Simplified Lightroom Workflow
By Rob Sheppard
Note: this is not a complete description of everything possible in Lightroom – it reflects my approach as a
working photographer to using Lightroom to optimize my images.
Library (keyboard G):
• Import photos with Import button or automatically when memory card detected
o Choose to copy photos to a new location if from memory card
Set location for photos
Use a system that helps YOU organize and find your images
o Choose to leave photos in place if already on hard drive
o Set metadata
o Include keywords
• Edit good and bad pictures
• Add specific metadata
• Use Collections, Smart Collections and Quick Collection like virtual storage bins
• Select images for processing
Develop (keyboard D):
• If cropping needed:
o Adjust cropping
o Straighten photo
• Start in Basic
o Set Blacks
Use Alt/Option key as moving slider to see blacks
At least find a minimum
Beyond minimum is very subjective
o Tweak dark tones (Fill)
o Check whites (Exposure)
Watch histogram (Alt/Option less useful)
Be cautious
o Recovery may help bright areas, but often not
o Choose Clarity amount
Watch out for harsh midtones
o Choose Vibrance
Be cautious
Watch sky color and warm color casts
• Go to Tonal Curve
o Choose linear or moderate for most photos
Strong contrast for extreme effects
o Work the parametric sliders to affect specific tones
o Watch tonal and color changes
• Go to White Balance Eyedropper if needed for color correction
o Click on things in image that should be neutral
o Watch overall image color
o Tweak Temperature and Tint as needed
• Go to HSL to work specific colors
o Use Targeted Adjustment (“magic button” to activate cursor)
Click on colors, drag cursor up or down
o Correct specific color Hue (color of color) where there are problems
o Optimize individual color Saturation (intensity of colors) – one color may
need more, another less to make image better visually balanced
o Adjust individual color brightness with Luminance
• Go to Vignette
o Set darkening of edges
• Go to Detail
o Set sharpening (numbers depend on content of photo)
Click on photo to magnify and use Alt/Option key for black-and-
white version of photo to better see effects
Amount
Radius
Detail
Masking
o Set noise reduction
• Fix spot problems
o Clone
o Heal
o Revise by clicking and dragging
o Keyboard H to hide and reveal guide circles
• Look at photo for local adjustment needs
o Look to balance photo visually
o Darken large areas (I prefer - Brightness for darkening) with graduated
filter
o Lighten large areas (I prefer + Exposure for lightening) with graduated
filter
o Darken or lighten specific areas with adjustment brush
o Fix local color and other problems
• Readjust brightness if needed because of local area changes
o Tonal curve
o Brightness (Basic)
Export:
• Right click photo (Mac users should have a right click mouse)
• Choose Export from menu that appears
o Or choose Edit from Photoshop if you want to go to Photoshop
• Set a destination for your photo
• Name your photo
• Size your photo if needed
• Set output sharpening if needed
• Tell Lightroom what to do with the photo after Export, if needed
Print:
• Page Set Up – choose your paper size to start
• Template Browser is a good place to begin
o Maximize Size template good for single image print
• Image Settings
o Choose stroke border (the default is okay)
• Layout for sizing your image
o Cell size is your photo size
o Margins affect the outside, unprinted area of the paper
• Guides
o Click and drag guides to size and place an image on a page
• Overlays
o For any text or other identification on image
• Print Job
o Default resolution okay for most printers
o Print sharpening different than image sharpening
For output to a specific paper type
Choose amount and paper
o Set color management
Set by printer is obvious … or use
Other – color management by paper profiles
• Print Settings button
o Choose a paper type
Mac – Print Settings
PC – Properties
o Check how color is managed
Mac – Color Management
PC – Properties
Leave color management on if the printer is managing color
Turn color management off if using profiles
• Print One button
o Sends data to the printer
• Print
o Calls up the printing dialog boxes again before sending data to printer
Rob Sheppard, www.robsheppardphoto.com, www.photodigitary.com
