Lightroom, what is your work flow

rgrebby

rgrebby

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Name
Richard
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How does your work routine.

For example,

1. Upload Pics
2. star 1 all the rubbish ones
3. etc
 
Hi,

I would suggest the following... Keeps it Simple...

1) Create New LR Catalog - (01_18_August_JobName)

2) Import images from Card Reader. (Its faster) and add appropriate metadata for the job, things like location, names, church, venue, etc...

3) Repeat for stage "2" for multiple cards.

4) Back Up entire job to an external hard drive or DVD's.

5) In the library module edit using your arrows keys and the Flag system, (P) for pick (X) for reject, unflagged are your maybe's... You can use (U) for unpicking.

6) Stack the edit into groups using the flagged and unflagged filter via Ctrl+G and apply a white balance correction and sync for all images as per their lighting conditions.

7) Then, do what I call a first color grade on all the flagged and unflagged images again working as per lighting conditions and similar groupings. This is once again done as a batch process with sync.

8) Crop where needed, but I personally crop in camera so this is a rare thing for me and if I am cropping I keep to the same 3:2 ratio initially. If you can batch process a crop then do so...

At this stage the images are presentable for the web. If you are going to convert some images to Black & White then I would do it at this stage. But at this point I would present the images for client previewing.

10) Export for web and print. (Ctrl+E)

Thats my initial workflow... :)
 
Thanks LittlePhotoshop i am also getting used to have a work flow as well...!

Will give it a try later..!
 
I would never advocate importing the images in from the card reader unless you have them backed up elsewhere... there have been quite a few instances where the cards have got corrupted this way and proved very difficult to restore.

So for me - back up first at least twice
 
spxxxx said:
I would never advocate importing the images in from the card reader unless you have them backed up elsewhere... there have been quite a few instances where the cards have got corrupted this way and proved very difficult to restore.

So for me - back up first at least twice
Click to expand...

people usually upload straight from the camera? or am I missing something.
 
rgrebby said:
people usually upload straight from the camera? or am I missing something.
Click to expand...
I've always transferred images on cards via a card reader, I personally don't upload them directly from the camera. I always copy them across to a temporary 'holding' folder on the Desktop (means there's already a backup left on the card(s) if something goes awry. From there on in the rest is similar to the above :thumbs:
 
rgrebby said:
people usually upload straight from the camera? or am I missing something.
Click to expand...

No, I never import from the camera, always through a card reader. But then I am not earning a living from the contents of the card.

My LR Workflow:

0. Shoot in RAW

1. Import (using card reader), to folder \\My pictures\\Digital Camera\year\Quarter (e.g Jan to Mar)\date (folder created automatically by LR). Convert to DNG on import.

2. mark all images purple (for me this means not catalogued)

3. Apply keywords and place in any applicable catalogues, then color blue (meaning catalogued)

4. In Library module use a combination of flags and stars to highlight keepers and flaged for bin. (note: flags are local to a folder, use stars if you want to filter across folders)

5. Move to Edit Module: Crop; apply any global corrections; apply image specific corrections (mainly limit to exposure; curve; saturation; vibrance). Convert any obvious candidates for B&W

6. Mark any specific images for later editing in PS

My system backs up once perday automatically
I periodically deleted any images flagged for bin. Delete from catalogue and disk.
I use the purple and blue system because if I get distracted in the middle of cataloging I can filter on purple to find anything without key words. Yes I know you can filter on "no key words" but I find purple easier.
 
what is the other option for importing your pictures, I thought it was only using a card reader.
 
I wouldn't suggest creating a new catalogue for each job/import - as this then somewhat defeats the search capability of Lightroom. LR can comfortably contain tens of thousands of images, and searching through them is very quick.
 
will69 said:
Use the USB cable that came with your camera, and plug camera (or very expensive card reader) straight into computer.
Click to expand...
You're still reading from the CF (or whatever format) card though. It's just that the camera is acting as a USB external storage device allowing you to do so.
 
rgrebby said:
ok, I didnt think anyone would do that
Click to expand...

I do if I have left my card reader in my office and want to have a look at the photos I have taken :)

My LR workflow is along the lines of:

1) Import photos
2) Quick run through and reject any obvious crud and delete it
3) Copy entire image folder to Raid 5 backup server
4) Second pass though picks, grouping any obvious multi shots and giving a quick rating
5) 3rd pass through, anything 3* and above
6) Crop/tweak/apply presets etc
7) Generate LR Gallery and upload to web
8) Clear down CF Cards
9) Keyword (theoretically)
 
Mine:

1. Download using card reader to folder with shot descripton as title, in current months folder on Photo HDD
2. Import into this years Lr catalog adding basic keywords
3. Select all (or some if more than one event etc in the imprort) - add to quick collection - save collection (with appropriate title)
4. Go through grading 1-5 * (1-bin, 2-fun, 3-ok, 4-good, 5-excellent)
4. Delete any 1*
5. Process 5*
6. Process 4* if they come out well turn them into 5*
7. Process any HDRs
8. Work on any that need cloning work in Photoshop
9. Add titles and descriptions to 5*
10. Export 5* from Lr to flickr
11. Possibly choose one to blog (if so moving it to 'Blog' collection)
2009-08-18_174803.jpg
 
theMusicMan said:
I wouldn't suggest creating a new catalogue for each job/import - as this then somewhat defeats the search capability of Lightroom. LR can comfortably contain tens of thousands of images, and searching through them is very quick.
Click to expand...

I was mainly trying to show a singular workflow, rather than an overall workflow. Forgot to add I also import the single catalog into an overall catalog for the year. That way I can quickly search a whole years worth of stuff.. :) I keep both handy...

As for not using a card reader. You pay for what you get and after shooting digitally for over 10 years I have never lost a card to a card reader corruption. But thats not to say it wont happen.

I look after my CF cards carefully and they look after me.
 
LittlePhotoshop said:
I was mainly trying to show a singular workflow, rather than an overall workflow. Forgot to add I also import the single catalog into an overall catalog for the year. That way I can quickly search a whole years worth of stuff.. :) I keep both handy...

As for not using a card reader. You pay for what you get and after shooting digitally for over 10 years I have never lost a card to a card reader corruption. But thats not to say it wont happen.

I look after my CF cards carefully and they look after me.
Click to expand...
Now that's a good idea... nice one!:thumbs:
 
It is interesting to see that no one has mentioned the create a copy of the files as you are importing them. Also convert to DNG or leave as RAW?
 
Although I'm not a wedding tog I thought this is a neat discussion. My basic flow is very similar to Jimmy_Lemon's.

1. Download straight from camera to folder
2. Import into Lr catalog adding basic keywords
3. Go through grading 1-5 * (1-bin, 3-ok)
4. Delete any 1*
5. Look through 3'*s and give 5* or 4* (I like to take a break and check them out again
6. Process 5* and 4*
7. Process any HDRs
8. Work on any that need work in Photoshop
9. Export

If things need to be put into photoshop or HDR'ed I give them a different colour code (red, blue, yellow, etc).
I name my folders like this:
2009.VIII.12 Event Here
 
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