Creating a Lightroom Workflow for Consistent Editing
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A step-by-step guide to setting up a Lightroom workflow for underwater photography
Editing underwater photos can be time-consuming and intricate. Still, a well-structured workflow in Adobe Lightroom can significantly enhance the editing experience, making it more intuitive and enjoyable. A systematic approach not only helps streamline your edits but also improves the overall consistency of your work, allowing your images to authentically reflect the stunning beauty and magic found beneath the surface of the water.
In this comprehensive guide, I will take you through the essential steps to create an efficient Lightroom workflow specifically designed for the unique challenges of underwater photography. We will explore crucial techniques and tips to help you organize your workflow, thus maximizing your productivity and ensuring that every image captures the essence of the underwater world.
Additionally, I will break down five distinct workflow setups that cater to different styles and types of underwater photography. Whether focusing on vibrant coral reefs, diverse marine life, or stunning underwater landscapes, these tailored setups will enhance your editing process and the quality of your final images.
Step 1: Import and Organize Your Photos Efficiently
Before we dive into edits, let’s set up Lightroom for a smooth workflow.
1.1 Importing Photos
- Open Lightroom Classic and select File > Import Photos and Video (Cmd + Shift + I on Mac, Ctrl + Shift + I on Windows).
- Use a consistent folder structure, e.g.,
Year > Month > Day. - Apply keywords (e.g., “Roatan, Manta Ray, Night Dive”) to facilitate future searches.
- Enable Smart Previews for faster editing when working offline.
1.2 Culling and Selecting the Best Shots
- Use Library Module (G) to view thumbnails and quickly assess your shots.
- Press P to flag keepers, X to reject shots, and U to unflag.
- Apply a rating system:
- 1 Star = Bad (Reject)
- 2 Stars = Needs work
- 3 Stars = Decent but not great (Social Media?)
- 4 Stars = Good, ready to edit (Best of Photos)
- 5 Stars = Portfolio-worthy (Fine Art)
- Use Auto-Advance Mode (Caps Lock) to speed up selection.
- Press F for Full-Screen mode to view images without distractions.
Step 2: Apply Global Adjustments
Let’s tackle the basic edits to correct exposure, contrast, and color balance.
2.1 Adjust White Balance and Exposure
- Use Auto Tone (Shift + Cmd + U / Shift + Ctrl + U) as a starting point.
- Use the White Balance Selector (W) to neutralize color casts (aim for neutral grays in your image).
- Adjust Exposure (+/- keys) to correct brightness.
- Tweak Contrast, Highlights, Shadows, Whites, and Blacks using the sliders.
2.2 Dehazing and Clarity for Underwater Depth
- Increase Clarity for mid-tone contrast.
- Use Dehaze (found in the Effects Panel) to cut through murkiness.
- AI Tool: Select Sky/Subject/Background AI Masks can help isolate and enhance marine life automatically.
2.3 Color Correction and HSL Adjustments
- Reduce excess green or cyan tint caused by water filtering.
- Use HSL sliders (Hue, Saturation, Luminance) to enhance specific colors.
- AI Tool: Adaptive Presets can apply color corrections based on AI recognition.
Step 3: Targeted Adjustments with Brushes and Filters
For more precise edits, use Lightroom’s local adjustment tools.
- Radial Filters (Shift + M) to spotlight subjects like fish or divers.
- Graduated Filters (M) to enhance background lighting.
- Adjustment Brush (K) for selective exposure, sharpness, or color corrections.
- AI Tool: AI Select Subject can automatically mask your main subject for easier editing.
Step 4: Sharpening, Noise Reduction, and Backscatter Removal
Underwater photos often suffer from noise and backscatter. Let’s clean them up.
- Noise Reduction (Detail Panel): Adjust Luminance & Color sliders carefully.
- Sharpening: Keep the Amount around 50-70, and use Masking (Option + Drag on Mac / Alt + Drag on Windows) to sharpen only edges.
- Backscatter Removal:
- Use Spot Removal (Q) with Heal Mode.
- AI Tool: Denoise AI (New in Lightroom) can effectively remove noise while retaining detail.
Step 5: Exporting and Saving Your Presets
To keep your workflow efficient, save time with presets and batch processing.
5.1 Export Settings
- File > Export (Cmd + Shift + E / Ctrl + Shift + E).
- Choose JPEG (sRGB) for the web and TIFF for print.
- Set a resolution of 300 dpi for prints and 72 dpi for web.
- Rename files systematically (e.g.,
Roatan_Dive1_001.jpg).
5.2 Create Custom Presets for Efficiency
- Apply your favorite edits and save them as a preset (Develop > Create Preset).
- AI Tool: Adaptive AI Presets can auto-apply based on subject detection.
5 Underwater Photography-Specific Workflows
Here are five workflows tailored to different types of underwater photography.
1. Wide-Angle Reef Scapes
- Use Graduated Filters to balance light in bright backgrounds.
- Increase Vibrance to make coral pop.
- Dehaze to clear up distance haze.
2. Macro Photography
- Sharpen Details with fine-tuned sharpening settings.
- Use Radial Filters to spotlight tiny subjects.
- Reduce Noise while keeping textures crisp.
3. Wreck Photography
- Boost Shadows to reveal details in dark areas.
- Use Selective Color Adjustments to highlight rust and textures.
- Dehaze and Clarity for moodier, dramatic effects.
4. Blackwater Diving (Pelagic Life at Night)
- Reduce Noise Aggressively due to high ISO use.
- Selective Highlights & Shadows to bring out translucent creatures.
- Increase Exposure Carefully to avoid over-brightening plankton particles.
5. Underwater Diver Shots
- Use AI Masks to enhance the diver while preserving the background.
- Adjust Exposure and Contrast Independently for the diver's suit and environment.
- Remove Unwanted Particles using Spot Removal.
Final Thoughts
A structured workflow in Lightroom ensures efficiency, consistency, and stunning results in underwater photography. Incorporating AI-powered tools and customized presets can drastically reduce editing time while maintaining professional-quality images. Whether you’re shooting reefs, macros, or wrecks, the key is to develop a workflow that fits your shooting style.
What’s your go-to Lightroom workflow for underwater photography? Share your process in the comments below!
Ready to dive into more editing tips? Check out my other Lightroom guides at RobertHerb.blogspot.com.
Written by Robert Herb – empowering underwater photographers to capture and enhance the beauty of our oceans.
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New Online Training Program
I am excited to announce that I am creating an online training program to teach underwater hobbyists and enthusiasts how to enhance their photos using Adobe Lightroom. If you are interested in this training or need more information, please go to (Underwater Photo Training) or contact me at bob@robertherb.com to express your interest and to be notified about the details and start date of the classes.
Stay tuned and "Follow" for upcoming blogs on underwater photography tips and tricks, which will provide more in-depth insights. Please leave your comments and suggestions. Enjoy your diving and shooting experience!
I am eagerly anticipating your valuable feedback and suggestions.
Sincerely,
Bob Herb
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