Ditch Auto: Editing Workflow in Lightroom & Photoshop

Ditch Auto is about taking your camera and your mind out of Automatic mode to gain more control over the photos you take. After producing Ditch Auto: Start Shooting In Manual, feedback suggested that I do a workflow course. This is the first of many workflow courses to come.

Despite our best efforts, not all of our photos will turn out golden right from the camera. It is often that we have to run a photo through Lightroom and even Photoshop to give it that look we were looking for when we took the photo in the first place. The photo we will be editing in this course is a photo of my good friend's Subaru Impreza STI. The car is nice, but the lighting situation for this photo was not. The sun was almost gone and I had to stretch my camera just to get the shot. The result, was not a photo I was very proud of but I knew had potential if I just spent some time on it.

In this course I take a photo and edit it completely in Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop. You will learn my complete workflow for bringing an image back to life.

In this course I cover:

1. Importing of images into Adobe Lightroom
2. Image Adjustment Settings in Lightroom
3. Repair of Underexposed and Noisy Images
4. How to bring back detail in the image
5. Opening a photo in Photoshop from Lightroom
6. Editing and Cleanup in Photoshop
7. Sky Replacement
8. Returning to Lightroom to Color Correct
9. Watermarking
10. Image Export

You will need Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop to follow along with this course. Thankfully, you can now get both of these applications through Adobe Creative Cloud for as little as $9.99 per month. The benefit of Adobe's Creative Cloud is that you never have to pay full price for Adobe software and you get all of the updates and upgrades for free. I like their new subscription model because it allows me to have the latest software without having to drop at least $1,000 each year.

My goal is to help you become a solid Lightroom and Photoshop user and editor so you can get the most detail and definition out of your photos.

This course is for you or someone you know who struggles with Lightroom and/or Photoshop. If you have ever taken a photo that just didn't pop but you knew had potential, this course is for you.

--- # Course Review: Lightroom and Photoshop Mastery ## Introduction The online course "Lightroom and Photoshop Mastery" has received a global rating of **3.65** from recent reviewers. The reviews encompass various aspects such as course content, presentation quality, and the level of detail provided. Below is a detailed synthesis of these reviews to give potential students a comprehensive understanding of what to expect from this course. ## Pros - **Effective Learning**: Many users reported that they learned a significant amount about using Lightroom and Photoshop for photo editing, even if they had some prior experience with the software. - **Clear Explanations**: The detailed explanations were praised for clarifying questions and doubts regarding the use of Adobe tools. - **Practical Workflow Demonstration**: The course focused on teaching a practical workflow using one example photo, which was found useful by users who want to restore old photos or enhance images. - **Step-by-Step Instructions**: The step-by-step instructions were highlighted as a key strength, with some users particularly appreciating the inclusion of the original work photo throughout the course for reference. - **Accessible for Beginners**: Despite some reviewers having a foundation in Lightroom and Photoshop, the course was also found to be easy to follow for absolute beginners. - **Real-World Application**: The course demonstrated how Adobe tools can be used effectively in real-world scenarios, which was appreciated by users looking for practical applications of their skills. - **Free Course Offering**: For those who found it on Udemy for free, the course was considered a valuable resource given its informative content and presentation. ## Cons - **Audio Quality Issues**: Some reviewers mentioned difficulties with audio quality, which made listening to the instructor challenging, particularly for hard of hearing individuals. - **Visual Clarity Concerns**: A few users noted that the video quality or the positioning of the camera could have been improved to ensure better visibility of the instructor's actions, such as selections on the screen. - **Presentation Style Hesitations**: Some reviewers pointed out hesitations and frequent use of "um" and "uh" by the instructor, which slightly detracted from the presentation. - **Limited Scope**: It was noted that while the course covered the basics well, it did not delve into advanced techniques such as masking, feathering, or other popular features, indicating a more intermediate level of instruction. - **Course Length**: A couple of reviewers found the length of the course to be a bit too long, leading to moments of boredom despite the valuable content being delivered. - **Audio Recording Environment**: The audio being recorded in a potentially confined space was another point of critique, affecting clarity. ## Course Structure and Content The course is structured around a single example photo, which is used from start to finish to demonstrate the editing workflow. This approach was appreciated by users who found it refreshing compared to courses that use multiple images. The content focuses on both Lightroom and Photoshop, with an emphasis on practical post-processing techniques. ### Recommendation Overall, "Lightroom and Photoshop Mastery" is recommended for individuals who want to gain a solid foundation in photo editing with these Adobe tools. While it may not be suitable for those seeking advanced or highly technical instruction, it serves as an excellent entry point into the world of professional photo editing. Potential students should consider the course's strengths in practical workflow demonstration, step-by-step guidance, and its beginner-friendly approach. --- **Note**: The information provided here is based on aggregated reviewer feedback. Individual experiences may vary, and it is recommended to watch a preview or sample of the course before enrolling to ensure it meets your specific learning needs and expectations.