Wedding Workflow

[rkphotography]

Thought it would be interesting to see what type of workflow you use to process your wedding pics.

[mizuno]

You go first. ;)

[paul33]

LOL !!!

[MikeMcL]

i always start by shooting them first... if you dont do that all the rest becomes very hard.

[tim]

This is getting into an area where you're giving away secrets... I doubt many people will play this one. The key to a wedding workflow, in my opinion, is speed and efficiency, which depends on you shooting well and knowing your tools.

[Arnie1]

This is getting into an area where you're giving away secrets... I doubt many people will play this one.


I'm suprised...are people here really that shallow?

I think not Tim.;)

[Arnie1]

http://www.planetneil.com/faq/workflow.html

[tim]

I'm suprised...are people here really that shallow?

I think not Tim.;)

Put it this way, I won't be posting mine. Not that there's anything very special about it, but it feels too much like giving away trade secrets. That's just me, i'm sure many people will be happy to share :)

[tommy_london]

Mine goes something like this:
1. After shoot upload everything to my mac.
2. Open up Bridge and review all images.
3. Cull the ones that don't work, Label the ones that do, move them to a new folder.
4. Review them again and make basic adjustments (F-keys assigned for most used adjustments - USM, saturation boost, contrast boost, B&W, H&S, Noiseware, etc)
5. Open ones that need more work (cropping, cloning, exposure, colour correction etc).
6. Create and upload gallery.
7. Send link to client.
8. Wait...
9. Print chosen images.
10. Mount and send to client.
11. Drink wine.

[photoworld]

Thought the whole point of joining a forum like this was to share. So what's the point then?

AJ

[C.S.I.]

Thought the whole point of joining a forum like this was to share. So what's the point then?

AJ

I agree........I think this is the first time I gotta respectfully disagree with ya Tim :(

[AKRover]

If and when I find something that works for me I would be more than happy to share it.

[chris.bailey]

Sorry I dont get this but why is a wedding workflow any different to any other type of photography and as such its been done to death in the Post Processing Forum where it tends to be more of the same old discussion about ACR vs Rawshooter vs C1 etc.

Just one thought to add is that Lighroom will make for a very efficient workflow when they speed it up a bit. I've just processed a 150 image shoot through it and ended up with a set of tiffs that just need the odd bit of spotting and its produced my client jpg proofs as well.

[MrScott]

I'll bite, one question first though, how do ya'll handle multiple aspect ratios? 2x3, 4x5, 5x5, 5x7 etc?


Here's my flow for proofing:

RAW => Uploaded to HD80 (http://www.hyperdrive.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=1) => Copy and Backup RAWs on PC => Adobe Bridge => cut bad pics

Modify Saturation +10 and Luminance Smoothing 25 on 1 picture - copy RAW settings. Apply Raw settings to all images.

=> Select groups of 150 or so for speed and feeling of accomplishment when editing :) => Adjust "Shadows" and possilby "Exposure" and "Brightness" on each photo, use arrow keys to navigate images (no relative adjustments, I usually bump Shadows by 3-10 points). Exposure and Brightness usually flux to give a + or - range => select Done to save .xmp for each grouping of images.

=> complete all images => "Bridge-Tools-Photoshop-Batch..." => Config Batch w/out Destination and Errors, Suppress File open, basically I'm just running a PS Action that includes changes and saves. => upload or print when complete => Done :)

Proofing PS Action contains initial USM to cut haze, a "glow and mod", PS-Automate-FitImage for sizing, Multiple Canvas adjustments for proofing frames and logo, then save to jpg.

For final mods the only thing that changes is the crop in Bridge and a PS Action that does not close and will allow for additional mods.

I really like the crop in Brige, by selecting the "A" key and drawing a straight line the tool sets crop for whatever the previous ratio was. To speed that one up, I'll "crop" 1 vertical image and then paste the raw config for "crop" to all other verts. Do the same for horizontal stuff and then use ACR to slide and shimmy the crop for best positioning. Again, using the right or left keys to bounce thru the group of pics in ACR.

Just sharring...

[sapearl]

I'll be happy to share my wedding workflow, for what its worth - I've had a film workflow for 30+ years and am currently "morphing it" to digital ;) . This process is currently in flux and subject to constant tweaking as I become more comfortable with digital. I apologize for its length, but you did ask :lol:

And I view it as no secret - the secret is in your skill level, your style, the product you deliver, and how you interact with the client. Here are my basic steps:

1. Get a good night's sleep, eat a hearty breakfast, make sure shoes and socks are comfortable for the job.

2. Leave a copy of the intinerary with your wife, so she knows what you're REALLY up to that day. It's also helpful if she has to make an emergency run to your site.

3. ** VERY IMPORTANT ** Kiss wife or significant other before leaving house.

4. Shoot the job - currently I use digital for about 80% of the work; this includes all the candids, the "photojournalistic" stuff, and some of the formals. Everything is shot in RAW for ease of workflow. I use MF film for those really critical (formal and group) shots that still manage to give the ETTL-2 and Canon fill-flash system grief.

5. Upon returning home with all the media, dump all the CF cards onto my hard drive. I currently use (4) 2GB cards with my 5D.

6. Copy all the files onto a second external hard drive.

7. Burn all the RAW files to a set of DVD's, make a backup DVD set.

8. Box up the film for UPS & ship it to my commercial lab.

9. Using CS2's Bridge, view all the 5D's RAW images in slideshow mode, delete the crappy shots, horrible eye blinks, and tedious duplicates. My target is 400 - 500 images between all the film and digital that was shot.

10. Start making all my global exposure, contrast, shadow, etc. adjustments to the RAW files once I've decided upon the "keepers."

11. Once I've selected all of the digital proofs, I rename/renumber them in ACR and image process them to JPG, quality level of 10, which gives me 3 - 5MB files.

12. I then log-onto my commercial lab's site (Buckeye Color in Canton, Ohio) and use their online ordering tool to crop, straighten, size and select quantity of proofs.

13. When step 12 is completed, I FTP the files to the lab. I only have basic DSL, so if a complete set of about (350) 4x5 proofs comes to around 1GB, that will take around 6 hours to upload, over night.

14. About 4 days later, these proofs arrive, along with an archive disk from the lab, containing basic color correction adjustment.

15. About this time also, the proofs from the MF film arrive, back from the same lab.

16. I review both digital and film proofs together, selecting the best of each.

17. After having selected 400 - 500 proofs, I number the backs and add my studio stamp.

18. All the proofs are inserted into two proof backs.

19. I print a simple MS Word order form with ordering blocks and instructions, and include these with the proof books.

20. The client is called, and an appointment is set for them to come to the house for a review.

21. At the close of the review, they take the books home with them for 1 - 2 months while they decide upon their order, and pass the pix around to all the friends and relatives.

The above is my workflow for just generating the proofs. When I get a chance later I'll write some info on completing the final order.

[sapearl]

Sharing is great - then I can shamelessly steal a better idea from someone else :lol: . Hey, why reinvent the wheel?

If and when I find something that works for me I would be more than happy to share it.

[sapearl]

I took the lazy way out on this one. My lab has an on-line cropping tool that will allow be to select any proof or finish size I want (step #12 in my workflow). I still will specially crop something though in CS2 if I have the need.

....I'll bite, one question first though, how do ya'll handle multiple aspect ratios? 2x3, 4x5, 5x5, 5x7 etc?.......

[rkphotography]

thank you everyone.I will try not to steal your buisness.......lol

[sapearl]

Hey, I don't think there's any danger of that owing to our geographical uniqueness :lol: .

And besides, wedding photography is as much about talent, interpretation and technical ability. We all vary in some degree, and have something special to offer our clients.

thank you everyone.I will try not to steal your buisness.......lol

[Arnie1]

And besides, wedding photography is as much about talent, interpretation and technical ability. We all vary in some degree, and have something special to offer our clients.


Eloquently put Mr Pearl;)


Now, anybody have experience with DIM? I see Tim lists it on his Gear list....OPPPS sorry Tim! don't want to give anything away with your workflow:lol:

[tim]

DIM is great, it can automatically download cards when you put them in your card reader. I've told a lot about my workflow in the past, just not the whole thing beginning to end.