Lightroom workflow

[930xxx]

Is my workflow right.
If for instance I have 4gb of photos, I download them to a Picture folder on PC, import them to LR, edit them and then export them back to a new Picture folder and burn to DVD for backup. Is this the best way. And if it is, I am now using 12gb of harddrive space? Thanks
Randy

 

[Brad Snyder]

Randy, the main question will be, what are you doing with the exported files? I'm going to presume you're importing raws, and exporting JPGs, if that's not correct, explain what you are doing?

Typically, Lr users only use exported files for specific downstream purposes, such as web posting, email, print lab, etc. Once submitted downstream, the exported files are deleted. Since Lr keeps track of all your work internally, with the existing files, there's really no need to keep exported derivative files, since you can re-export them as needed. This isn't a 'mandatory' method, and you may have a good reason to keep them, but many folks find that a hassle to track, and a waste of disk space.

When you say burn to DVD for backup, what files are you saving there?

 

[dewang]

My workflow (as an amateur)

1. Plug in CF media into my card-reader.
2. On Windows Vista, autoplay pops up, and I elect LR import
3. While importing (usually few Gigs), go through once to reject bad photos
(keep in mind with LR you can fix a lot of problems)
4. Go to Develop module and fine tune all "keepers" and reject others
(i.e. adjust exposure, black level, crop, rotate, brush, etc..)
5. Go to Web module and select one of my preset user templates
6. While in Web module, Upload
7. Email URL to friends/family/clients

I try to keep steps 1 through 7 within 1 to 2 hours.

Pop CF card back into my 4'D, format the card, and I am ready again.

 

[Victoria Bampton]

[quote author=93'xxx link=topic=8355.msg56623#msg56623 date=12579'2974]
I am now using 12gb of harddrive space?
[/quote]

12gb? It sounds like you've maybe got your uploaded set, plus a set in LR's folders, plus your exported ones? You could eliminate one of those sets by either setting LR to add to catalog at their existing location (as opposed to creating copies) or move to Lightroom's own folders. And I wouldn't worry about keeping exported photos personally either, so I just have my 1 working set of files, my LR catalog, plus my offline backups.