The Work Flow of a Minimalist, Less Editing Photographer

[dbgg1979]

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The Work Flow of the Minimalist, Less Editing Photographer also MISTAKENLY labeled as THE PURIST. For the sake of giving respect to these photographers and to avoid further debate about purists and not, I'm calling them "minimalists" from now on.

We've all seen the work flow of post processing. We've all read about the PURIST VS NON PURIST threads. But what we don't see is the work flow of the "minimalist" photographers.

So I'm going to start this thread by quoting some of the posts I found in another "good to read" thread by P-Chan here. I encourage every amateur and professional photographer to contribute their ideas in both threads.

[dbgg1979]

Let me start with P-Chan's reply to my question in the other thread.

Question lang to both sides, since we have very knowledgeable (phew.. thanks sa spelling firefox) people here, specifically to those who don't do "photoshoping". Are you guys shooting RAW? So you print directly from RAW? Or you export them to JPEGs, without any adjustments and send them to your suking photo print lab?

mo shoot ra ko ug raw if I'm gonna keep the picture... If not jpeg lng ko...

I don't want to turn this thread into a purist vs non purist rumble.

that's okay, that was never the point of this thread... hehehe

And another contribution from harvs86

Before I shoot raw so I can have flexibility to post process my photos plus it takes a toll in my memory card, but I realized it was a bad habit to start with.

here's a good quote from a well known photographer from Pinoy Photography

On formals I shoot raw + jpg. But the rest is jpg. If you have good habits in shooting, your WB will be spot on most of the time, and your exposure spot on most of the time. I have tried shooting all raw one time and notice that since I get most of my WB and exposure right most of the time, the reason for RAW does not present it self. It was just added work to PP the raw files. Annoying.

For the formals, I take the raw of those that will be enlarged. The formal shots are maybe 100 or so or 10% of my entire shoot number in a wedding. In that way, the details are preserved and I can get the details out to the best prior to enlargement.

But the jpg engines of today's cameras are really very good unlike those of 5-7 years ago. Even my old 20d's jpg engine is good. All that is left is for the photographer to set his WB and exposure right on before he shoots, or at least, get very near it. PP would be minimal and not time consuming even if mistakes are made. And they will be few. The PP would be only in the area of cropping, minor exposure adjustments, and minor WB compensation. Some sharpening here and there too. The won't be so far off that it makes you spend 2-5 min per image. Seconds is all that is needed even with a single core computer.

The trick is to always shoot right the first time (as best as you can). That means not thinking you will make mistakes. That is the worst mind set of all. Think of your shot as always the best when you click the shutter. Prep it if there is time. Don't click and PP later. Set it up right, and you will work less later. Much, much less. You will save hours by simply setting your WB in 5-10 seconds. These are good habits to live by. Use RAW only because you want to get the best out of the image prior to enlargements. If your mind set is that you need RAW as a safety net after the fact, then that is a poor mind set to begin with. Try shooting jpg and if you find that you hardly make corrections in PP, or the corrections are minor, then you are good. I still have to find a moment I have shot in an event where I said, "Gee, I wish I had shot that in raw so I could color correct or get the exposure right." That shows you that if your habits are good in the first place, the reasons for raw as a fall back to catch your mistakes hardly exists. It exists only because your habits are not good. That means you are not as "good" a photographer as you should be.

Again use raw only to get the best out of the image when you do need it. It is not a crutch for you to fall on because you were sloppy or you were not prepared.

If you shoot like you would shoot a positive film or a slide film, you won't use RAW as a haven to catch your mistakes. Use only RAW because you want to get the best out of an image. Birders and landscape shooters have a very good reason to go raw all the way. Bird feathers and the detail of leaves, grass in landscape are compelling reasons to go 14-bit and getting them all out to TIFF, then maybe jpg before the print is made. To them, it makes a lot of sense. Sports shooters, event shooters, unless in formals or certain situations can live with jpg just fine. This is just my opinion of course.

Ah ok. Same here. When shooting raw, I adjust/optimize the photo depending on what I export it for. Small prints, bigger prints or web.

I shoot in jpeg for personal occasions like birthdays of friends. Then I just use my custom picture styles (canon.. I have no idea what's it called in Nikon) depending on the environment.

Thanks PChan... Yeah. I just realized it now.. this thread wasn't about avoiding PP but moderation.


I still want to see the work flow of a "minimalist, less editing" type of photographer. There's always room for more knowledge. Anyone willing to start a thread about it?

I think mag himo lng ta ug lain thread about "minimalist editing", kay OT na ta.. hehe..
for me that's import->watermark->export.. hahaha

[P-Chan]

aside from the import->watermark->export

this is my other flow (the longer version)

light and tones->enhancement->retouch->light and tones

[sizzlingROBOT]

I just increase a bit the contrast of my images. I cropped my images if necessary. As much as possible, I try to achieve the right image through the lens. I hate editing because it's a waste of time and I'm lazy.

[karp miharby]

aside from the import->watermark->export

this is my other flow (the longer version)

light and tones->enhancement->retouch->light and tones

pwede mangutana unsa retouch ani? murag broad ra au ang retouch.

[dj-dark]

I shoot raw all the time... di naman ako nag shoshoot ng weddings or other paid occasion (in short hobbyist)

I always prepare my gears every shoot. test lights, prepare the right white balance, prepare the set, scout for locations, etc.

A right exposure will give you more time shooting and composing new shots and less time time onfront of your computer...

on post processing I just add saturation, brightness and contrast, resize for web then add smart sharpening.

[hayden]

This is my workflow most of the time:
crop to 5R > minor levels/curves adjustments > high pass (when needed) > watermark

but when dealing with portraiture photography, minor skin softening is applied (when necessary) to the routine I posted above.


kana ra, imagine it will take me 2-3 weeks to post my shots on the web yet mobo ra kaayo ako workflow how much more if I learn how to photoshopped like hell

[harvz86]

I dont know if my workflow is of a minimalist but here goes

No adjustment layers, masking, or etc. (i don't know how to use those)
-The usual S-Curve to give more depth, adjust to taste
-Levels adjustment, usually i play around with the red and blue channel to my taste.
-Resize for web

[CrasHBURN]

hmmm... here's an example of "quick" workflow...

take some time in shooting... shoot RAW, import lightroom, adjust exposure and/or WB (if needed), export to JPG and submit to client, DONE!

No need to click file, open, folders etc... curves, sharpening, high pass, levels, layers, contrast, brightness, blurblur, saturation, vignetting, badoy2x, color balance, actions, cropping, masking, etc.... file menu, save as, folders...

I'm not promoting photoshop, post processing and or RAW shooting and Purist is BS. LOL!

[noelie_023]

wow mao ni nindot me ambot if ma consider ba ni ako. hgehe

kung portrait ko sa..

adjust a little sa brightness and contrast ( i prefer sa lightroom), darkening gamay, kung kailgan ei smooth pwde ra sad sa lightroom.. tapos. watermark dayun, crop mana. heheh

kung landscape ba ron

ako ra dyud analize kong naa dapat ei crop. nya manny librodo's sharpening tech.. mao ra..

di ko kabw mo edit2 maayo sa photoshop gud.ghee