Select and Edit RAW Photos with AI
My Workflow for Selection and Editing
Photographers who shoot many projects with numerous photos face the challenge of processing them promptly. Weddings and events can easily generate 3000 RAW photos. Therefore, selection is essential to
- eliminate duplicate shots
- remove blurry photos
- discard shots with closed eyes
- filter shots based on facial expressions
or at least to evaluate them. The result after culling is technically flawless photos that convey the desired mood or message, ideally telling a diverse story.
Culling is a crucial step to improve the quality of our photography. By focusing on the best images, we can dedicate our time and energy to editing and optimizing them, rather than dealing with inferior shots. Culling also helps us develop our own photographic style and refine our work. It's a way to enhance our skills as photographers and concentrate on the essence of what we want to express with our images.
Previously, my workflow had exactly 2 states:
5 = for deliverable photos
1 = for unworthy photos (to be deleted later)
This process is summarized under the term Culling and is currently supported by Capture One Pro (COP) and Aftershoot. Capture One Pro offers this function under 'Evaluate' and groups similar shots based on criteria such as time, camera settings, lens, etc. Faces are magnified, allowing selection using the arrow keys. This works exceptionally well.
But what if AI automatically evaluates faces and selects the best version in group shots?
This is currently possible in Aftershoot, which makes it so interesting.
My Experience with Culling in Aftershoot
After selecting the RAW folder, ratings are applied based on your settings. These range from 1 to 5, which has been somewhat disadvantageous for me until now.
5 = good images
4 = Magic Unicorns (i.e., the best and most varied shots)
3 = duplicates, i.e., less important shots
2 = Blurry, i.e., out-of-focus shots
1 = Closed Eyes (closed eyes)
Since I don't want to rely solely on these ratings, and especially at weddings, closed eyes can sometimes convey a sensual mood, I appreciate Aftershoot's opinion but still review each image manually.
Save Culling in Metadata
Aftershoot offers, by default, to move RAW files into a separate folder after rating. I personally don't do this; instead, I write the culling results into the metadata.
Lightroom Catalog
I don't like working with catalogs because they can be sources of errors – which is why I don't like Lightroom either.
However, I did look at all other AI tools for RAW editing beforehand, and they all work on the same principle. Neurapix was the most appealing, also offering a monthly license and a local version. Ultimately, all of them lack the prospect of working with Capture One, as well as an AI-supported culling function. The price for all of them is also significantly higher than Aftershoot, which offers the best value for money at just 10 EUR per month.
If interested, Aftershoot can be tested for one month free of charge.
You can also support me with the following referral code:
https://aftershoot.com/get-started/?referrer=NOCIBR66
I recommend creating a separate Lightroom catalog for each project and automatically generating XMP data in the preferences. This allows for parallel work with Bridge CC, which should be a better solution for many. External metadata can be imported into Lightroom at any time.
CAUTION: If you want to work with Bridge CC, you must save the XMP data in the catalog preferences in Lightroom. After checking the box, you can clearly see in Bridge that all photos are processed with our Aftershoot settings. Without this checkmark, there is a high risk of importing empty XMPs and thereby overwriting all settings made in Lightroom.
After the catalog has been created (in the RAW folder), the photos are automatically edited.
Train Your Own Aftershoot Preset: Training the AI
Before you can have the AI automate anything, it needs to be trained. This is done using already edited projects. In my case, this was very annoying because I primarily work in Capture One and therefore first had to finalize 2500 photos. There are now also 5 test presets that have been trained with 20,000 images each. These are absolutely unusable!
So, currently, you can't avoid using your own completed Lightroom projects.
Training also takes a while, but once it's complete, you can start using the Edit function.
What about Capture One Pro or Bridge CC?
The good news is that Aftershoot is already working on a Capture One Pro version and has already released a first beta. The bad news is that it also only works with catalogs and currently not locally at all. Files still need to be sent via email... the work with COS or XMP files that I desire will probably not be possible later either. Aftershoot presumably needs the rendered preview image with its own settings to evaluate before and after using the parameters.
Nevertheless, the advantages are too great not to bite the bullet...
Edit in Aftershoot
The project can now be linked to the catalog in Aftershoot and automatically edited with your own AI preset. I always edit all images, i.e., ratings 1-5. This has the advantage that you can change stars at any time.
The editing process in Aftershoot takes a little time, which also depends on the project. For weddings, 15 minutes can easily pass. After completion, you receive an email and can then open the catalog directly from Aftershoot.
Final Edited Project in Lightroom
Well, it's true that some images are already perfect, but many still need slight adjustments. But it definitely saves time. Since I habitually only rate with 1 and 5, I go through the entire project anyway. It's nice to have a "second opinion," so to speak. I now overwrite this opinion with 1 and 5 ratings and adjust the sliders.
Once everything is done, I set the filter to 5-star ratings and perform the fine-tuning of the RAW editing.
Conclusion:
A very good start has been made, currently saving about 20% of the editing process. With increasing training, you will probably achieve 50% time savings. This technique is therefore irreversible and mandatory for every photographer. Anyone who does not engage with this topic will sooner or later no longer be compensated for their invested time.
Another advantage is that projects can be completed very quickly, which naturally pleases the client. I usually deliver my projects on the same or the next day. Only weddings with 2000+ photos currently still require 2-3 days, even with this technique.