What is your workflow time per wedding? digital users

Just curious as to how long it's taking everyone to edit one wedding from

download to delivery. With today's software enhancements that allow

synchronization across selected images, and batch processing, I have a hard time

seeing someone's workflow taking longer than 8-10 hours at most. But if it is

I'd like to know why. Or maybe you guys have a quick tip or two for those that

are trying to speed up their workflow.

 

I'm currently using adobe lightroom to process my images, beta 4 is by far

faster than the previous version. And better than bridge IMO since it combines

the features of bridge and ACR into one window instead of having to go back and

forth. there are other reasons, but I want to hear what you guys have to say.

 

stephen

Stephen, also see a recent post that discusses a similar topic:

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00IPSQ&tag=

 

I would like us to start using Adobe Lightroom for the initial prepping of the images, and can certainly see that it might help us speed up our typical workflow (currently about 20-30 hours). Just curious: What type of learning curve did you have when you switched to Lightroom and how long did it take for you to feel "up to speed" with it?

 

Likewise, I would also love to hear other ideas for time saving tips that don't compromise quality.

 

Jen

Just did my first job of processing using lightroom. Although I've been working with the program since it was released trying to find the best workflow I hadn't used it in anger until today. Actually 'anger' is quite appropriate! I loaded up 115 RAW files from a portrait shoot. Working through them using the library mode with view/compare and 100% zoom to check focus was more than painfully slow. It was agonising. Bridge which is pretty slow in itself is fivefold faster on my dual processor 2 gig machine. Zooming in to 100% view on a raw file took over 15 seconds. That is unacceptably slow.

 

Other than that it is a good program which is sorely missing certain features that I've reported on and discussed on the adobe lightroom forum, chief among them is the need for a 'folders view' so that I can move files which I've brought into the lightroom library while keeping them in their places. There is no point of me going through huge amounts of files choosing duds if I can't move them afterwards! At present I'm applying a star rating, exporting the XMP metadata and then moving them in bridge. Not good.

 

From a serious workflow point of view and given just how good the RAW workflows are these days using ACR/Bridge or Lightroom, etc. As I rarely go into CS2 with a file, for proofs if ACR isn't enough then I screwed up, I can process 100 files in about 30-45 minutes including colour/exposure/contrast/minor curves and cropping/tilting. That is in ACR, everything else is done in CS2 using various detailed actions and at that point you don't need to be there and the only thing slowing you down is your computer! Of course the culling of the files takes the longest time prior to the processing. I was hoping that the sophisticated methods available in lightroom would help me but they have to get the speed up first.

that's weird bruce, are you using beta 4? I'm on a duo core machine with 2gb ram and zooming in and out is rather instantaneous.

It's Ben matey! Bruce is my American alter ego, he wears the super hero tight pants. I'm far too overweight!

 

With RAW files it was taking over 15 seconds. I'll have to try it again on a different folder, see what happens, to be honest I didn't remember it being that slow either.

We tone and retouch every single image that we give our clients. This is super time-

consuming, but it has awarded us with steady reprint sales and zero prep time when

putting together orders and/or albums.

 

Last year we weren't as stringent about the post, and we only did light batch editing on the

images before showing them. It was time-saving up front, but ultimately was more work

later on.

 

We spend about 20 hours on post-production, I'd say: dumping, editing, toning/

retouching, uploading to SimplePhoto, and sending to print.

You might want to check out www.theweddinglab.com they will design, print and bind albums with a slide show for approval for a great price. They will also allow you to post weddings for ordering for free. I can set my own prices, they collect the money via credit card , they ship the photos to my client, and best of all, send me a check. All they charge me is 9% of the gross and the cost of the print only if I recieve orders.

 

Jay

We typically have about 3 different lighting~arenas at a given wedding.We change cards for each "setting." So we simpy load up the first card i.e. : outdoors family/bridal in a even~light scenario.

 

We edit the first image in RAW ..then apply those changes to every image and then batch to jpeg. Follow suite on the Ceremony & Reception..Thats it--send them to the client.

 

We do included maybe 4/5 images that are completely "retouched"..if the client would like to pay for that service..they contact us & we charge per hour. We shoot both with manual flash & metering..so really not much to edit. The extra money in digital, these days, is the time your charge in CS2!