Basic Workflow Tips From K_T

This article is part of a larger piece on customising Lightroom written by K_T Allen.


It is interesting how everyone gets from A to Z differently. There is no correct method, some are more efficient than others, but it is about finding a solution that works for you.

Below is my basic workflow that all my images go through, no matter what genre they are:

1. Go out and take photographs.

2. Come home and put my memory card into my computer.

3. Lightroom import dialogue automatically pops up with Copy as DNG selected.

4. The drive location for A: Storage > Photographs > 2013 is already selected in the very top right corner of the window. Subfolder in the destination is already ticked, but I need to enter a new subfolder name that is relevant to the photographs I have just taken.

5. I have presets turned on already for metadata, basic processing and organize into one folder.

6. I press the import button and go make a cup of tea.

7. With brew in hand, I go through my images quickly rating them using the number keys.

8. I move out any skies, backgrounds and composite elements into the folders I have to store these in.

9. I then look at my 5 star images and select one to work with.

10. I create a collection set for the event and then a few sub collections to split up the event into different areas. So for example if it was Whitby Goth weekend, I might have a collect for beach, abbey, street, ladies, gents and kids. This allows me to find my images quickly without trawling through hundreds of images every time I am looking for a suitable model for an image.

11. Move over to the Develop module and make any adjustments, cropping and brush adjustments.

12. Right click the image and select Edit in > Edit in Photoshop CS6.

13. Photoshop opens and I take the development further, bringing in other photographs from Lightroom in the same manner if working on a composite.

14. Once the image is finished, I save the .psd file and sometimes a JPEG.

15. The psd is then automatically added to Lightroom.

16. If for whatever reason your images are not showing in a folder in Lightroom, right click the folder and select ‘synchronize folder…’.

17. I give the image a title, caption, and a colour label depending on what the image is for.

18. If it is a good image I will also add it to my web collection for uploading to my website.

19. I may also make a mono conversion of the image if it is suitable.

20. At the end of the day the drive is cloned so I have a backup of all my images and the Lightroom catalogue. I also keep a copy of all my presets and customisation.

This is an extract from an article written by K_T on customizing lightroom. To read the article, visit K_T's website, click on the ishare tab and click on the PDF. Enter the password ishare.

K_T specialises in digital artist photography. Visit her website to find out more about her.