Mastering The Digital Workflow

Alana Tyler Slutsky shares with the readers of FashionPhotographyBlog.com, the processes she goes through in her workflow. After revealing her tips for the photographic workflow, Alana explains that there are two types of workflow that photographers should pay attention to. In this article she will be discussing the other half of the equation, that is, the digital workflow process. Let’s jump right into it! All yours Alana!

Digital Workflow

 

This applies to everything that involves a computer, bring images in from the camera to prepping for print.

 

– Use a card reader to bring images from your CF/SD card to your computer. (Don’t bring them over via your camera!)

– Download directly to your hard drive – do not bring in via iPhoto or another photo program – This causes problems and confusion when trying to rename and separate individual images.

– Create an organized file structure so you can find anything at a moments notice.

– Bring images into Lightroom or Bridge to review

– Bring images into Photoshop to retouch

 

Download Directly To Your Hard Drive:

 

Create a new folder > Open up the DCIM folder on your CF card > Select and drag images to new folder you just made

 

File Structure:

 

My files are meticulously organized, as pictured below:

Year > Month > Shoot date/name
Each shoot has a set of 6 folders that are worked in.  Nothing exists outside of these 6 folders.  Then consist of:

 

1. Capture – All images shot from the session, further broken down into folders based on look #
2. RAW Selects – ONLY the RAW files for the images I’ve selected to retouch
3. Working Files – PSD’s from the files I’ve retouched
4. Final TIFFS – Flattened, final images ready for print
5. High Res JPEGS – Flattened, final images in high-res ready to hand out to my team/client/etc
6. Low Res JPEGS – Flattened, final images sized and formatted for web use 

 

 

Reviewing Images In Lightroom:

 

As far as reviewing images goes, there is no right or wrong way, this is just how I do it. Again, keeping with the same meticulous file structure that I use to store my images, my Lightroom is organized the same way so I can easily flip between looks from a shoot.

 

– Flip through all the images (by look) and “flag” or “pick” anything that jumps out at me initially by clicking “P”

– Use the filter options to view only images that have been flagged.  Further narrow down your selection, first by using 1 ★ and working your way up to 4 ★‘s.

– Once I get to 4 ★‘s, I’ll view all my looks at once to determine which images work best together and mark my final selects as 5 ★‘s.

 

 

– Create a contact sheet to send to client/agency/whoever based on images rated 4 & 5 ★‘s.

 

To Create A Contact Sheet:

 

1. Select images in Lightroom

2. File > Print or Select “Print” from the menu on top right

3. Top right choose “Single Image/Contact Sheet”

4. Play with “Layout” to determine how your contact sheet is laid out

5. Save your contact sheet as a PDF to email to clients and save a copy for yourself in your newly organized file structure!

 

It’s helpful to add file names under the images so you know what image your client is talking about.

 

 

To save as a PDF, hit Print and the following menu will pop up:

 

 

 

Editing Images In Photoshop:

 

– Once you’ve made your selections, bring your image into Photoshop

– Retouch

– Save

 

When you put it that way, it seems so easy!

 

Retouching:

 

If you haven’t already, check out our previous post on Retouching Skin.

 

1. Work on the big stuff – compositing, reshaping (liquify), any more substantial fixes

2. Heal/Clone

3. Dodge & Burn

4. Apply color – color is a whole other beast on it’s own.  It’s something we’ll definitely get into in another post.

 

Saving Images:

 

1. First, save your final retouched image as a PSD file.  This takes up less room than a TIFF file when layers are involve. (Remember to ALWAYS work on layers.  NEVER EVER EVER work directly on your background layer! This is a terrible practice and if you currently do work on the background layer, break this habit now!)

2.  Flatten your image and save it is a TIFF for printing.

3. Save a high res JPEG for agency/client/whatever – TIFFs only go for print (magazine or specifically asked for. Otherwise everyone gets jpegs.

4. Save a low res JPEG for web use. For me this is typically 72 DPI with longest side around 800 pixels.

 

By the time you finish all this, all those folders you made in the initial file structure should be filled (that is, it you adopt the file structure I currently use). By saving all these formats up front, you won’t need to go into the file every time someone asks for it. They will already be created and will be easily found!

 

I’d love to hear what your workflow is. If anyone has found an even easier/more organized way to go about file management, be a pal and share it in the comments!

 

As always, if you have any questions, feel free to shoot me an email.

 

– Alana

 

Did you find Alana’s post useful? Please leave your comments below in the comment section. We would like to know what you thought about this post. If you enjoyed this article, do stay tuned as Alana has another post just around the corner on FashionPhotograhyBlog.com. If you want to know more about tips for a photographer’s workflow, check our post on Mastering The Photographic Workflow.

 

 

IMAGE SOURCE: 

Feature image & images 1-6: courtesy of Alana Tyler Slutsky.