How do you optimize your photography workflow?

To me this is the most important part of the session, the planning. I backwards plan each session to make sure my checklist is optimized. Packing is done ahead of time using the checklist so that I am not rushing or discovering problems at the last minute. Main and backup batteries are charged and packed. Weather is monitored. Locations have been scouted if necessary and I arrive early enough to each session to evaluate the session site for any issues that need to be resolved.

In the world of architectural photography, I've found my comfort zone in logic and preparedness. Predictability and planning are my allies, allowing me to better capture the essence of a structure. My method is straightforward and starts with building connections. Before any shoot, I meet with the architect or project team. This conversation helps me understand their vision, ideas, and design concepts. It's a collaborative process that ensures my work aligns with their intentions. Whenever possible, I visit the site in advance. This scouting trip helps me assess lighting, angles, and the overall environment. Armed with my mobile phone, I take reference photos from different angles. These snapshots become the foundation of my shot list.

By far the most important step, clarify goals before gearing up. Recce shoots, check gear, check talent, check permissions etc. etc.

How about being mindful of the shots you take. Trying a bajillion more times only gives you more photos to go through. I personally shoot with intent pausing once in a while to examine the shots coming in and changing whatever is not working. If you're trying to capture a key moment like an action shot, shooting at the highest FPS your camera can shoot is not always the answer. It might be better to observe the action for a little bit and learn when the peak moment is so you can press the shutter...well...right at (technically slightly before) that moment. Mind your angles, mind your composition, mind your light, mind your settings, mind your operation of the camera the more you tweak things before the shot, the less shots you have to take.

While I find the general topic relevant, I believe it might resonate more with intermediate and professional photographers rather than those just starting their journey. My advice to novice photographers has always been to consider skipping this step in their initial projects. The reason being, at the outset, the margin for error is quite substantial. So, if you're taking your first steps in photography, my suggestion is to snap away and worry less about the post-production intricacies. Capture as many images as possible, and then, during post-production, choose the most promising ones for editing. As you gain experience and become more proficient in your workflow, you can gradually explore "shooting smart".

There are a few things outside of the Lightroom workflow that can help speed up the process of making good final selections: - Look at contact sheets of great photographers and try to understand why they chose the frames they did. This will increase your confidence and speed in making choices. One readily available book on this subject is "Magnum Contact Sheets" by T&H. - Attend a masterclass with a photographer you admire in a genre of your choice. There is no better way, apart from experience, to learn quickly than by observing someone who has already mastered their craft. - Discuss your edits with photographers whose taste you trust. This can provide valuable insights and help refine your decision-making process.

Picture editing (selecting) is the most underrated skill. Sure, its important to shoot technically correct images of the right subjects, composed well, but if you can't identify the money shots from the chaff its a non-starter. My advice...don't get attached to every image ....murder your children and leave the fittest to survive

If using Lightroom, be sure to optimize your smart preview setting to maximize quick and efficient loading/playback of images while culling. I rate my session images by assigning star values to keepers. This allows me to filter the collection immediately after rating to display only the best images for delivery. Keeps me focused on the task at hand and less likely to waste time on images that won’t be delivered anyway.

In my opinion, the editing stage is where the true magic in photography unfolds. It's the stage where you can witness the transformation of an ordinary image into something extraordinary. In my view, the power of skillful editing can elevate a subpar photo to a good one and a good photo to a masterpiece. This, in many ways, is the differentiating factor between a hobbyist photographer and a professional.

Always keep your images backed up in two separate locations. Don’t put all your eggs (photos!) in one basket (hard drive!). I use cloud backup as one of my options as it’s most likely to survive flood/fire/theft!

I'd like to bring up an important aspect of photography that often goes undiscussed—when to consider upgrading our equipment, particularly for amateur and mid-level photographers. I've learned that having the greatest gear isn't a prerequisite for starting a photographic adventure. You can accomplish quite a lot with even the simplest tools. In fact, it's possible to generate a substantial income with minimal equipment. However, there comes a juncture in your path where the vision you hold in your mind diverges from what you can capture with your existing gear. Your equipment becomes the "bottleneck" preventing you from fully realizing your creative potential. This is the moment when you should contemplate an equipment upgrade.

Pay attention to the simplest yet most repetitive task you do then try to make that as efficient as possible. For example: If you find yourself doing the same exact sequence of processes while retouching in Photoshop, consider writing an Action for it so you reduce several steps to a single click. Don't forget to look into processes outside photography itself. For example: If you photograph a lot of pendant necklaces that hang in a "V" shape and you always have to mask in an adjustment to the chain. Pay attention to how much time it takes. If it takes significantly less time to do the 11-5 o'clock masking motion than the 7-1, perhaps it's because it's easier for you to do a downward motion than an upward one. Observe and adjust if needed.

In my experience, the pre-check of my camera is upmost important. Therefore, I always take a picture of a white surface to check if there are any dirty spots on the picture, which means I have to clean the sensor of my camera's before my photo shoot.