10 Step RAW Photo Processing / Where to Start, What To Do Next, Where to Finish 

RU-vid algorithm is actually stupid for not giving you more exposure, your videos are GREAT

This video is clear, concise, insightful and we'll organized. Top work.

I started using Photoshop to edit Apple QuickTake100 images in 1994 and think your workflow is excellent, especially in light of how modern lens assume lens correction will be applied either in camera for JPG or in post processing for RAW. I find it good practice set Custom WB off a gray card when possible starting with the camera set to Daylight WB as a baseline. Shoot card w. Daylight WB, Set Custom WB using that shot, then shoot card again with Custom WB. Then you will be able to see the actual color cast of the light, relative Daylight WB, in the first shot when toggling back between them because your brain now knows the second one is the neutral one. The advantage is that it eliminates the need do the eyedropper snap to neutral from the card and copy / pasting the correction into the other files so it is actually faster and your first impression of the files when opened will be from a known neutral baseline. In addition to a gray card I started using white and black wash cloths I carry in my camera bag as padding for the gear when taking test shots and setting up lighting with flash. Draping them over the gray card creates three distinct spikes on the histogram. Setting exposure so the white one is just below clipping in the overexposure warning ensures highlight detail is retained and then a glance at where the spike from the black one is falling on the histogram reveals of the contrast of the lighting exceeds the range of the sensor indicating that bracketing and HDR or flash, when possible is needed. When using flash I start by setting DOF desired DOF then raise my axis centered Fill light until detail is seen in the black towel and its histogram spike is just inside the left side. Then I turn on the Key light and raise until the white towel is just below clipping. That matches scene range to sensor range perfectly and very little adjustment is needed when editing. When Photoshop added layers with masks I stopped using the burn and dodge tools. Instead I recorded an action which creates three duplicate layers with black masks set to screen mode (to lighten), multiply mode (to darken) and soft light (to add contrast). The advantage of that approach is that the masks can be edited by filling back in with black and the amount of correction can be adjusted globally with the opacity slider from 0% to 100% by eye. If I plan to use an image several different ways, printing at various sizes or creating different size / resolution JPGs for screen viewing I save the .PSD edit file without any sharpening applied, applying it after resize as the last step before making the JPG copy.

Editing photos has been something I've struggled with since the beginning of my photography hobby... but unfortunately it's a pretty important step haha! Recently I've started playing around with RAW images... but really had no clue what I was doing! I finally had the great idea to do some research, and this video has helped tremendously! I actually managed to create something that doesn't look terrible from a RAW image haha, thanks so much for the video!!

The logic and lucidity of your videos is gratefully appreciated. Keep it up.

This is fantastic! You are a fantastic teacher and I learned alot!!!😊

Honestly, I didn't have very high hopes when clicking this video. Didn't regret it though. I was pleasantly surprised to get a nicely structured lesson, explained clearly, packed with photography wisdom, yet concise. You've just earned a new subscriber, sir.

Todd Dominey is an exceptional speaker and educator!

Fairly new hobbyist here and editing has been a nightmare for me. This video is gonna help me a ton and I'll likely even refer back to it. Thank you so much for sharing your process and explaining things in a way I could grasp. There are soooo many sliders and such in editing software that it can be overwhelming to someone new lol.

This isn't another advert for the famous Danish beer maker but "this is probably the best editing work flow video in the world". Thanks for your very informative video Todd!

Your videos have been amazing for a film school graduate that was never taught how to edit. Thank you!

EXCELLENT roadmap for editing photos. Very clear and concise. Thank you for sharing your process!!😊

Thanks so much man. I was actually really stressed about some pics I've got to edit and you've brought me back down to earth and given me a process to work with. Loved that "take a break" step, it may sound silly but it's actually so important to take a step back and come back with fresh eyes

It's amazing the difference in my edits(and photos) from 10 years ago. Very valuable video for beginners and even valuable for experienced editors.

I have been crashing around in Lr not having any idea where to start. This is the best tutorial I have watched. Thank you.

This is what you call the Art of Perfection, crystal Clear.

Finally a systematic sequence of steps to follow. I had no idea what I was doing. Probably still don’t- but this will point me toward competence.

This is what I needed. I had the first four steps and then I’d start tweaking sliders with no real idea of what I should be doing, inevitably I’d reset or get frustrated and stop. The result is 3 years of unedited photos. I’d be interested to see in-depth videos on each part of this process, particularly from step 4 onwards.

Something about the way you present information just clicks with me like few others. Thank you.

I'm reasonably new to color grading. Although I've messed with it for over a decade, I'm only now taking it seriously, and learning the tools in practice. This is a fantastic tutorial. can't wait to implement this, and see how it can improve my workflow and grading quality. Thank you and best regards.

Thanks for this video.. I always edit RAW without proper workflow.. this video just showed me the proper way to do it.. thanks sir

Your point is very true. Lately I'm trying to get used to shooting in neutral profile and processing in Adobe Camera Raw also in neutral profile. I have checked that the Canon neutral profile is darker than the adobe neutral profile. In any case, the reason why I think I should practice in a neutral profile is because it is possible to prepare the processing to develop the luminosity, the color and the grading. In addition, the neutral profile allows you to get details and textures in shadows and avoid noise by raising shadows.

Excellent presentation, very clear and without the confusing pointer movements found in many tutorials

Fantastic video, explained the thought process behind successful and productive image editing superbly, thank you so much. I now have my entire photo library to re edit!

Hahaha! What you say in the beginning is hilarious! I also used to simply open up images and move sliders up and down without knowing what to do. I didn’t even know that you should use the histogram to help you correct the colors. Now that I have learned more about photo editing and retouching, there is sense in what I’m doing. Thanks for explaining the process in detail!

I really like that you took the trouble to explain what all these sliders are actually doing to your image and where and when you would actually use them. I have viewed countless videos on this subject and mostly come away even more confused and uncertain than when I started. Your presentation had the opposite effect. Congratulations and thank you - I now feel really inspired to have another crack at photo editing. Cheers, Philip Alvy, SW Scotland.

Excellent way of presentation. very clarified thoughts...thanks a lot for sharing ..🙏

Thans for the fantastic explication and give me a point to start understand a little bit more this world.

Thank you for clearly explaining your framework method. As a beginner, I find this kind of explanation of how the experienced do it educational.

Thank you Todd, great video. I found this video 3 years later but, hey, better late than never! Your method has a strong structure and it is a really well presented video. Thank you and congrats. 🎉🎉🎉

Straight to the point. Best tutorial about photo editing, by far.

Really good, and it gets better every time I watch it, and practice using it. Thanks!

Hi Todd, your videos are Excellent 👍👍👍Thanks. Iam from INDIA.

Very helpful Todd. The more I learn about photoshop the more I realize that I don't know. I was having trouble figuring out how to handle RAW files. This structure will help immeasurably.

Thanks for this Video! I'm an old-school camera dude shooting in JPEG Fine format for a Nikon D750 FX camera and now I;'m ready to jump into RAW...let's do it! :)

Thank you Todd, I have watched countless RU-vid videos about Photoshop and such. You are, by far, the most pragmatic illustrator, you explained things in such a way that I don't feel rushed and understood more. You did a great job, thank you.

The biggest improvement I've noticed is Step 5. Going to black and white mode FIRST has made a huge difference for me. #AwesomeTips 👍

As an amateur photographer and with only moderate photo processing skills, I found this video to be very helpful. I also work with a community photography club and I think that your step by step approach to editing will be very helpful and plan to share it with them. One note that I would make is that some sharpening programs such as Topaz recommend sharpening raw files first, before making additional edits. Of course, many have commented that it may not make that much difference. Since some time has passed since you posted this video, do you have any additional suggestions or comments? Thanks for sharing!

Hi Todd, thank you very much for making this video. I'm usually satisfied with my edition but being more organized helps me to understand what part I need to change when things go wrong. I love this process. Also you are an excellent teacher and your videos are great.

thanks so much! i am going to have to watch this a few more times, but it was so helpful

This is a really great overview, thank you so much for making it! I've been struggling with exactly something like this - staring at a dull grey RAW image and wondering what to do and in what order. Thanks for the tutorial!

This is the video every new user to Lightroom must watch first. Thanks.

Genuinely presented! Looking forward for more content from you

Great video. I found it really helpful compared to so many others out there.

I like that you include side by side suggestions for both LR and C1.

Thanks Todd. Excellent video for us "structure people". I also find myself just moving sliders around and this work flow will help me get into more of a routine and I am sure it will help my image processing overall.

Excellent advice. I would like to see how the effect of each step changes and enhances the photo.

I love your videos. I don't know why it didn't hit me until now, but you look so much like Matt Smith.

Great breakdown! Thank you

Nice presentation. I especially like how you explain your process, it makes complete sense, and it will help me improv my images. Thank you so much Todd

Thanks so much for this Todd...helped me much!

I've just discovered your videos and absolutely love them! Your explanations are really clear, and I find them very helpful. They answer lots of questions I've had as I've migrated to digital photography and processing over the past few years. Great stuff, cheers!

Ok this is my favorite video. Thank you so much.

Nice job, you popped up out of nowhere, since for months I have been looking at a ton of LR videos. Glad you did.

I am watching many of your videos recently, I really like your thoughtful approach and I am sure my images will benefit!

Wow! Fantastic tutorial. Just subscribed.

You are amazing Todd, thanks for sharing this for many photographers to learn

Great overview, so needed...

Thanks. The information was really nice.

Excellent.. I would prefer to do first level of cleanup Dust/Spot cleaning and Heal/Clone immediately after Crop before WB adjustment. This gives better result as steps 5 to 8 alters Luminance, Color and Contrast. Later step 9 Clean up helps to fix anythings in the frame distracts or not necessary.

Outstanding. Excellent teacher...Thank you Todd!

Excelente metodo de trabajo, gracias! ❤‍🔥

This is absolutely perfect--precisely what I was looking for. I knew there were principles for what order to do things and why but had yet to find a source that pulled it all together in a tidy way. This was so concisely presented. Thank you!

Thanks Todd, very useful advices

I consider myself fairly competent at photo editing, yet I learned so much from this structured approach. Excellent video and teaching skills. Thank you!

Super helpful! I've definitely struggled with editing since taking up photography as a hobby and feel I spend so much time ending up with something I'm not even happy with. Looking forward to trying out this workflow!

Hi Todd! I'm into digital photograhy and LR for few years already and always struggled with developing RAWs, doing it in very intuitive way, always different, and frustrated with effects after I finally and accidentaly received at least satisfying effect. This tutorial is so great, I just regret I didn't find it earlier. Many thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience!

Found this video very late! I am a beginner and this framework will help a lot. Thank you for sharing. 😊

Thanks! this really pin-pointed what I want to!

Brilliant, thank you for your commitment. Hoping you would keep on posting contents about photo precessing

Great explanation, I wish it was accompanied by actual examples and process.

Excellent explanation and description for each step. Thank you very much!

Sir, you provided a great framework to follow, especially for folks who have yet to find their own workflow happy place.

Love this step-by-step! Thank you for your work!

This whole video was mostly over my head. I need a 'baby steps' training in a Pro photo processing software. Thanks for the video it really showed me how much I don't know, however as another Pro said about photos, he mostly uses JPEG and so do I. I have a Sony A7 mark 1 full-frame and I've taken 127,000 photos in the last 3 years since I bought it my first DSLR or Mirrorless camera in 2019 and I had 7 compact digital cameras before that and 2 film SLR's in the Kodak days since 1975. I never learnt any photo processing software except some basics in Sony Playmemories Home. I did buy Affinity photo software for $25 but didn't use it yet. I did use a dozen in camera photo effects or photo styles for a different look to endless amount of my photos.

Yea, I really appreciate this video 👍

In step four setting WB with eyedropper from a gray card target will also remove any green color shift from foliage. This is particularly important for portraits because the green cast will make caucasian skin tones look dull and gray. Because of the way color vision adapts when shooting and when looking at images on the monitor green casts can be difficult to recognize until you start using the gray card test shots and doing before/after correction comparisons.

I'm like 2 minutes in and already know this is going to be a great video... How can youtube not boost this? Wtf?

The most of my questions are finally solved, thank you so much for your video, I really appreciate it!!

I've being looking for this for so long. I'm gladnI finaly found it.

Great video. Thank you. I’m 1 year into this and have been toiling with what would work. This is very helpful! Much appreciated. Next up, understanding dodging and burning;-)

Wow great articulation of the process, and explanation of working contrast. Well done!

Quality content as usual. The algorithm is gonna take notice. Great stuff

Thank you very much for guiding me through the jungle !

Great video. Well-spoken and easy to watch all the way through.

Hello, Congratulations Cool 👍. Thank You For Advice and Explaining Us

Glad I found your Page

Thank you so much for this video, it is very helpful for all of us that are just starting in this journey of photography.

Really great video. So clear and simple. Thank you!

Spot-on methodical approach. Thanks!! Subscribed immediately.

Fantastic. Excellent totorial. Thanks, Claudio for Italy

Thank you, this video is excellent.

That was awesome. I will try your method lol because as of now, I don't have one. I really learned the importance of a good workflow. Thank you for sharing your experience. I greatly appreciate you.

Thing I noticed with Lightroom and zoom lenses: Lightroom applies lens correction which is often actually incorrect leading to distorting the image instead of fixing it. So I usually look at each image individually and switch of lens correction as needed.

Thank you so much for sharing your successful structured approach to editing Raw photos. I have tried for the past 2 years without any structure and failed miserably. Your instructions and explanations have given me enough tools and hope to jump back into my photo editing. Very well done and I definitely subscribed and will share your channel with others. Cheers! :)

This was exactly what I was looking for! I appreciate you ❤❤❤

New to photography found this very helpful and how I should approach editing. Great video.

Thank you for exellent teaching Todd! Keep up the good work.

Clear and to the point video that was easily understood. Nice work Todd.

This video is so great. A framework. For free!? The trick after Step 7 is mind-blowning!!! But want to know your flow editing photos shoot in a day? Batch apply bunch of steps first or rigorously edit one by one?