Photo editing in Lightroom can feel overwhelming if you’re new to it. Where do you start? In what order? Oh, so many questions. In his recent video, Mark Denney shares a straightforward workflow that guides you through editing in a clear, organized way. By following these steps, you’ll know exactly where to start and how to create beautiful images.
Start by balancing exposure
The first step in any edit is balancing the exposure. This involves more than just the “Exposure” slider; it’s about adjusting highlights, shadows, whites, and blacks to create an even tone throughout the image.
Begin by setting the overall brightness with the exposure slider. Then, lower highlights to recover details in bright areas and lift shadows to reveal details in darker ones. Adjust the white and black points to define the image’s brightest and darkest areas. For a quick start, hold Shift and double-click on the slider names to let Lightroom suggest values. This gives you a solid base to refine further.
Enhance the colors
Once the exposure is balanced, it’s time to make the colors pop. Start with the Calibration panel to subtly adjust the red, green, and blue color channels, creating a richer, more natural look.
Next, use the Vibrance slider to boost less saturated tones without oversaturating the entire image. Mark demonstrates the difference between Vibrance and Saturation, and you can also learn more about it here. If certain colors feel too strong, refine them in the Color Mixer panel by adjusting their saturation individually. This approach ensures your colors are vibrant without being overpowering.
Add effects and refine the composition
After perfecting light and color, move on to effects and composition. Use the texture and clarity sliders to enhance fine details or soften the image for a more artistic feel. Either way, make sure not to overdo it.
Adding a vignette is a great way to subtly darken the edges of the frame and draw attention to your subject. At this stage, consider cropping the image to improve composition. Use the rule of thirds or other compositional guides to ensure your subject is well-placed and the frame feels balanced.
Apply finishing touches with masks
Masks are the final step in this workflow and allow for precise, localized adjustments. Use tools like Radial Gradient or Linear Gradient to target specific areas that need attention.
For example, you can brighten shadows in a particular part of the image or add warmth to specific highlights. Masks are also great for emphasizing details, like enhancing texture or saturation in small focal areas. These finishing touches help create a polished and professional look, and really bring out the subject of your images.
So, to recap: it’s balancing exposure, enhancing colors, adding effects, and then using masks for the finishing touches. You can use this workflow as a rule of thumb and a clear roadmap for editing any photo. By tackling one aspect at a time, you can approach editing with clear structure and greater confidence, and you can make it less complicated and overwhelming. Honestly, this is something I should think about too, because even after 15-ish years in Lightroom, I still can get kind of lost in all the details and possibilities, and I tend to take illogical order of editing. So, I believe this workflow can work whether you’re new to Lightroom, or you’r already into it but looking to streamline your workflow.
[Beginner RAW Photo Editing to Get You Started Like a Pro | Mark Denney]
