Tims Wedding Workflow

[Michael Jonsson]

Thanks! this will help me with my workflow for sure. However don't limit yourself, from what i've seen Lightroom is something worth looking into. Bridge does not even compare.

If your too lazy to read a book, see the Lynda tutorial on Lightroom, then you will know why

[tim]

That's a mildly offensive post from a n00b Michael. I've tried Lightroom more than once but I just don't like the interface or the workflow. Bridge is a lot more efficient for the way I like to work.

[Michael Jonsson]

I apologize, I did not mean to offend you Tim, I wasn't calling you lazy, someone earlier in the thread mentioned they were too lazy to read the book they bought. I didn't know we were so sensitive. I thought photographers were of a tougher breed:P But in all seriousness, I hope you one day look into what Lightroom can actually do, using bridge is like fishing with a line when you have the option of using a net. Lightroom, like the net, just does things that bridge cant do. They really can not be compared.

Funny you call me a 'n00b', because the industry professionals would agree with me. When Bridge first came along it was great because it made life easier for workflow. Photographers started to spend most of their time in Bridge because it did so so much. Eventually Lightroom came out and people didn't really know what to make of it because it seemed to do what bridge does. Why switch over? Simple, Lightroom does more.

What your missing is the strength that lightroom will give you as far as cataloging and database functionality (not to mention some other great features). Now i am not saying 'don't use bridge', it should totally be used for browsing and for viewing files like PDFs or other that can't be seen in lightroom.

Simple breakdown:
Lightroom: database, develop, deliver - 10 000+ images
Photoshop: power, precision, perfection - 1+ images
Bridge: broad, brief, browsing - 10+ folder

All i'm saying is that people reading this can improve their workflow so they can spend more time shooting and less time editing. I can see that your workflow is really great and i'm not telling you to change it, I am just trying to make sure that nobody else gets too comfortable with bridge and misses seeing the Light(room).

You really don't need to spend time defending the tried tested and true workflow you have. I know that 'when something ain't broke why fix it?' But that saying is kind of faulty too:P But that's for another thread.

Thanks for reading All the best with your workflows!

[tim]

First up i'm not trying to justify my choice, i'm trying to explain it. I don't really care what tool anyone uses.

Next, your simple breakdown is incorrect, and is based on your preferences. Lightroom is a good tool, but Bridge has exactly the same image processing functions, bar a few very small details. I regularly process events with 2000 images, in batches of up to 100 images at a time, though each image generally gets tweaked individually this is done in batch mode (ie the ACR window) for speed. Bridge can easily handle this. Also I don't need a database/image library, I work on one customers images at a time and while i'm doing that I don't much care about the tens of thousands of images on the drive.

I just didn't like the workflow in Lightroom, it seemed excessive for wedding photographers. I didn't like the different modules, having to switch between them, as bridge can do it in one view. I didn't like the way if you worked with multiple images in a batch you have to hit the sync button to apply your change to the other images, it's slow - in bridge you select the images you want to work on and the changes are made simultaneously and instantly. I don't like catalogs, as I use folders to organise images, which is probably pretty common to event photographers.

I wouldn't use bridge for viewing PDFs. I use windows explorer to browse my drives, and adobe acrobat to view them. I use Bridge to create PDF files for customers though.

Use whatever works for you, and everyone should try both apps, but please try not to spread misinformation.

[Michael Jonsson]

I agree with you Tim. It is based on preference.

However, didn't makeup my breakdown. I got it from Chris Orwigs tutorial explaining the difference between bridge, photoshop and lightroom. as they can all be used to edit. He was just showing his workflow and asserted that professionals in the industry would generally follow this workflow.

I was a bridge person myself up until about a month or 2 ago. I took the initiative to learn everything about lightroom so i could make the right decision about workflow. At first i thought there was no chance that i would switch away from bridge. But It was surprising that at every turn there were features to make my photo editing life that much easier. I'm not saying i know everything. I just tell it how i see it.

If its any consolation, I took about 60,000 photos this year, ranging from events to cataloging to models.

Switching modules is equivalent as having to open ACR in another window.
Why do you only batch 100 at a time?
The sync button isn't slow. please do not spread this misinformation:P
The tagging is way more advanced. (probably not something you would care about Tim)
Also how can a program be too excessive for someone? too helpful? i don't get it...

Lastly, when i said you can view PDFs, i was just referring to the fact that you can view many files quickly and easily in bridge compared with anything else. Which is pretty much the only reason I use it for now. Quick browsing! Obviously once you found what your looking for than you open it with the proper program.

Cheers.

[Chana]

This was great help, thank you Tim.

[michelle3]

wow thanks for this... very helpful... I'm always looking for ways to improve my workflow!

[Brisbane photographer]

Cheers Tim, any time saved here is so valuable to me.

[axelriet]

Hi Tim, I'm the author of FastPictureViewer mentioned in your post. Thanks for the referral, much appreciated. If you want to suggest improvements or comment on the recently added features (batch import/rename, IPTC editor…) feel free to shoot me an email, I’m always listening.

[tim]

Nice to see you here Axel I use it as a single purpose tool for express culling, I won't use any of the other features. It just works, which is great. The only thing i've had trouble with is working out how to input the serial number when I bought a new PC, it took me about 15 minutes to find a reference to Control-R in the help menu! Maybe you could make it more obvious, put it on the menu, then remove it once it's registered?

[axelriet]

Originally Posted by tim

I use it as a single purpose tool for express culling, I won't use any of the other features.

...which is perfectly fine! I'm a big fan of specialized, sharp tools doing a few things well: glad to learn it works for you this way. Thanks for the comment about the registration dialog, I'll consider making it more obvious in the future.

[pelebel]

Thanks for the great post Tim!

I'm more of a Lightroom guy, but I'll apply lots of tips to my workflow anyway.

[avangardphoto]

Cool stuff. Thanks for your input.
Mario

[DanFaenza]

Hey Tim. I don't know if this is the place to ask this but it seems appropriate. I've actually gotten my workflow down to a messy art, if that makes sense. Where I'm stuck is the delivery of the images. I just got done at a wedding with about 800 pics. I got them down to about 350 keepers and have already done the full edit. I'm ready to deliver them but I'm always torn. Am I wrong for delivering the 300 pictures that I picked with no input from the couple? I guess where I get lost is what exactly should be delivered to the couple. I tend to stay away from individual print sales and present with a disc with the images on it. Maybe a slideshow accompanied with it too. Is it obvious how lost I am? ANY help would be awesome!

[tim]

Most peoples are happy to have someone else filter them down, otherwise they'd get duds, duplicates, and test shots. You're providing a service, and your price is for taking images, culling, and processing the selected images. So make the call, don't discard an image without good reason (or don't include it without good reason is an alternate approach), and give them what you think they would want to see.

My philosophy is to give the customer everything I'd want to see if it were my wedding.