model photography post processing & workflow

Model Photography Post Processing & WorkflowSteve BrokawPhoto Venture Camera Club

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STEVEN BROKAW photography

Post Processing & WorkflowTools being usedCamera to computerAdobe Lightroom 5 workflowAdobe Photoshop CS6 workflowFinishing up


Tools UsedMost higher end photo processing software can be

used◦ GiMP, Aperture, Camera Raw, ACDsee, Corel

Paintshop, Photoshop Elements.◦ Basic concepts are similar

Adobe Lightroom & Adobe Photoshop ◦ My weapons of choice & focus of this presentation

What isn’t discussed – jpg photos for snapshotsYou should have a basic understanding of Adobe

product and concepts◦ Non-destructive processing◦ Sliders ◦ Layers

Photoshop is NOT intuitive or easy if you’ve never used it


Camera to ComputerAll photo files kept on an external HD (Western

Digital 2 TB My Passport)Create a folder on external HD

◦ Folder in drive > “Photos” Subfolder in “Photos” > Year

Naming convention – shoot date > “month-day-year: shoot name”Open LR5 > open Library module Insert / load SD card > Import Files

◦ Direct files to correct folder◦ Add unique name, add keywords, create generic metadata

present in import dialogue boxGo into film strip > set display to Loupe ViewFlag (P) photos quickly – don’t spend lots of timeGo back through & rate / color tag best images (1-9)Start processing – select an image in LR


Adobe Lightroom 5 Workflow Create Virtual Copy (command”) Switch to Develop Mode (D) Basic crop (R)

◦ 4x3 – general look I’m aiming for Color temperature - ~4900 kelvin (Temp slider)

◦ I don’t use custom WB preset◦ Shoot with a grey card with flash preset – synch across

common lighting Adjust exposure (Exposure slider)

◦ I normally shoot ½ stop underexposed Increase contrast +10-20 (Contrast slider) Brighten shadows to taste (Shadows slider)

◦ Increase exposure in shadows Tweak Whites & Blacks (Whites & Blacks slider)

◦ Normally adjust levels or curves in PS


Adobe Lightroom 5 Workflow Increase Clarity & Vibrance (Clarity & Vibrance slider)

◦ Careful adding vibrance to female portraits Hue/Saturation/Luminance (HSL-Color-B&W function box)

◦ Click on Saturation◦ Pull Orange/Yellow & Red out of face (drag sliders to left)

My camera tends to generate too much red◦ Add Saturation to background (click on

Adjust lens correction (Lens Correction function box)◦ Basic panel◦ Enable profile correction

Adjustment brush tool (K)◦ Dodge / Lighten (click on Customer and select)◦ Soften skin

Darkens slightly◦ Highlight hair

Edit in Photoshop CS6◦ Right click on photo in lightbox, select Edit In > Photoshop CS6


Adobe Photoshop CS6 Workflow Subtle Liquify if needed

◦ On duplicate background Layer◦ Command “J” > Filter > Liquify

Adjust color from skin as needed◦ Create Color Balance layer

Cyan-red -5 & Yellow-blue +5 Clean up & adjust face – remove blemishes &

adjust subtle shadows / skin imperfections◦ Add layer mask

Paint brush – opacity 15%, flow 15%, 0% hardness Sample colors around area being covered

◦ Increase saturation on lips and makeup Hue/saturation level, +25 Fill layer mask with black, paint with white over makeup Drop opacity for look


Adobe Photoshop CS6 Workflow◦ Add Burn / Dodge layer

Create new layer Edit > fill with 50% grey > blend mode to Overlay Dodge tool at 15-20% exposure & brush at 0% hardness Do the same thing on Burn layer

◦ Overall color lighting adjustment if needed Select top full background copy Select > Color Range

Select color to adjust > OK Select curves adjustment layer Drag up/down on area to adjust Change opacity as needed

◦ Brightness / Contrast layer Add small amount of contrast to taste

File > Save◦ Round tripping back to Adobe LR5


Final Adobe Lightroom 5 WorkflowLightroom general presets

◦ Check if “Punch” helpsSharpen with masking

◦ Drag sharpen slider to right about 25◦ Hold down Option key drag Mask slider to right until

only outline showsAdd post crop vignette to taste

◦ Slide Amount slider to leftExport file into an Edit folder

◦ File > Export◦ Save as jpg & dng or tif

Create Virtual Copy & apply fashion crop◦ Export file


TipsShoot with a grey card at the beginning

of each lighting setup◦Adjust white balance & synch across similar

lightingRemember in LR changes are non

destructive Have an idea of the look you are going

for before you startIf possible don’t over-process

◦Get it right in cameraExperiment with your processing tools
