November 8, 2025

A PHOTOGRAPHY WORKFLOW

As a photographer, a lot of the real work happens not only behind the camera, but also afterward — in organizing, selecting, editing, and preparing your photos for final output. Over the years I’ve refined my process, and in this post, I’ll walk you through my complete photography workflow. This isn’t the only way to do it, but it’s my way — practical, efficient, and constantly evolving.

1. The Shoot

Every shoot starts with the right lens for the situation.
In the studio, I mainly use my Nikkor 85mm f/1.8 or 50mm f/1.8, because I love their sharpness and bokeh. For landscapes and panoramas, I rely on the Samyang 14mm f/2.8, though I’ve been considering adding a 35mm prime to the lineup.

My main camera is the Nikon D7000, supported by tripods, lighting gear, backgrounds, and remote controls (intervalometer or tethering setup). I shoot almost exclusively in RAW format to keep as much information as possible for post-processing.

2. Import

Importing is where your digital workflow begins. I use Adobe Lightroom for all image imports. The process itself is straightforward, but disk space is a huge consideration — and I mean huge. Shooting RAW files consumes an enormous amount of storage, so make sure you plan ahead.

Currently, I manage about 13.5 TB of total storage. I keep nearly everything except blurry or severely under/overexposed images. It’s always worth investing in external drives or a reliable NAS setup for long-term storage.

3. Selection

Once imported, the next step is to organize and select your images. Everyone develops their own system; mine is a mix of date and project-based folders:

Year → Month → Model or Shoot Name

Inside each session folder, I use these subfolders:

Raw – Original files
Selection – Chosen but unedited images
Edits – Final retouched files
Output – JPG or TIFF versions for web or print

This structure keeps everything clear and easy to locate later — especially when searching for a web-ready version of a specific image.

For backup, I mirror my main photo drive to an external drive using FileSync, a simple and free tool. Once a drive fills up, it’s archived safely and stored off-site for redundancy.

When reviewing a shoot, I use Lightroom’s rating system — 1 star for general picks, 2 stars for “goes into editing.” This quick system saves time when sorting through hundreds (or thousands) of photos.

4. Edit & Retouch

Editing is where creativity and precision meet. I use Adobe Lightroom for global adjustments and Photoshop with a Wacom Intuos tablet for detailed retouching. Depending on the image type, my workflow changes slightly:

Street Photography

For street shots, I aim to capture real life and authenticity. Most of these photos are converted to black and white, sharpened slightly, and watermarked — no heavy retouching.

Panoramas

Panoramic shots naturally require more post-processing. I begin in Lightroom with exposure, contrast, clarity, and white balance adjustments, then apply lens correction. After that, I merge and stitch in Photoshop, followed by cloning, dodging and burning, and color grading to achieve the final look.

Portraits & People Shots

This is the most detailed and challenging type of edit. I prefer a natural, realistic look and avoid over-retouching. My process typically includes:

Frequency Separation for clean, controlled skin retouching
Dodging and Burning to refine highlights and shadows
Sharpening and color grading to finalize tone and depth

Finding the right balance between pre-shoot setup and post-shoot editing is key. It’s easy to get lost in the endless possibilities of Photoshop, so efficiency matters.

When finished, I export images directly from Lightroom using pre-set export profiles for each platform — Instagram, 500px, DeviantArt, and Flickr — each with its own size, filename, and watermark settings. For print, I use ICC profiles from my print lab for accurate soft proofing before sending files off.

5. Apps and Resources

Over the years, I’ve tested countless tools. Here’s an updated list of the tools I currently (2025) use:

Photo Editing

~~Adobe Lightroom~~
~~Adobe Photoshop~~
Affinity Studio (Formerly Affinity Photo, Designer and Publisher)

Plugins

Google NIK Color Efex

Video

DaVinci Resolve

3D & Visualization

Fusion 360
Blender

Hardware

Nikon D810 / D7000
Fujifilm X-T100
Meike 24mm f2.8
Nikkor 50mm f/1.8, 85mm f/1.8, Samyang 14mm f/2.8, 100mm f/2.8 Macro
Wacom Intuos M Tablet, Logitech Performance MX Mouse
Windows Desktop PC and Aero Laptop (2024)

Learning Resources

If you want to improve your workflow and editing skills, I can’t recommend these channels enough:

PHLEARN — Aaron Nace offers exceptional Photoshop tutorials for all skill levels.
B&H Photo Video Channel — Industry pros share insights and techniques in free workshops and recorded sessions.

Final Thoughts

This is my personal photography workflow — refined through years of trial, error, and countless shoots. It’s structured enough to keep me efficient, but flexible enough to evolve as I learn. Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned photographer, the key is to find a process that fits you — and stick to it until it becomes second nature.

If you have any questions or want to share your own workflow tips, feel free to drop a comment below!