📌 Introduction

🖥️ Importing Photos into Lightroom

1. Open Lightroom Library and hit Import.
2. In the left-hand panel (Source), navigate to your files:
   • Expand the folder tree to locate your images (e.g., SD card, external drive).
   • Pro Tip: Check “Include Subfolders” if images are nested.
3. Preview and select files in the main pane:
   • Toggle between “Grid” (thumbnails) and “Loupe” (single-image) views.
   • Use Shift/Ctrl+Click to multi-select.
4. In the File Handling panel, select:
   • Build Previews: 1:1 to generate full-resolution previews for accurate editing (avoids lag when zooming).
   • Apply During Import: Auto Settings. This will apply Lightroom’s auto-adjustments as a starting point (saves time; can be tweaked later).
5. (Optional) Build Smart Previews—allows editing without the original RAW file (useful for large files or working offline).
6. Choose the destination folder:
   • Primary folder (e.g. “Imported Photos”).
   • For projects, to keep a structured archive, check “Into Subfolder” and name it (e.g., “2024-04_Roadtrip”).
7. Click Import. Lightroom finalizes the import, copies (or references) files, builds previews, applies initial settings, and adds files to the catalog.

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🎨 Initial Adjustments in Lightroom

8. Switch to the Develop tab.
9. Optional—Enhance the photo using:
   • Denoise (for high ISO images)—reduces grain while preserving details (especially for low-light shots).
   • Raw Details—improves sharpness and reduces artifacts in RAW files (uses AI for cleaner edges).
10. Optional—Remove sensor dust spots.
    • Use Spot Removal Tool + “Visualize Spots”, which highlights dust for easy removal (critical for clean skies or smooth surfaces).
    • Leave complex distractions for Photoshop. Photoshop’s tools (e.g., Content-Aware Fill) handle these better.
11. Optional—Basic crop with generous margin—remove distractions early and reduce PSD file size.

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🛠️ Sending to Photoshop for Post-Processing

12. Edit in Photoshop after basic adjustments.
    • Reason: Lightroom lacks advanced tools (e.g., layers, advanced masking).
    • Right-click the photo in Lightroom and select “Edit In > Photoshop”.
    • Choose to edit the original file or the Lightroom-adjusted version.
    • Make your edits in Photoshop, then save (Ctrl+S)—the file automatically returns to Lightroom as a TIFF/PSD.
    • Repeat this process anytime by re-sending.

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✂️ Final Adjustments in Lightroom

13. Final crop (if needed).

14. Apply vignetting selectively—draws focus to the subject subtly (avoid overuse).

15. Optional—Rename the file in Lightroom Library.

16. Apply keyword using an Auto-Keyword plugin, which automates metadata for SEO/organization (e.g., “landscape,” “sunset”).

My recommendation—Wordroom—a free Lightroom plugin that uses AI to automatically generate keywords and tags, saving hours of manual work.

🔗 Get Wordroom here

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📤️ Exporting and Organizing

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🗃️ Backup and Archiving

21. Back up your photos to multiple locations:
    • Utilize the “3-2-1 Rule” (3 copies, 2 media types, 1 offsite) to prevent data loss:
    • Cloud.
    • NAS.
    • External Drive.
    • USB Drive.

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💡 Key Workflow Principles:

• Non-destructive editing: RAW adjustments, Smart Previews, and layers in Photoshop preserve originals.
• Efficiency: Auto Settings and plugins save time on repetitive tasks.
• Flexibility: Lightroom’s non-destructive tools (cropping margins, Virtual Copies, and round-trip Photoshop edits) keep options open at every stage.

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By following this structured workflow, I ensure that my files stay well-organized, easily accessible, and safely backed up. This method also allows for an efficient and non-destructive editing process, from initial import to final delivery.