My Photography Workflow In The Field

picture-1.pngI’ve been asked numerous times by email as to what my photography workflow is. I thought I’d start with my “In The Field” workflow. Workflow will change on a person to person basis, so what I’m doing might not be the best solution in your case, but for what I do it works very well.

Step One: Take Images

My first step in the field is to complete my photo-shoot with my Canon EOS 350D, equip with two lenses, the Canon 17-55 1:3-5.5 and Canon EF 75-300 1:4-5.6 III - saving images onto my 2GB compact flash card.

Step Two: Empty Card

When the shoot is finished, I connect my CF card to my USB card reader (I need a new firewire card reader) - and I wait for the images to import into Aperture.

Step Three: Apply Metadata

When the images have been pulled into Aperture, I go through them and apply metadata. I fill the following fields at this stage: credit, copyright, and keywords.

Step Four: Rate Images

The next step in my workflow is to sift through my images as quickly as I can, rating them on the fly. Images with 5 starts are absolute favorites, only around 5% of my images make this status. Images with 4 starts are very creative and entertaining images, and 3 star images are photos I like and wouldn’t be ashamed to show people. I rarely apply 1 or 2 stars to my images.

Step Five: Export & Import

When I get back home to my studio machine, I export the project/s off my MacBook, then import the project to Aperture on my main desktop. This will keep all the ratings and meta-data in-tact and leaves me with one final step, to edit the images, and send them on their journey.

I’m very curious to see how you work with images when in the field so I can improve my ever changing workflow. So feel free to chip in below and leave me a note.

Comments

  1. #1

    Fidel Mercado → mercado.multiply.com

    1. Shoot RAW photos in the field.
    2. Download all photos to iPhoto.
    3. Crop crop crop!
    4. Export files to a folder on my desktop labeled “Post-Processing”.
    5. Edit in Photoshop (sharpening, curves, monochrome depending on shoot)
    6. Move files to “For Multiply” folder.

    If you want a new card reader, I’d suggest the Sandisk Firewire reader.

  2. #2

    Tyson → wwww.everygoodboydeservesfruit.com

    I just posted my photography workflow this morning on my blog:

    http://www.everygoodboydeservesfruit.com/2006/12/26/flow-flux-flan/

    I tried Aperture, but it really didn’t do it for me at all.

  3. #3

    Smaran → smarandayal.com

    My workflow’s a lot simpler than yours, Glenn, being the strictly amateur photographer that I am.

    1. Take photos.
    2. Plug in camera.
    3. Transfer to iPhoto.
    4. Make slight edits (sometimes).
    5. Add metadata and upload to Flickr.

  4. #4

    Josh → maconlyreview.wordpress.com

    Mine’s is the same as Smaran’s, but I’m looking to purchase a DSLR soon so hopefully I’ll take the time out to sort my photos out and apply metadata.

  5. #5

    Tobias

    Am I the only one using both Aperture and Photoshop?

  6. #6

    Alex → www.makesitgood.net

    My flow is focused a bit differently than yours.

    1) Shoot Raw
    2) Move files to laptop
    3) I’m using lightroom now when in the field to process web versions and get them up fast.

    —- Here’s where we differ

    4) Process shots to be printed using ACR/PhotoShop CS2
    5) Archive files onto desktop/backup

    My archival process is a separate flow. This is where I add metadata, and rate the shots. I burn all files to DVD (two copies) as soon as I hit 4.7 GB worth in my unfiled directory. They’re indexed in iView media pro currently, offline so I can quickly browse and search my entire archive.

    I have tried aperture, but it’s completely unusable on my desktop (iMac G5.) I’ll give it another go when I decide to upgrade.

  7. #7

    Tom

    Thanks for posting this. I am pretty much an amateur photographer and looking to get some tips. Hopefully all your images come out good but what about ones you do not want? Do you just trash them or do you stick them in a folder?

    I had some Great ones from Christmas, but also some not so good ones. I have also learned that having an SLR does not always make for good photos. I had some pictures come out better with my older Canon point and shoot then they did with the Canon DSLR because I did not quite have the settings right with the Rebel XT.

  8. #8

    Ryan → www.appleication.com

    @Tobias - you are not alone. After using photoshop for many years you can easily see the limitations of Aperture, but I find it very useful for the first few quick edits.

    I really want to get into photography properly, I currently only do it on a very limited basis due to being at uni and having a job.

  9. #9

    Leo → www.dis.uniroma1.it/~querzoni

    1) Shoot (mixed JPGs and RAWs
    2) Transfer on a PC
    3) Archive “untouched” files on a DVD
    4) import in Lightroom and rate them
    5) general pp (light, colors, global contrast) for pictures rated above 3 stars
    6) export in Photoshop where I make specific pp (mainly local contrast, de-noise, portrait processing) and apply sharpening when needed
    7) Save tow copies: TIFF (for archiving on DVDs) and JPG (small local archive on the PC)

  10. #10

    Tucker MacDonald → www.tuckermacdonald.com

    Interesting, learned a few things. I like your rating system. I think I will go through and re-rate all my photos.

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