Workflow Advice Requested

[egoldstein]

Setup: I have a D80, use Lightroom with Elements on a Windows computer.

 

I am looking for some advice on the digital workflow. Each shoot might have up to 150 images so we are not talking

huge numbers of photos YET. I want to get this refined before it does.

 

My workflow goes something like this:

1) Download NEF from card in card reader to a PhotoArchive Directory YYYY-MM-DDShootName sub-directory

(using Windows Copy/Move)

2) Import NEFs to PhotoWorking Directory using Lightroom to add a directory with same naming convention as

above converting to DNG, and renaming with YYYYMMDD-Shoot-#### during the import.

3) Select Picks and Excludes, Adjust white balance, exposure, saturation, etc. in Lightroom

4) Fine tune adjustments in Elements

5) Export from Lightroom to full size JPG in PhotosFinal Directory using Lightroom to create a sub-directory with

above naming convension and Rename to YYYYMMDD-ShootName-####.jpg during export.

 

The workflow works , I get the RAW files archived, the DNG files for working with and the JPG output for e-mailing

uploading to share site etc. I think I have a pretty good handle on Lightroom but any thing I am missing would be a

big help.

 

Questions:

 

1.How do those of you who do this with hundreds of images at a time do it? It seems there must be an easier way

than managing three separate directories of images.

2. When editing the DNG in Elements it needs to convert them to a TIFF but then I wind up haveing two copies of the

image one good and one even better, any way to avoid this?

3. One last question, not quite related to workflow but Lightroom, is there a way to keep the import dialogue box from

storing the entries from the previous import? There have been times I've had to re-do an import because of this.

 

Thanks for reading and offering any advice you can.

[godfrey]

<i>> My workflow goes something like this:<br>

> <br>

> 1) Download NEF from card in card reader to a PhotoArchive<br>

> Directory YYYY-MM-DDShootName sub-directory (using Windows<br>

> Copy/Move)<br>

> <br>

> 2) Import NEFs to PhotoWorking Directory using Lightroom to add a<br>

> directory with same naming convention as above converting to DNG,<br>

> and renaming with YYYYMMDD-Shoot-#### during the import.</i><br>

<br>

Why not have Lightroom do all of that in one step? Copy, with DNG conversion, from card to working directory, check

the "save backup copy" checkbox and have the files go to another volume. You can set the renaming pattern right there

and have it all done for you. <br>

<br>

<i>> 3) Select Picks and Excludes, Adjust white balance, exposure,<br>

> saturation, etc. in Lightroom<br>

> <br>

> 4) Fine tune adjustments in Elements </i><br>

<br>

If you find yourself needing to do much other than selective editing in Photoshop Elements, you're missing something

basic in your editing process. <br>

<br>

<i>> 5) Export from Lightroom to full size JPG in PhotosFinal<br>

> Directory using Lightroom to create a sub-directory with above<br>

> naming convension and Rename to YYYYMMDD-ShootName-####.jpg<br>

> during export.<br>

> <br>

> <br>

> The workflow works , I get the RAW files archived, the DNG files<br>

> for working with and the JPG output for e-mailing uploading to<br>

> share site etc. I think I have a pretty good handle on Lightroom<br>

> but any thing I am missing would be a big help.<br>

> <br>

> Questions:<br>

> <br>

> 1.How do those of you who do this with hundreds of images at a<br>

> time do it? It seems there must be an easier way than managing<br>

> three separate directories of images.</i><br>

<br>

Workflow: <br>

<br>

- Import files from card to Lightroom, making backup copy and converting working copy to DNG. Apply default IPTC

metadata and Develop preset, apply grouping keywords, do file renaming at same time. <br>

<br>

- Use quick develop in Library module to bash settings into the right range for comparison, sorting and grading. <br>

<br>

- Sort, grade, identify picks to do finish work on. <br>

<br>

- Make finish adjustments to color balance, tonality, cropping, etc<br>

<br>

- Sort, grade picks to semi-final status<br>

<br>

- For those specific photos that require selective area editing/adjustment, used "Edit in Photoshop" command to render

TIFF file and edit, return to Lightroom. <br>

<br>

- Finalize sort picks for sending to client. Finish titling, captions, etc. <br>

<br>

- Export to a "Completed Work" directory tree finalized picks: full rez TIFFs, full rez JPEGs, web rez JPEGs, etc. <br>

<br>

This puts <br>

a) original RAW files into a backup directory, <br>

b) DNGs for editing into a working directory, <br>

c) any intermediate TIFF files into the same working directory, and <br>

d) final exported output renderings into a Completed Works directory tree. <br>

<br>

<br>

<i>> 2. When editing the DNG in Elements it needs to convert them to a<br>

> TIFF but then I wind up haveing two copies of the image one good<br>

> and one even better, any way to avoid this?</i><br>

<br>

No. It's part of the process. You should stack them in Lightroom and collapse the stack to minimize confusion on

screen. Or delete the ones from the working directory you no longer need. <br>

<br>

<i>> 3. One last question, not quite related to workflow but<br>

> Lightroom, is there a way to keep the import dialogue box from<br>

> storing the entries from the previous import? There have been<br>

> times I've had to re-do an import because of this.</i><br>

<br>

Not that I'm aware of. You have to pay attention. <br>

<br>

Godfrey<br>

[JAPster]

You forgot one important step, which should be included at key places in the process.

 

That step is...

 

*** make backup disks ***

 

W/o backup disks on hand, if your computer decides its time to go belly up, then

all your pictures and all your hard work is 'down the drain'. Imagine explaining to

a paying customer (ie, an anxious Bride), why you cant deliver her pictures because

"well, you see, I had computer problems, then i lost the hard drive, and you see,

I didnt have any backup copies of the pictures."

 

IMHO, you should make CD or DVD Backup Disks using your PC CD/DVD Disk Drive and Burner software...

 

1st) ASAP after uploading the pics to the computer.

2nd) At the end of each day, after working on the project.

3rd) At the end of the project, after pictures have been delivered.

[godfrey]

Yes, Alan, you're right: I didn't list it.

 

I run my automated backup immediately after the first step. I don't use CD or DVD media, however: my backup system is

twin external hard drives. The backup runs, automated, every day whether I kick it off or not, and whenever else I feel it is

a good idea to do so.

 

Godfrey

[patricklavoie]

what can i add after this complet explanation form Godfrey?! i was thinking to said that i find your workflow really really unefficient, slow, and redundant..but Godfrey offer the same advice i would have done;

 

use Lr to do all of that in one pass.

 

apply automatic setting while importing.

 

selected and rejected.

 

refine your adjustment in Lr (dont see the point of going in anything else to refine, Lr offr all you need if well use)

 

export as DNG and/or JPEG lower quality srgb for web display.

 

I dont convert to DNG for backup as i dont see the point, but thats me.

 

Doing this on 150 image should take you no time, i process way more image than this from a shoot (read 200 image minimum for a shot, 8 shot a day = 1600 images total approx..editorial purpose or commercial ad campaign) and i could fly all of this in couple hours.

 

 

and of course, backup to at least 2 place that are not close together.