Day 2 and want the full Lightroom + Photoshop deep dive (without waiting for the next workshop), this is where it all lives.

DAY THREE

It’s been a helluva ride! 

THREE DAYS of pure aviation photography editing, creativity, Q&As, Before & Afters, Workflows, tricks and insight… Wow. 

We had many questions in overnight around COAP Online and provided an in-depth look at everything included that is designed to help you get your best ever results, fast! Over 70 Lightroom video lessons, 50 Photoshop tutorials, portfolio projects, writing workshops, and a wealth of resources designed to transform your aviation photography.

The heart of Day Three showcased YOUR submitted images! We carefully selected photos from workshop participants and demonstrated the power of our 5-Step Editing Workflow on each one.

For each transformation, we walked through the process step-by-step, showing how setting a clear goal at the beginning guides the entire editing journey. We even revealed some little-known Lightroom features like Calibration and film grain effects that can dramatically enhance your aviation images.

The 3-Day Workshop may have concluded, but your aviation photography journey is just beginning! Workshop attendees can secure a massive 47% discount off COAP Online using code WINTER100 ...But you need to be quick as there's less than 40 available!

We hope you’ve enjoyed the TON of value delivered in the 3-Day Editing Workshop series - but it doesn’t have to end there! 

// GRAB ONE OF THE LAST REMAINING DISCOUNT CODES!

An amazing three days... thank you for showing up live or catching up on the replays! We've loved seeing your progress over the last 3 days.

The next step is to continue the learning with COAP Online, designed to get you the results you've always wanted!

With just 100 discount codes available, secure your exclusive 47% discount now...

// LESS THAN 40 DISCOUNT CODES LEFT - USE YOUR DISCOUNT NOW...

Our money-back guarantee...

 If for ANY reason you don't think the training resources and community is worth less than £25, then send us an email within the first 30-days and we'll send you your money back, no questions! Beyond 30 days, you can cancel any time, no minimum commitment period!