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RAW images are always captured at the largest file size, and any compression used is lossless. Images in this format used to require an extra processing step but since the latest programs such as Aperture and Lightroom were designed from the ground up after RAW formats were introduced they handle them as easily as they handle JPEGs.

RAW lets you decide on most camera settings after you've taken the picture, not before.

RAW images can be processed again at a later date when new and improved applications become available

You can generate alternate versions of the same RAW image. For example, many photographers will adjust highlight and shadow areas and save these versions separately

RAW files are quite large

When shooting images, you may have to wait longer between shots because the buffer gets filled more quickly and the camera is tied up longer processing the last image you took, and moving it from the buffer to the memory card.

Since RAW images aren't processed in the camera, you have to process them on the computer and export them in a usable format when you want to e-mail them, post them on a Web site, print them, or import them into another program to create a slide show or publication

Since each camera company has defined its own proprietary RAW format, many operating systems and even photo-editing programs are unable to recognize some or all of these files.

My Photoshop Workflow has five main steps

1. Crop and Rotate

2. Adjust Levels

3. Adjust the Color

4. Remove Spots/Marks/Distractions

5. Sharpen

1) RAW images have (more often than not) greater colour depth than JPEGs.

the first thing we need to do is get the photos off the card. For this I use a dedicated card reader, rather than having to plug my camera into my computer and sit there draining camera batteries

Each wedding has its own folder in my Photos directory. Inside there are (usually) three more sub-directories: RAW, TIFF and Finished

Once we’ve got the shots onto the computer, the RAW directory is backed up to DVD. Twice.

rate each shot

work through each of the remaining shots in turn. I do any colour correction that might be needed, along with some exposure tweaking. I might convert an image to B&W, or tone it, or maybe add a vignette. I also do my cropping at this stage. I rarely find myself needing to do “spot” changes to an image, such as cloning, so the vast majority of manipulation happens to the RAW before it’s made it any further.

Once the photos have been edited, it’s time to convert them from RAW to something else.

If there are any shots which need to be worked on in Photoshop, this is when it happens

Most of the time, though, there’s no Photoshop work to be done. In that case I just skip straight to the next step, which is Noise Ninja. This little beauty is a noise reduction package.

Finally, I can delete that bulky TIFF directory, though I’ll want to save any that have been worked on in Photoshop.

The finished JPEGs are backed up to DVD and stored with the DVD of the RAWs (again, two copies are made)

About star ratings. Rate your images with a file browser such as Adobe Bridge. This will organize your
images based on their value.

No stars. Images worth keeping, but not necessarily worth sharing. Important enough to save for future reference or
they may have elements in the image worth keeping for composite work down the road.





"Shared images." Anything that is worth printing, showing to a client, emailing, or for use in a web gallery should get 1
star.





Images that are the best of the shoot get 2 stars. Determined by client or photographer.





A client's final selected image(s), and portfolio level images receive 3 stars.





Four star images are the best of your portfolio.





I sparingly use the 5 star rating as only a temporary marker. It is an attention getter to remind me to do work to a specific
image. The image will get rated with a more appropriate star rating soon after. Color labels for files can function in the
same way and are available for use in Adobe Bridge and with cataloging software.

Back-up copy 1

Reformat CF card

PhotoShop time starts with creating a "master" file

the best place to begin is by setting your camera's file format to RAW.