Way over my head - Workflow Question (Long one)

[tipk99]

So, I'm jumping into a fire here... I'm trying to start my sports photography biz and I'm finding myself in over my head. I'm finding I have no real workflow and so I'm all over the place. I'm learning things as I go along, but realize I want to take a step back and figure a few things out... And I'd love all of your help. This may be a long one, please bear with me...

So I know the starting point and the desired end, but what's in the middle is changing minute by minute. I know I start with about 1500 pics from a triathlon. And I know I want to end up with most of them on my smugmug site - with every single one of them being purchased! :) The biggest tool I have right now is PSE 5.0, whcih I'm also learning as I go.

I've read that:
1) I don't really need above JPEG 10 for prints.
2) Size wise 1600px on a side is just fine.
3) 300+ dpi
Anything else?

I shoot JPEG right now and I have a billion questions.

1) The pics come out of my camera at 72dpi right? So do I increase this to 300 in PSE?
2) Should I be resampling when I resize photos? What exactly does that mean?
3) I know 1600 on the longest side might be fine for finished product, but shooting larger gives you more crop-slop right? In other words I can crop in tighter and still have fine resolution if I shoot bigger and convert later.
4) PSE organizer automatically detects and rotates for viewing, but this doesn't seem to affect the actual image when uploaded to smugmug... so is there an easy additional step to rotate all my pics?

So here's an idea I have for a workflow plan - please comment on what is a bad idea, and provide some suggestions too.

1) Dowload all pics from CF into PSE organizer.
2) Chuck the garbage
3) Edit what needs editing
I see this as cropping a few, changing some levels, etc
4) Batch resize, compress, rotate? (Is there an easy way to do all this to 1000 pics?)
5) Add tags for race numbers/names etc
6) Use PSE to upload to smugmug
7) Make customers happy

What am I forgetting? What are the details that I've left out? Like I said I'm really new and just want to learn the best way to do things... I really appreciate all of your help.

Thanks

Tom

[ivar]

Hi Tom,

I'm not a pro-photographer, so I'm not going to be able to help you with some of the things.

What I can tell you though, is that if you want to sell your photos through SmugMug, you don't need to worry about your DPI settings. Shoot high-res, upload high-res, boom, you are done. DPI settings are just not important to us. Just make sure you meet our minimums (http://www.smugmug.com/help/print-quality#minprintres). Remember they are minimums, bigger is usually better. I wouldn't limit my images to 1600 on one side.

Also, we highly recommend using the proof-delay feature. Proof Delay allows you to review the order before it's sent to print, make corrections and changes to the cropping as well as auto versus true color. Best of all, you have the opportunity to totally replace any image that is ordered, with your choice of a replacement, still allowing you to adjust the crop and color setting after replacing it. For more info on this, please see these links:

http://www.smugmug.com/help/proof-retouch-replace
http://smugmug.jot.com/WikiHome/ProofDelayForHappyCustomers
http://smugmug.jot.com/WikiHome/ProofDelaySolveCroppingWoes


Hope this helps. Holler if you have any questions.

[nipprdog]

4) Batch resize, compress, rotate? (Is there an easy way to do all this to 1000 pics?)

Tom

why resize??? you've got unlimited space. upload the pics full size.

I batch process using the PS elements 'process multiple files' tool.

[brian.conaghan]

I do some very similar stuff with similar software, so perhaps I can help.

The big one is that PSE has an option under "File" called "Process Multiple Files..." In my workflow this comes right after download from CF. You give it a source directory of files, and then I give it a different directory to drop the edited files in. It will do auto Levels, Contrast, Sharpen and Color ... I use all but Color. As a bonus, it updates the orientation so no rotating needed either :D It will also do all of your RAW conversions if you have the ACR plugin.

After all of that I kill any files I don't like and do any manual edits required.

I do not do any type of re-sizing, but it is tempting. The 384MB limit means that for a decent size race I often need to do 4-5 separate uploads, which is kind of just a pain. The "Process Multiple Files..." will give you an option to reduce either the pixels or detail of the jpg to get smaller files.

One other detail - I add tags after I upload to Smug. You can check my galleries to see my race number search (set up with much help from Dgrin and Smug).

And I completely agree with the suggestion to use the PROOF feature. I always do a final edit before a photo ships.

Good luck,
Brian
conaghan.smugmug.com

[Toddshooter]

I do not do any type of re-sizing, but it is tempting. The 384MB limit means that for a decent size race I often need to do 4-5 separate uploads, which is kind of just a pain. The "Process Multiple Files..." will give you an option to reduce either the pixels or detail of the jpg to get smaller files.



Good luck,
Brian
conaghan.smugmug.com

Hi Brian

I have a question for you. If you crop a photo, (Which I do lots of with weddings!) what do you put in for the dpi?
Thanks Todd