Ive been doing it wrong

Firetographer

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Edit My Images
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I am relatively new to photography, despite being on here for a year or so, I just don't find the time. However, I am hoping to change that by dedicating more time to learning the subject.

I have also been quite quiet on here as I spend several hours a day reading through and realising I am no where near where I should be.

One thing I have realised tonight by looking at various threads is the fact I think I have been storing my photos wrong, or at least not getting the best out of the software I have.

I currently store my photos on my HD in 2012-08-10 type of system, this works fine for me. I also shoot in both Jpeg and RAW. I do this as I know RAW is the negative so its worth keeping. I also use the Jpeg as I am actually no good at PP so have to use the Jpeg as my image.

I also have Lightroom 3 which I purchased and use to catalogue all my Jpeg photos, I copy my RAWs into a separate HD for safe keeping.

After reading several threads on here, I think I might actually be doing this arse about face.

Am i right in thinking I should actually be cataloging my RAWs within LR so that I can edit them etc and perhaps keep my Jpegs separate. Obviously I would need to learn some LR techniques in relation to sharpening etc so that I could export as Jpegs which would turn out far better.

Sorry for the numpty questions but some clarification would be appreciated and pointing n the right direction.

Thanks in advance.
 
Yes you are - Bin the jpg files, edit the RAWs and export only those RAW files that you want.

I prefer sharpening in photoshop but learning Lightroom sharpening is not hard. Lots of videos on you tube.
 
Cheers Jim. Also refreshing to see the red in your signature.

I guess I need to swap all my images around. I wondered why trying to sharpen my jpegs was not producing the results I hoped for, its the RAWs I need to have in the Library to sharpen etc.
 
Well; the JPG imasges are already set a level of sharpening in the camera. I'm not keen on the RAW sharpening done by Lightroom - I usually run an action in Photoshop at the end of my PP and export.

RAW allows you much greater scope in editing the image though - where you've missed the exposure etc. I shoot only RAW and export jpg images from the RAW.
 
You are doing it wrong-ish, but that said it works for you so it's right.
Ideally LR can do all the cataloging for you, but it doesn't suit every type of photography.
I get a lot of transient images on my computers, they come in are edited and go never to be seen again, so I don't need to catalogue them, so it doesn't work for me, much as I like LR.
Do what suits you.
 
Cheers guys. I cant comment on the sharpening as I have not delved into the world of PP as yet. I should do as I feel my images are not not what they should be despite the kit, so I am trying my hardest to them right in camera first.
 
you can run multiple catalogues in LR if you wish, 1 for RAW, one for jpeg, etc. I have 1 for RAW and another for jpeg stock submissions, helps keep track of things.

Each to their own really, you'll find you develop a system that suits you over the decades :)
 
you can run multiple catalogues in LR if you wish, 1 for RAW, one for jpeg, etc. I have 1 for RAW and another for jpeg stock submissions, helps keep track of things.

Each to their own really, you'll find you develop a system that suits you over the decades :)

I don't bother separating. Runs fine with pretty much any nuymber of images and keeping them together is easier (for me)

I think I have close to 100,000 files in my catalogue and it runs fast.
 
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