Photography Workflow Tips: What Is a Workflow, and Why Do You Need One?

In photography, a workflow refers to a process, or a series of steps you take to manage your photos, from the moment you capture them to the final presentation, whether that is sharing online or a beautiful print on your wall.  Your photography workflow should encompass everything from camera settings to organising, editing, backing up, and preparing your images for their final, finished product.

A photography workflow is a step by step process that you follow whenever you pick up your camera to capture a shot. While we all appreciate spontaneity and the creativity that this method can breed in your photographic work, you should leave nothing to chance when it comes to creating consistently good work and keeping it safe and secure. 

Your photography workflow will include your key camera settings, the way you name and manage your files, and the editing process that takes them from a file in-camera to a product that you would be proud to put your name on and present to the world. If you follow it routinely, it will become second nature and will not take away from the decisive nature that keeps your photos fresh and exciting.

We have a basic understanding of what a workflow in photography is, but why do we need one and what can it help us achieve?

• Efficiency: A good workflow saves you time by streamlining the process from capturing photos to editing and final presentation.
• Consistency: A defined workflow ensures consistent image quality and editing style across your entire body of work.
• Organisation:  A solid workflow helps you stay organised,  find photos easily, and avoid losing precious images.

• Security: A strong workflow incorporates regular backups to safeguard your photos from accidental loss or hardware failure.

As stated above, a foolproof photography workflow helps you to create your best work consistently, and it also prevents you from potentially losing your hard-earned work in an emergency. What are the steps you take to set one up? Take a look at our photography workflow checklist to find out.

Start in-camera: Develop a process that begins in-camera, which can include always shooting in RAW for editing flexibility or using the same colour profile for a portfolio with a consistent look and feel.

Back up, back up, back up: We can't stress enough the importance of this step. There is no worse feeling as a photographer than losing your work, so you need a plan in place to avoid this at all costs; which involves backing up your photos and videos. Using your second card as a backup can start in the camera if you have a modern camera with dual card slots. Afterwards, you should save your file locally, but also back it up using external hard drives and cloud storage - preferably a combination of two backup locations.

Use a clear folder structure and naming convention: 

So you can easily find your images when you need them, create a file naming convention and folder structure that you understand. Some ideas include organising your images by date, project or event.

Use keywords, tags, stars etc: 

Using photo management software, such as Adobe Lightroom, you can use stars or similar systems to rate your work, so you can find your strongest images without searching your whole back catalogue.  You can also add keywords for a fast recall of similar images, which is extremely handy when putting together a portfolio of work for presentation.

Edit with consistency: 

As we become more skilled at editing our images, we inevitably develop our own style or set of favourite tools. Once you understand what these are for you, use them across your work to develop a consistent look and feel.

Use batch edits and automated steps:

Automation can be used to speed up processes, but also ensure that all steps are followed for our workflow to maintain consistency. Using Lightroom you can use automation for file names and folder structure, and perform batch edits across your images, as well as applying a watermark, which is important for ensuring you receive credit for your work.

Regularly Review Your Workflow: 

Do you feel like something isn’t working or is missing from your workflow? Be sure to regularly assess and adjust your workflow as necessary, to keep your photography practice running like a well-oiled machine.

A streamlined photography workflow can significantly enhance your post-production process. Remember, the key is finding a system that works best for you. By implementing these tips, you'll be well on your way to optimising your workflow and spending more time doing what you love – capturing amazing photos.

Think you have the photography bug? Follow our blog for more hints and tips, gear advice, and inspiration. We can even help you uncover what types of photography you can try to master next!