Lightroom Courses

Learn Lightroom

Do you want to get the very best photographs from your camera files? Adobe Lightroom has the power to do that effectively and efficiently – if you know how to use it. I have designed this series of three courses to teach you “how and when” to correctly use Lightroom’s many tools. Learn to figure out what needs fixing and strategies to get it done quickly. Along the way I will help you to develop your creative style. Start creatively analyzing your own images and using Lightroom to give your photos a professional finish. This course will teach you how to quickly extract and enhance some incredible image detail you didn’t even realize was there.

After this course you’ll look at your photography in a new light. You’ll see more potential in photos you may have previously neglected and be able to improve your favourite photos even more. You’ll be able to create your own shortcuts, make your own ‘presets’ and rapidly improve your workflow and increase your productivity.

The instructor, Mike Gaudaur, is an Adobe Certified Expert with 25 years teaching experience. He is a full time professional photographer. All courses are held at Quinte Studios, 359 Dundas St. West, Trenton. 


Lightroom Fundamentals

Monday evenings from 7:00 – 8:30  FULL

October 16 – November 13, 2017

New: 

Tuesday evenings from 7:00 – 8:30

October 17 – November 14, 2017

Maximum 12 students

$135

Register

In this class we will get you up and running with Lightroom. I will walk you through getting your images organized and “imported” into Lightroom. I will teach you efficient systems for managing your image collection, evaluating and sorting your keepers, and backing up your images. Most importantly, I will help you to establish a personalized organizational strategy that will help you to stay organized.

Once your images are organized then we start fixing and enhancing them in the Develop module. You will learn what all the sliders do and – more importantly – when and how to use them. 

Finally, you will learn how to export your best images so that you can share them.

There are a lot of foundational concepts to learn along the way to mastering Lightroom and you will learn them in this course.

Course Outline

  • Catalog Fundamentals
  • How to get your existing images into Lightroom
  • Where are your images stored
  • Setting up a folder structure and working with catalogues.
  • Essential settings to ensure your images and organizational work are never lost
  • Explore the Lightroom interface
  • Methods of viewing your images in Lightroom.
  • The Library module.
    • How to import your images into Lightroom.
    • Adding keywords to tag and organize images.
    • Creating collections to organize and file your images.
    • How to decide which images to edit when you have a large number of similar images to choose from.
    • Quickly apply stars and flags to rate and shortlist your images.
    • Using filters to view images based on ratings, camera info, exposure info, flagged images, location info and star ratings.
  • The Develop Module
    • Learn the power of the editing sliders in the Basic Panel.
    • Control your black and white conversions using the HSL Panel.
    • Discover how Split Toning can be used as a creative tool.
    • See how to use the sharpening and noise reduction functions in the Detail Panel.
    • Use the Effects Panel to add some creative flair to your images
    • Learn how to analyze your image and decide which areas need work.
  • The Export Dialog Box
    • Learn how to export specific images so you can share your work online or get it printed.

Intermediate Lightroom

Monday evenings from 7:00 – 8:30   FULL

November 20 – December 18, 2017

New: 

Tuesday evenings from 7:00 – 8:30

November 21 – December 19, 2017

Maximum 12 students

$135

6 spots open

Register

Once you have mastered the basics it is time to take things to the next level. In this course you will learn the incredibly powerful organizational features of Lightroom that are lurking beneath the surface. There are so many time saving techniques, keyboard shortcuts, and powerful presets to share with you. Keywording, rating, filtering and smart collections will ensure that you can always find any image you are looking for, and be able to see all your best work in one place. 

Next we will dive deeper into the Develop module to learn some of the less obvious tools that can allow you to make subtle improvements and dramatic enhancements that will take your images to a whole new level. Discover the power of local enhancements and learn how to use them to craft your images into something special.

We will explore the myriad of options Lightroom provides to export your images for various purposes, on screen, online, and in print.

Course Outline

  • The Library module.
    • Dig deep into the Metadata functions available in Lightroom.
    • Employ a myriad of filtering and sorting techniques
    • Creating smart collections to organize and file your images automatically.
    • Use loupe, compare and survey strategies to quickly evaluate and select your best images.
    • Figure out which type of Previews are best for your workflow.
    • Modify your workspace interface to suit your preferences
  • The Develop Module
    • Resetting your RAW image.
    • Getting started analyzing and editing your image.
    • Learn how to use all the localized editing tools to work on specific portions of your images
    • Using custom ‘Graduated filters’, ‘Custom brushes’ and ‘Radial Filters’
    • Clone or Healing Tool
    • The Adjustment Brushes
    • Red eye removal tool
    • Crop tool and crop tool overlay guides to assist you with your composition.
    • Manipulate tone curves to solve contrast and tonal problems
    • Use Hue, Saturation, and Lightness to manipulate the look of your images
    • Employ the Lens Corrections panel to fix distortion, vignetting, and chromatic aberrations
    • Unlock the power of the Transform panel to work all manner of amazing modifications
    • Decipher the mystery of the Camera Calibration panel and use it to deal with your camera’s idiosyncrasies. 
  • The Book Module
    • Learn how to design your own highly customized photo books.
    • Understand the various output options and how to determine which is best for your purposes
  • The Slideshow Module
    • Fast and efficient strategies to create simple yet elegant slideshows
    • Add text and graphics
    • Add music to enhance your presentation
    • Understand the various output options and how to determine which is best for your purposes
  • The Print Module
    • An introduction to basic printing directly from Lightroom

Advanced Lightroom

Monday evenings from 7:00 – 8:30

January 15 – February 12, 2018

Maximum 12 students

$145

4 spots open

Register

There are still so many powerful tips, tricks, and techniques to discover in Lightroom. This course will concentrate on helping you to develop an efficient and effective workflow so that you can get the most out of your images in the least amount of time.

Opportunities to save and use presets are tucked into every nook and cranny of the Lightroom interface. Learn how to avoid common mistakes in creating presets and instead establish worksaving gems that will revolutionize your workflow.

You will learn how to set up automated systems, custom workflows, and strategic plans to get the very most out of your images in the least amount of time. Wether you are a working professional photographer or someone who just likes to play with your images, this course will help you to minimize the administrative work and maximize your creativity.

Course Outline

  • Special techniques with Quick Develop
  • Synchronization techniques for metadata and develop settings
  • Merge to HDR
  • Photo merge panoramic images
  • Round-trip editing in external applications and plug-ins
  • Advanced keywording strategies
  • Import pre-set strategies to automate your import and backup process
  • Explore the potential of Publish Services
  • Using virtual copies to facilitate creative options
  • Access the History and Snapshots panels to travel back in time and make time stand still
  • Reading and manipulating a histogram
  • Working with multiple catalogs
  • Creating a watched folder for auto-importing images
  • Tips to speed up Lightroom’s performance
  • Tethered shooting demonstration
  • Finding, importing, and managing plug-ins
  • Keyboard shortcuts and interface automations
  • Advanced printing options, controls, and presets
  • Creating and using custom export functions
  • Lots more tips, tricks, and techniques to enhance your images and speed up your workflow.

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