Thursday, December 24, 2015

Speed up Adobe Lightroom Imports

If you are like me, your Lightroom imports can take forever.  Not all of us can afford high-end computer hardware to resolve this.  I came up with a process to speed up imports on MY computer.

Not getting into detailed how-to instructions here.  There's plenty of tutorials on the Internet, and many are FREE.  Try this one from Anthony Morganti: Lightroom 6 / Lightroom CC Training Videos.  He has videos for other version as well

However, please contact me if you need more help.


  • Perhaps the best way to speed up imports is to import only photos you want to keep.  Some photos are just horrible, so why keep them? Note on the Import screen I unchecked several photos I don't want to import.  The fewer files to import, the faster the import.
  • In the File Handling section on the upper right, Build Smart Previews and Make a Second Copy can both take a large amount of time.  I always recommend a Second Copy as a backup, but you can Build Smart Previews later, if you even want them.
  • Setting fewer options manually will obviously save setup time.  
    • Make extensive use of presets for anything you typically do to any photo, such as Develop Settings, Metadata and an overall Import preset containing all of the above.
      • Make Develop presets in the Develop Module.
      • Make Metadata presets in Library Module.
      • Select these presets for an import in Apply During Import  on the right hand side.
    • Set any other options on the import screen you will typically use, such as Location, Add to a Collection and Keywords.
    • Now create an overall Import preset in Import Preset for all the above on the bottom center of the import screen.
    • On future imports select your Import preset, again, at the bottom center.
      • Note that after selecting your Import preset, you can still change any of the settings for a specific import
      • You can also create multiple presets, if that helps.
Finally, run a long import when convenient, like overnight.

NOTE: Even though an import runs in the background, it can bog down your entire computer tremendously, so keep that in mind.  Frankly, I would close down all other programs when importing.

I'll be glad to let you know my personal preset settings, but that's outside the scope of this blog.

However, if I get enough requests for these settings, I'll do a blog post on those.

Hope these few simple ideas will help.

Happy Holidays

Sunday, December 6, 2015

Brett Ossman Photography November 2015 Newsletter



Brett Ossman Photography Newsletter
December 2015

Check out my website at BrettOssman.com

Thank you for reading my newsletter. Hope you find something useful and/or interesting.  Please feel free to send me a note with any suggestions, and/or comments.

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First Things First

The coupon below is for any of my photography products.  This coupon is valid through the end of December 2015.  Simply apply the code below, on checkout, to any purchase:
 
CHXJSD

With the range of products available from prints to greeting cards to throw pillows to shower curtains, and more: the discount will depend on the specific product(s) purchased.

What’s Happening at Brett Ossman Photography
 

I added links to my various social media sources such as twitter, Facebook and more.  Want to check them out and possibly follow any of them?  Click on this Contact Me link for my website.

I'm also doing extensive marketing research to help this business.  Click the previously mentioned Contact Me  link, and let me know if you would ever consider purchasing fine art photography online and why.  I'm not referring to stock photos, but rather framed wall hangings, that sort of thing.

Wants some great photography tips, check out my blog: Brett's Photography Tidbits

Photo Spotlight

Want it? Just click it!


From the Alafai Rendesvous in Florida, January 2015.

Interested in any specific subjects, themes or styles let me know.  Not only do I have photos For Sale on my website, but many more on my Viewing page that simply haven’t made it for sale yet.

My photography tastes are eclectic.  The old adage “Variety is the Spice of Life” definitely applies to me.  If you aren’t sure what you want, check out my site for a diverse array of photos.  Hopefully, you’ll get some ideas.


Hot Tip

What is the Perfect Selfie?

Had a friend ask me about writing a blog for the perfect selfie.  Thought that was an interesting idea, so click the above link to see mine.

Featured Artist
Georgia Brushhandle

I like to create art using Oils and Pencils, and I also dabble a little in photography..

My art has been featured on the Artist's blog at
http://www.theartisticblog.com/ArtisticBlog/?p=13692

You can find me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Brushhandles

Also on Twitter at https://twitter.com/BrushhandleArt

I hope you browse my images, and enjoy what you see. :)
 

  
 
Thanks again for reading my newsletter, and don’t forget to Join My Mailing List

Sunday, November 15, 2015

What is the Perfect Selfie?

Had a friend ask me about writing a blog for the perfect selfie.  Thought that was an interesting idea, so here goes mine.

Current State of the Selfie

Let's face it, most selfies I see are nothing special really, from a photography standpoint.  People have been shooting photos of themselves for decades or longer.  They put their camera on a tripod, set a timer or grab a remote shutter, go get in place, and shoot.  To me, the term "seflie" is just a new fad name.  Although, I guess they do tend to be facial closeups.

Why Shoot a Selfie?


A selfie is just another photo, no more, no less.  Just like any photo, the first question is: "What do you want to accomplish?"
  • Do you simply want to put your face on social media, such as Instagram, Facebook, Google+?
  • Do you want a nice portrait?
  • Do you just want family and friends to see a recent photo of you.
  • Do you want to be funny?
  • Do you want to capture a moment?
  • Do you want some sort of response and reaction and what?
  • Do you want something outside the norm, special effects, be different?

The Approach

To me the approach to taking a selfie is no different than shooting any other photo.  Want a nice selfie, think it through a little.  You don't need to use a professional type approach, unless you want to.  In fact, I recently posted an article: Three Easy Casual Photography Tips that apply to selfies as well as any other photo, so go check that out.

Also, try to be creative, so the response is more than, well there's another selfie.

Different Spins on Selfies

Self Portrait


To me, this isn't really a quick selfie like those you commonly see.  Get a nice clean scene or backdrop.  Set your camera on a tripod.  Use a camera timer or remote shutter release.



Casual Snapshot


Hey, just fire away, but try to make the photo somewhat interesting.  Maybe add something cool or different.  Nothing fancy here.

Funny Photo

Remember, funny is subjective and in the eye of the beholder.  So, don't be offended if you don't get the response your were looking for.  MAYBE, one way to be humorous is to do a composite, pasting two photos together.  Again, everything is subjective.  This one is VERY subjective. LOL


Special Effects

The above photo definitely fits into this category.  But here's a few more ideas.

Reflections


Long Exposure


 
Props



Of course, the main idea is to have fun. :-)

Friday, November 6, 2015

Quick Tips for Anyone with a Camera - Where did I Put that Photo?

OK, so you've taken a bunch of photos, maybe hundreds or even thousands.  Then one day you want to find one of them, or you want to post them online so someone else can find them.  Odds are the folder, directory or file name aren't going to have all the combinations one would ever search for.

This is where keywords come in, and you can put them into any photo you want. For Windows folks, you can even right-click a photo and add them, but any photo software probably has an easier way.

Take, the following photo.


There could be any of a number of reasons one would want to see this photo:
  • For a contest: rest, relaxation, beach, ocean, Atlantic Ocean, people, etc.
  • Mom remembers a photo of a beach with a lifeguard stand that she wants
  • I want to put it on a sales site and set up for anyone to search for it anyway I can think of
Try covering all that in a folder or file name.

How would anyone find it, especially months or years down the road.  Sure, you could scan through a folder of hundreds or thousands of photos.  That will likely be a lesson in futility, at best, assuming one finds it at all.

I use Adobe Lightroom CC, so, just for the sake of example, I'll demonstrate with it.

I set up a grouped set of keywords in categories.  This makes it very easy to QUICKLY scan through the keywords, and click off the ones I want (no typing, guessing, or remembering).  Each group contains sub-groups and keywords.





The entire list is attached in the link below and can be imported into Lightroom, and maybe other programs.

Here's the keywords I applied to the above in less than a minute:

Atlantic Ocean, Beach, Blue, Brown, Colorful, Flagler Beach, Florida, Gray, Grey, Lifeguard, Lifeguard Stand, Outdoors, Nature, People, Playful, Playing, Recreation, Red, Skin Tone, Swim, Swimming, Water, White, Yellow