The Lightroom Classic Series returns to DCP as six-class series! 

Digital photography is only part photography. The rest is all digital which means time spent in front of a computer importing, sorting, selecting, tweaking, tagging, finishing, printing, sharing, uploading and showing your images. Lightroom Classic is the premiere software program that handles all of those tasks with relative ease and quite a bit of elegance. It has changed the way professional photographers work and is increasingly the choice of amateur shooters as well.

In this hybrid series of six classes, you will learn how to set up Lightroom Classic, import images and use the wealth of editing tools to improve your photos. You’ll understand how to use Lightroom’s ability to instantly find any photo in your collection based on keywords. You’ll also learn how to print, create web galleries and slide shows and share images online from within Lightroom.

All classes include an illustrated handout, so you can follow along with the presentation.

What you’ll need

You can bring your laptop to the class or you can learn by watching the live demo, following in the handout, and taking notes. If you do bring your laptop, make sure you have the latest version of Lightroom Classic loaded. You should already be well acquainted with your computer hardware and settings and know your way around your operating system. If you don’t already own Lightroom you can download a free 7-day trial here.

What version will you be teaching?

These classes are based on the version of the software that is now known as Lightroom Classic.  There is another version just called “Lightroom” which is totally cloud based. It’s super confusing but make sure you have Classic before signing up for this class!

What You’ll Learn

File organization, searching, and the Lightroom Classic catalog.

• Intro:  Why is Lightroom such a big deal?  •  Will I still need Photoshop?  •  Should I be shooting RAW?  •  We’ll tackle the all-important subjects of image organization and backup. You’ll learn how to get Lightroom set up to work best for your shooting style and workflow.
• Setup:  Understand the Lightroom database concept  •  Where does Lightroom store its stuff?  •  Setting up your preferences
• Organizing your images:  What to do with existing folders of images  •  Moving from another program like iPhoto   •  Some recommended folder structures to help keep your sanity
• Importing:  Getting your images loaded into LR from a drive or device  •  Basic file naming and tagging  •  What about DNG?  •  What are Smart Previews?
• Catalogs:  Backing up your precious data  •  Working with multiple catalogs  •  Synchronizing catalogs between computers  •  Working with external hard drives.
• Keywording and metadata: finding the needle in the haystack:  How to add keywords to your images  •  Searching by metadata  •  Finding your photos with a few keystrokes  •  Using the Library Filter to instantly search by date, lens or any other criteria
• Map Module:  Automatically map photos taken with any GPS enabled device  •  Using inexpensive hardware or a $2 app on your smartphone you can map all of your DSLR photos
• Tethered shooting:  How to shoot with your camera connected directly to your computer for automatic import into Lightroom  •  Precision color profiling for shooting product or other subjects

Selections and collections

• Workspace, panels and menus: View modes, grid, panels, filmstrip, etc.  •  Customizing the interface  •  Working with dual monitors  •  Keyboard shortcuts
• Editing and culling your images:  Making your first cut with Flags  •  Refining your edit with the color and star rating systems  •  Using the Compare and Survey modes for those tough editing decisions
• Collections and Stacks:  How to use collections to organize your images by just about any idea or criteria  •  Using Smart Collections to automatically group images  •  Working with image stacks

Processing

• Develop Module: Using virtual copies as a creative sandbox, combine with stacking • Making basic global adjustments  •  Nondestructive editing and why it’s such a great thing  •  Basic adjustments and global exposure controls, exposure, highlights, etc.  •  Working with RAW/JPEG and white balance  •  Syncing and batch processing
• Advanced global adjustments:  Curves  •  Color controls, global and local  •  Creative black and white conversions  •  Sharpening and noise controls  •  Working with develop presets  •  Camera profiles
• Corrections and special effects:  Automatic and manual lens correction for distortion, perspective and color aberrations  •  Split toning  •  Vignetting
• Local image editing:  Cropping  •  Redeye reduction  •  Spot cloning  •  Graduated and radial filters
• Local adjustment brush and masking:  Retouching skin, eyes, teeth  •  Re-lighting images • The new powerful (and confusing) masking layer tools

When your image is ready to go

• Getting out of Lightroom:  Exporting files  •  Presets for Email  •  Color space and resolution settings  •  Watermarking your images for protection
• Publish Services:  Connecting easily with printers, social media and other platforms  •  Using custom services
• Putting it on paper:  Working with the Print Module  •  Print packages and custom layouts  •  Printer settings and profiles • Printing yourself or sending to a service
• Self publishing a high quality book:  Learn how to lay out, edit and print professional books from within Lightroom  •  Some easy tricks for creating custom page layouts
• Slide Shows:  Making a client presentation or just showing pictures to your family  •  Customizing your slide show  •  Creating an MP4 movie with a soundtrack