Photography is a blend of art and science, requiring not only a creative eye but also a structured workflow to ensure success. This guide aims to provide an in-depth look into a complete workflow for photographers, with a special focus on client communication.

Pre-Shoot Preparation

Understanding the Client’s Vision: The first step in any photography project is understanding what the client wants. This involves discussing the client’s vision, the purpose of the photos, the intended audience, and any specific requirements they may have.

Scouting Locations: Once you have a clear understanding of the client’s needs, scout potential locations. Consider factors like lighting, background, and the time of day.

Equipment Preparation: Based on the requirements of the shoot, prepare your equipment. This includes your camera, lenses, tripod, lighting equipment, and any props you might need.

The Photoshoot

Setting Up: Arrive early to set up your equipment. Check your camera settings, set up your lighting, and prepare the scene.

Directing the Subject: Good communication is key here. Make your subject feel comfortable and give clear directions.

Taking the Shots: Start shooting, making sure to take a variety of shots. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different angles and compositions.

Importing and Organising

After your photoshoot, the first step in the editing workflow is to import and organise your images.

Transfer Files

• Use a card reader to transfer your images to your computer. This is faster and safer than connecting your camera directly.

Software

• Adobe Lightroom: A popular choice for organising and editing.
• Capture One: Known for its excellent RAW processing capabilities.
• Bridge: Adobe Bridge can be useful for initial sorting and organising.

Organize Files

• Create a consistent folder structure (e.g., Year > Month > Event).
• Rename files for easy identification and searchability.
• Add metadata such as keywords, ratings, and tags to help sort and find images later.

Culling and Selecting

Selecting the best images from a large batch is crucial for an efficient workflow.

Initial Review

• Quickly review all your images and mark the potential keepers. Use rating systems (e.g., 1-5 stars) to categorise your images.

Second Pass

• Narrow down your selection further by examining details like focus, composition, and expression. Aim to keep only the strongest images.

Basic Adjustments

Begin your editing with global adjustments that affect the entire image.

Exposure and Contrast

• Adjust exposure to ensure the image is neither too dark nor too bright.
• Increase contrast to add depth and dimension.

White Balance

• Fine-tune the white balance to correct any colour casts and achieve natural-looking colours.

Cropping and Straightening

• Crop to enhance composition and remove any distracting elements.
• Straighten horizons and align vertical lines.

Clarity and Vibrance

• Use clarity to enhance mid-tone contrast and texture.
• Adjust vibrance to boost the colours without affecting skin tones.

Advanced Adjustments

Move on to more precise and detailed edits.

Local Adjustments

• Use tools like brushes, radial filters, and graduated filters to make localised adjustments.
• Examples include brightening the subject’s face, darkening the sky, or adding a vignette.

Sharpening and Noise Reduction

• Apply sharpening to enhance detail.
• Use noise reduction to clean up high ISO images or those shot in low light.

Lens Corrections

• Correct lens distortions such as barrel or pincushion distortion.
• Enable chromatic aberration correction to remove colour fringes.

Colour Grading

• Adjust hue, saturation, and luminance (HSL) for specific colours.
• Use colour grading tools to add creative tones to shadows, midtones, and highlights.

Retouching

For portraits or detailed work, retouching can make a significant difference.

Skin Smoothing

• Use frequency separation or skin smoothing techniques to reduce blemishes and imperfections without losing texture.

Dodge and Burn

• Lighten (dodge) or darken (burn) specific areas to add depth and dimension. This technique is particularly effective for enhancing facial features and creating dramatic lighting effects.

Healing and Cloning

• Remove distractions or unwanted elements using healing brushes or cloning tools.

Final Touches

Before exporting, apply the finishing touches to your image.

Fine-Tune Adjustments

• Revisit exposure, contrast, and colour adjustments to ensure everything is balanced and cohesive.

Consistency Check

• Ensure a consistent look and feel across a series of images, especially if they are part of a set or album.

Watermarking and Metadata

• Add a watermark if necessary.
• Update metadata to include copyright information and other relevant details.

Exporting

Export your final image in the appropriate format and resolution for its intended use.

File Formats

• JPEG: For web and social media sharing.
• TIFF: For high-quality prints or archival purposes.
• PNG: For images requiring transparency.

Resolution and Compression

• Choose the correct resolution based on the output medium (e.g., 72 DPI for web, 300 DPI for print).
• Adjust compression settings to balance file size and quality.

Output Sharpening

• Apply output sharpening tailored to the medium (screen or print).

Backup and Archive

Ensure your images are securely backed up and archived for future access.

Backup

• Use multiple backup methods, such as external hard drives, cloud storage, and RAID systems.
• Implement an automatic backup routine to protect against data loss.

Archiving

• Archive completed projects for long-term storage. Use descriptive folder names and metadata to facilitate future searches.

Client Communication

Initial Contact: When a client first reaches out to you, respond promptly and professionally. Ask questions to understand their needs and provide clear information about your services and pricing.

Ongoing Communication: Keep the client updated throughout the process. This includes letting them know when you’ll be scouting locations, the date and time of the shoot, and when they can expect to receive the edited photos.

Aftercare: Once you’ve delivered the photos, follow up with the client to make sure they’re happy with the results. This is also a good time to ask for feedback or a testimonial.

Conclusion

A successful photography workflow is about more than just taking great photos. It’s about understanding and communicating with your client, planning and executing the shoot effectively, and delivering high-quality results. By following this guide, you can streamline your workflow and ensure that every shoot is a success.

Remember, every photographer’s workflow will be slightly different, so don’t be afraid to adapt this guide to suit your own needs and working style.