The word “workflow” seems to be thrown out a lot these days in regard to photography. Some people cringe at its very mention, others have written it off altogether because their “figure it out as I go” system has worked for years so why change it now. To people who have not yet embraced the importance of workflow I ask them if they cook. Anyone who has cooked knows that creating a meal with nothing more than a bunch of ingredients and an idea can be trying at best and more realistically, wasteful. Thankfully for those of us who love to eat, recipes exist, saving us time and frustration. A photographers workflow is nothing more than a recipe—a way to get from an idea to a high quality photograph. 

So where does the workflow begin and end? Photography, unlike other art forms, takes place over time and space. We go into the field, capture images and then return home to process them. A sculptor or painter may work over the course of many days, weeks, months or years but they always return to the same studio, and work in the same manner.  It’s important for photographers to be aware of the wide span of their work environment to be able to understand and create a workflow that encompasses it all.  Workflow should begin before you even pick up your camera and end when you have produced an image for an intended output. Each area of photography, the capture, the processing of images, and the output should have its own set of steps. Here are some basic rules of thumb or steps to consider.

Step 1- Capture. The field is a photographer’s canvas. This is where our passion lies. As important as it is, I find that many photographers fail to be as diligent about preparing for this step of their workflow as they would when they sit down at the computer to work on images. Be prepared for your shoot. Take time before you push the shutter button to make sure that all of your settings are correct and that you have your lenses, batteries, etc. While you’re in the moment of making an image be deliberate, conscious of composition, and exposure. Just because the RAW converter can correct exposure—it is still a limited tool and will NEVER take the place of good exposure knowledge. Just because gausian blur will give us the appearance of shallow depth of field doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t have done it in camera with your aperture.

Step 2- Processing Images. This is the area where most people get bogged down, confused and typically clog their computers with copies and copies of images. Take a deep breath and upload your images. Determine a way to name and organize your files and try not to change it. I file mine by capture date— I never named my slides individually just because I could write on each slide mount so I’m using a similar method here. Look at your images—I like Lightroom® as a lightbox tool but many people use Adobe Bridge®  or similar products. Chose ONE method and stick with it. Find a way to mark the images you like (this is why I like Lightroom, I’m able to rate my photos) and separate them from the ones you dislike. Only throw away the real duds—photos of lens caps, or over exposures that could look like the light at the end of the tunnel. Keep the “hmm maybe’s.” You may use them later in montages or for examples of not so good images. Proceed with adjusting and processing your images. Always work globally first, then make local adjustments second.

Step 3- Output. This is when all your time and hard work comes to fruition. The reward. Everyday there are more and more options for output. You can print your images, you can outsource your images to a professional lab, you can upload images to a website or share them on sites like flickr.com. You can even publish your own book of images. Regardless of the method of output always be aware of the size of your image and the specific steps provided to optimize the results.

The basic steps to creating a workflow are just that—basic. It’s not rocket science, it’s not even as complicated as learning the relationship between f-stops and shutter speeds. The most complicated aspect is determining your processes and then sticking to it. With a basic path in mind, the most important thing to consider about photography is that a standard workflow or recipe is only a starting point. While it  lays out the best way to progress from start to finish, each photographer needs to understand how they work most efficiently and what they are comfortable taking on to determine the best way to get from raw ingredients to the finished meal. Think about this newsletter as less of a step by step instruction manual, and more of an opportunity to create your own process, in the end making you a better photographer.

Elizabeth Stone is a photographer whose career has focused on fine art photography for exhibition, publication and book jacket design. Her work has been exhibited at the Seattle Art Museum, the Newport Art Museum and the Museum of the Rockies as well as in galleries in the west. Her work has been published in BARK magazine, Offspring magazine, Outdoor Photographer magazine and Northern Lights magazine. Elizabeth is also an instructor at Rocky Mountain School of Photography.

Camera Settings to Check Occasionally: