My eight-step workflow process.
Simple, repeatable steps to the photographic process.
I’ve come to learn that whenever you can implement repeatable, successful processes there are great deals of efficiencies, security and professionalism to gain. You’d be silly not to follow a process. There’s no particular ‘catch-all’ process that guarantees to work for everyone, but below is the workflow process that I’ve been using for the past seven years.
01
Canon 5D Mark II
Shoot RAW files in manual mode. 40% percent of my shots utilize auto-focus, the other 60% are shot with fine tuning the manual focus. Use camera’s LCD for an occasional peek at histogram information (for trickier exposures), otherwise the display stays off.
02
Adobe DNG Converter
Use CF media card reader to convert camera RAW files to Adobe Digital Negative format, placing in new file structure on a dedicated, internal 1TB primary photo HD.
03
Adobe Bridge CS5
Apply D’Angelo Photo default metadata to all shots. Browse all shots and quickly identify poor images (bad exposure, off-focus, etc.) and place duds into ‘B-Roll’ folder. Apply star ratings to images that will be considered for client review. Apply color labels to exceptionally strong images that are worthy candidates for portfolio consideration.
04
Adobe Bridge CS5
Select all (non- B-Roll) images and apply subtle camera RAW adjustments – typically color temperature, contrast and exposure.
05
External Hard Drives
Copy RAW files to a dedicated, external 1TB backup HD. Use DSLR to reformat Compact Flash card.
06
Adobe Bridge CS5
Select small groups of RAW files that have similar exposures, tonality or editing requirements and make more localized camera RAW edits. With a group of RAWs open in the camera RAW settings editor, inspect individual images and apply any desired cropping, leveling or dust/spot removal.
07
Adobe Photoshop CS5
Select images that qualify for pixel-based editing. Label image layer “original” and duplicate as “cleaned” and placed in a layer group, “Edited”. Conduct Photoshop editing of image: curves, dodging, burning, cloning, compositing and application of third-party filters. Create final, composite color and grayscale layers. Use Adobe Lightroom to apply D’Angelo Photo watermark and export full-resolution, HQ JPGs and place in folders.
08
Optical Data Discs
Burn camera RAWs, layered PSD composites and final JPGs to dual-layer archival discs.
Time to face the music armed with this great ifnromation.