Workflow - LR - consider alternatives ?

[Thomas G]

Ordering files by chronology makes a lot of sense in that their positions will be unique. For all other access aspects, keep a relational database and use pointers to the file(s). It'll never work out trying to implement other sorting criteria into the storage scheme. Put such stuff into the database and use for searching.

IMHO this is good advice. It gives a tree like structure as well which helps humans and file systems.
Bjørn mentioned Exiftool, which may help bringing files back in place that have been renamed in the past as long as the exifs are intact.

For those who find Exiftools a bit too geeky the batch rename / batch conversion of Irfan View has a lot to offer.
I use it ocasionally  for non photo files as well.

[PeterN]

Happy New Year everyone!

I deleted my prior post before I wanted to do some research and testing first. That's what the vacation time is for, isn't it. No shooting, just playing behind the computer.  ;-) I played with photo mechanic (PM), capture one (C1), photo ninja (PN), Lightroom (LR), Photoshop (PS), Affinity Photo (AP), NIK suite, Topaz suite, the Perfectly Clear LR plugin (PC) and, the desktop version LuCid).

I am now thinking about the following workflow:
1. Use PM for ground work: photo selection, keywords, naming, selecting PN-candidates, copying selected photos to Photo folder in Dropbox
2. "Import" in LR for photo management, using one my import-presets. I was thinking about conversion to dng but I've left that out for now.
3. Reprocess PN-candidates in PN and convert to tiff (no compression).
4. Further editing using one (or multiple) of the following: a) VSCO-preset; b) Topaz; 3) NIK; 4) PC; 5) McPhun; 6) LR-edit (eg tone curve, sharpening); 7) PS-edit (mainly for spot/area healing, dust removal). Topaz and PS are hardly used. VSCO and NIK (and now PC) mostly. McPhun (and Topaz Glow/Impression) for, uh, fun.
5. Uploads: tbd; currently I use LR with plugins from Jeffrey Friedl. PM might be an alternative as it includes uploads to zenfolio, flickr
6. Printing: tbd; currently I use PS for printing

An alternative to 2 and 3 might be to batch process all raw files into jpeg or tiff files and import those in LR for refinement with one of the plugins. But I need to do some more testing to find the most efficient way of working (including impact on file structure).

I haven't been able to cut out LR/PS. I could not make C1 to work with VSCO and PC. And I really like those 2. I tried to replicate results within C1 but haven't been able to do so. I am sure that is due to my lack of skills but using the plugin saves me quite some time. Lucid is not an alternative to PC (very limited adjustments available). And when I use Topaz, I usually conclude that one of the other tools works better for me.

Suggestions how I could cut out LR while still being able to use the plugins mentioned are very much welcomed!! Comments about the workflow as well!

PS: I work on Mac and (currently) use RAF and NEF raw files.

[RobOK]

Update from the OP....  i have worked PhotoMechanic into my routine, it is not as "natural" yet as I had spent so much time on LR only, but it is fast and that makes all the difference.

I still have my eye on Capture One, tempted by all the #ditchadobe out there. I listen to Martin Bailey sometimes, and he has a podcast on switching: https://www.martinbaileyphotography.com/2016/08/01/jumping-ship-from-lightroom-to-capture-one-pro-9-podcast-534/

But I don't have time for that at the moment.

I have tried some film-like presets for LR from Mastin Labs (https://mastinlabs.com/) which are aimed at people that are hybrid film/digital, which I am not but I appreciate the film look.

I have been using LR mobile a bit more, it has matured for some basic editing.

Cheers,
Rob.

[MFloyd]

I finally came to Lr/Ps after having been abandoned by Aperture. Lr/Ps may have some weaknesses and some other applications are, may be, offering better solutions. But, now, my first aim is to find a stable environment which has fair chances to still be there tomorrow. In my view, it is also the only application which is good in both photo database handling and editing.  I also invested considerable time in learning Lr/Ps. While saying that, I keep a regular eye on new developments of the competition - C1 being the most appealing to me -. But, within my little world, the threshold to change is far from reached. 

Addendum: Lr Mobile became a mature application. It allows me to do a first selection of images, without having to be in front of my computer. Most of the basic editing can now also be done with a tablet, and often in a more user friendly way. Color editing and WB is still a task to be handled in front of a calibrated (computer) screen.