Wildlife Photography Editing Workflow | My Complete Workspace Setup
- Jul 19
- 5 min read
The hardware, software and workflow behind every image
Last updated: July 2026
People often ask what computer I use, how I edit my wildlife photographs and whether expensive equipment really makes a difference.
The truth is that there isn't a single perfect setup. Every photographer has different priorities. Some need ultimate portability, while others want maximum processing power or the largest possible monitor.
Over the last few years I've gradually built a workspace that suits the way I photograph and edit wildlife. It isn't the most expensive setup available, nor is it the newest, but every component has been chosen because it solves a problem, saves time or improves reliability.
This article walks through my current workspace and explains why each piece of equipment has earned its place on my desk.
My Current Workspace
Computer
Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M5 Pro)
Apple M5 Pro processor
48 GB unified memory
macOS Tahoe 26.5.2
After many years of using Windows desktops, moving to a MacBook Pro has completely changed the way I work. Despite being a laptop, it comfortably handles large Nikon Z8 RAW files, AI noise reduction and Photoshop editing without slowing down.
The biggest surprise has been how quiet and efficient it is. Even during long editing sessions it remains almost silent, which makes working much more enjoyable.
Monitor
EIZO ColorEdge CG2420 (24-inch)
A monitor is probably the most overlooked part of an editing workflow.
The EIZO CG2420 is a professional hardware-calibrated monitor designed specifically for photographers and print work. Colour accuracy is outstanding and, because it includes a built-in calibration sensor, I know that what I see on screen closely matches my final prints.
When producing fine art prints, consistency is far more important than having the highest screen resolution.
Docking Station
UGREEN Revodok Maxidok 17-in-1 Thunderbolt 5 Dock
This has become the heart of my workstation.
Everything connects through the dock:
EIZO ColorEdge monitor
External SSDs
CFexpress Type B card reader
Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1100 printer
Bose speakers
Charging
USB peripherals
One feature I particularly like is the built-in M.2 NVMe SSD slot, which supports up to 8 TB of additional high-speed storage. I haven't populated it yet, but it gives me plenty of room to expand as my wildlife photography archive continues to grow.
With a single Thunderbolt 5 cable connected to the MacBook Pro, everything is immediately available.
It keeps the desk tidy, simplifies cable management and allows me to disconnect the laptop in seconds whenever I need to work elsewhere.
Primary Storage
Samsung T9 Portable SSD 4 TB
The Samsung T9 stores my entire wildlife image library, including active projects and archived photographs.
Keeping the RAW files on a fast external SSD provides plenty of capacity while maintaining excellent editing performance.
One important detail is that my Lightroom Classic catalogue (LRCAT) remains on the MacBook Pro's internal SSD. This gives Lightroom the fastest possible access to previews, indexing and catalogue data, while the much larger image files live on the Samsung T9.
I've found this arrangement provides an excellent balance of speed, reliability and storage capacity.
Secondary Storage
Crucial X8 Portable SSD 2 TB
The Crucial X8 stores:
Completed projects
Older image collections
Backup exports
Working archives
Having a separate drive prevents the primary editing drive from becoming cluttered while keeping older work easily accessible.
Memory Card Reader
SanDisk Extreme PRO CFexpress Type B Card Reader
Importing hundreds or even thousands of Z8 RAW files is something I do regularly.
The SanDisk CFexpress Type B reader provides consistently fast transfers while being compact enough to leave permanently connected to the dock.
Printer
Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1100
Most of the photographs on my website are available as fine art prints.
Printing at home allows complete control over colour, paper selection and final quality. Rather than relying on a commercial print lab, every print is produced using my own workflow from capture through to the finished product.
Keyboard and Mouse
Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID
Apple Magic Mouse
Simple, reliable and perfectly integrated with macOS.
I've tried other keyboards and mice over the years, but these simply work without fuss.
Audio
Bose Companion Speakers
Although photography is obviously a visual hobby, I spend many hours editing.
Having decent speakers makes long editing sessions much more enjoyable, whether listening to music or watching tutorials.
Camera
Everything starts with my:
Nikon Z8
The workstation exists for one reason: to get the very best from the files produced by this remarkable camera.
Whether photographing kingfishers, birds of prey or macro subjects, the Nikon Z8 produces exceptional RAW files that respond beautifully to careful editing.
My Editing Workflow
One question I receive almost every week is:
"What software do you use?"
My workflow is intentionally simple.
1. Import
Images are copied from a CFexpress Type B card using the SanDisk card reader.
2. DxO PureRAW 6
Every RAW file is processed through DxO PureRAW before entering Lightroom.
For my photography, particularly birds and wildlife, I've consistently found that DxO produces cleaner feather detail and more natural noise reduction than Lightroom's AI Denoise.
3. Adobe Lightroom Classic
This is where almost all of my editing takes place.
Typical adjustments include:
Exposure
White balance
Cropping
Colour
Local adjustments
Sharpening
Lightroom also manages my catalogue and image organisation.
4. Nik Collection 9
If an image would benefit from a more creative finish, I'll occasionally use Nik Collection, particularly for black and white conversions or subtle tonal adjustments.
5. Export
Finally, images are prepared for one of three destinations:
Fine art printing
My website
Facebook and social media
Why This Setup Works
Every piece of equipment on my desk has been chosen for a reason.
Not because it's fashionable.
Not because it's the newest.
Not because it's the most expensive.
Simply because it works.
The MacBook Pro provides more than enough performance for demanding wildlife photography.
The EIZO monitor gives me confidence that the colours I edit are the colours I'll see in print.
The UGREEN dock keeps everything connected with a single cable.
The Samsung and Crucial SSDs separate active work from archived projects.
The Canon PRO-1100 allows me to produce exhibition-quality prints from home.
Nothing here is unnecessary, and nothing was bought purely for specifications.
The goal isn't to own the latest technology. The goal is to spend less time managing equipment and more time photographing wildlife.
Looking Ahead
Technology never stands still, and neither does my workspace.
As my photography evolves, so will this setup.
I'll continue updating this article whenever I make significant changes, whether that's new storage, a different monitor or improvements to my editing workflow.
For now, though, this workspace does exactly what I need it to do: it provides a reliable, colour-accurate environment where I can transform the moments I capture in the field into photographs I'm proud to share.
What does your editing workspace look like?
I'd love to hear what equipment you use and why you've chosen it. If you've found a piece of hardware or software that has genuinely improved your photography workflow, let me know in the comments.
DxO Software Discount
One question I receive regularly is which software I use for editing my wildlife photographs.
As you'll have seen throughout this article, several DxO applications form part of my workflow. I use DxO PureRAW 5 as the starting point for processing my Nikon Z8 RAW files, while other photographers may prefer applications such as PhotoLab, Nik Collection, FilmPack or ViewPoint depending on their own workflow.
If you're considering any of the DxO software, you're welcome to use my 15% discount code: (New Customers)
AYP15
The code is valid across the entire DxO software range, not just PureRAW.
If you decide to purchase through my link or use the discount code, it helps support Alan Young Photography at no additional cost to you. That support allows me to continue producing free wildlife photography guides, field journals and resources for the photography community.
Thank you to everyone who has already used the code. Your support is genuinely appreciated.
Many thanks for writing these posts Alan. I find them very useful to help me think about how I wish to approach wildlife photography editing as a beginner, just starting out