The Photographer’s Workflow – Digital Post-Production

I done a book

Or, more formally, I’m putting the finishing touches to my Guide to Digital Post-Production, entitled, with diabolical cunning, “The Photographer’s Workflow”.

“The Photographer’s Workflow” sets out my post-capture workflow, from taking the image files from the camera, through uploading, storing, cataloguing, keywording, captioning, processing, archiving, promoting and final output.

The content of the e-book follows my own digital workflow and reveals the step-by-step approach which has allowed me to maintain a consistent approach to Digital Asset Management over many years and with tens of thousands of images.

I’ve always enjoyed the fact that photography is a wonderful blend of left-brain and right-brain disciplines. But creativity doesn’t end when you’ve pressed the shutter release. Being able to make the most of your hard work with a post-production workflow to make your mother proud is the next half of what it is to be a photographer.

Before I was a photographer I earned a crust working as a Systems Analyst. “A what?”, I hear you cry. Well, I analysed systems, obviously. My job was to look at a workflow process, review it, tweak it, re-design and refine it until it gave the smoothest, most effective and most consistent results. I’ve bought that experience to bear when developing my post-production workflow and I’m happy to say that it’s evolved into a hassle-free process which allows me to get the maximum work done in the shortest amount of time.

A large part of that process is helped by the employment of Lightroom Smart Collections and Presets and you’ll be delighted to learn that my Photographer’s Workflow eBook will come packaged with a complete collection of presets, all of which I currently use to manage my workflow. Together with a step-by-step Smart Collection Workflow for you to import into your own Lightroom catalogues and with a number of Nik Software post-production recipes to boot, the eBook and Workflow package also includes a User Guide, explaining how to introduce the Workflow to your own post-production system.

Here’s a list introducing some of the chapter headings with some of the groovier highlights:

1. Storage and security in the field – whether you’re working in a remote location or in a studio, you’ll want to ensure that your camera is storing images in the most robust way possible. And I show how I do my best to protect those precious files when travelling.
2. Importing – This is where the benefit of a consistent approach begins to pay dividends and where the beauty of Lightroom presets begins to help us to maintain consistency whilst also cutting down our post-production time.
3. Cataloguing – This chapter is, though I say it myself, a gem for all photographers who want to develop a straightforward, time-saving yet effective method of managing digital image files. Over the years I’ve developed a step-by-step workflow and by cunning use of a series of Lightroom Smart Collections, I’ll show you how to watch your images slide easily through your workflow system.
4. Metadata – It’s not sexy. It can be dull and repetitive adding keywords and captions to your images but the results can keep your image library in good order and there are marketing benefits for those of us who need to ensure that our images can be found online. This chapter shows how to reduce the time spent adding metadata with some tasty tricks that will have you licking your lips in anticipation of your next keywording and captioning session.
5. Development- This is the sexy bit. Taking those bland RAW files and bringing out the beauty in them. This chapter not only discusses approaches to Lightroom development techniques but dips it’s toe into the murky world of Photoshop and Nik Software’s post-production tools. We look at effective noise reduction, consistent white balance implementation, colour profile management, and much more. Most importantly, we see how a consistent approach can help reinforce your personal style, giving your images a look that reflects both your voice and vision.

   The chapter on Development not only shows how to bring out the best in your images, but also provides a step-by-step guide for consistent post-production.

6. Colour Managed Workflow – Probably one of the most underrated but most crucially important aspects of post-production. Without a colour-managed workflow your images are floating in the breeze and there’s no telling where they’ll end up. Tie them down with my guide to establishing a quick, simple and effective colour management system.
7. Archiving – Effective back-up regimes and, importantly, my proven system for keeping your images safe, secure and searchable.
8. Output – Having done all that hard work, you’ll want to get those images working for you. Whether you’re a pro photographer needing your images to work for you or a blogger looking to attract a wider audience, producing eye-catching versions of your images is crucial and this chapter explains my approach.

My Photographer’s Workflow eBook will be available shortly. But now I’ve introduced it to you and I’m inviting applications from keen affiliates who have an active audience. If you write a popular blog or a well-read web site or if you’re a Facebook guru with thousands of fans then I’d love to hear from you. Affiliates will receive a free copy of the eBook and accompanying materials for review and will also receive 33% commission on all sales made through their respective media channels.

If you’d like to apply to become an affiliate, please complete the short form below.

And if you’d like to hear when the eBook is officially released, please add your details to my Newsletter subscription page.

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