My Workflow

Always having people ask me about my 'workflow' and to be fair, it changes fairly frequently, but I do tend to follow a certain route once I've taken a photograph and got home to edit it!

Back in March 2020 I went out with the Supporters of North Dartmoor Search & Rescue who were organising a Letterbox Walk to help with fundraising ... being the boring photographer, I had to take some photographs whilst we were out and about ... this image is of West Mill Tor on Dartmoor ...

Firstly, I should point out that I shoot in raw format and have done so for quite a while now.

Originally I had no idea what that meant, and didn't bother, just choosing to shoot Jpeg ... then, when I saw the advantages of shooting raw, I shot in raw AND Jpeg (just an excuse to use up more hard disk space!)

Now I just shoot raw 😍

I won't bore you with why raw files are the way to go (you can check out why yourselves, and to be fair, if you just plan on shooting family photos or snapshots of your day out ... don't bother!)

When I started using raw files, Windows 10 didn't have a native raw file viewer for Sony raw files (oddly called ARW files), but apparently it now does 😍

Raw File

the raw file (because it's not yet a processed file, the images tend to look a bit 'meh' and need a bit of tweaking to give them a little 'oomph') 😁

Lightroom

As I've got more used to using Lightroom, I've created more and more of my own Presets, making it way easier to power through the editing.

Though I tend to create a preset for each individual shoot, I have my 'go to' sets, mostly prefixed with 'Moody' 🤣

Photoshop

Mostly I use Photoshop to tidy up, if there is a stray twig invading a rather splendid sky, I use the Healing Tool, or the Cloning Tool ... but I also enjoy adding textures ... a favourite for this is the classic Nik Collection 😍

I've built my own presets as I've got more used to working in Lightroom.

I tend to up the Clarity, the Contrast, add a bit of a vignette (a hangover from printing in a darkroom and using vintage lenses) and I quite like upping the yellows 😍

Final Edit - “Storm Approaching West Mill Tor”

If you're interested in creating your own Presets in Lightroom, I did a short tutorial over on Hubpages a while ago. Quite simple, really, pinch somebody else’s and tinker with them until you find an effect that suits your style!

Hope that you've learnt a little bit about something ... I doubt it really 😂

I really am self taught, and most of my successes are built on experience, if you want to do something, give it a go!

If you'd like more information on my workflow, just get in touch!