Recently we’ve received a lot of requests on when to use different Fundy Software products in your workflow. Below is when and how I use Fundy Software products in my own workflow. I’ve separated my workflow into three distinct sections–creating proofs and showing off your work, album design and proofing and, finally, creating final print files.
Creating Proofs and Showing Off
In this section of my workflow, I have one goal: quickly create images that will make clients want to order albums, prints, etc. Additionally, I want clients to share their photos with their friends and family with my branding all over it. During this stage of the workflow I’ll use Action Hub, Batch Editor, Blog Collage and Image Brander.
Action Hub
My favorite feature in Action Hub is the ability to batch apply actions to different images. Personally, I’ll select all images and apply my favorite contrast bump action. Then I’ll select the images I want in BW and apply my BW action. Then I’ll do the same to my color. This allows me to make unique looking images without putting a lot of time in on a lot of images. This usually takes me a couple minutes for a portrait session and maybe 5-10 minutes for a wedding.
Batch Editor (optional)
I might pull out 8-10 images that I really like and open them up one by one in Batch Editor and edit them a bit more with some skin retouching and some dodge and burn. These are images that I want to really show off on my blog or Facebook and the images I really want to encourage my clients to order. I can easily show off these few images in a quick collage, designed using Blog Collage.
Image Brander
Anything that will be shared online or as a printed proof, I brand with Image Brander. If the images will be used for proofing of any kind then I’ll imprint the file name onto the image.
Album Design and Proofing
Album Builder
During the Album design phase, the main product is definitely Album Builder. I’m a big fan of predesigning the wedding album before the clients have a chance to choose the images. For a portrait album, the images will be chosen in the ordering session. Before designing, most of my images have been edited and are final for the album. I will leave many images in color and convert them to BW in Album Builder. But heavy editing has already been done using Batch Editor.
Album Proofer
After the design I’ll send the client a link so they can proof their album. Once the design is approved, I can even upsell them on some mini or parent albums.
Image Finder
During this process, if I need to track down images from an order session or from client changes I’ll use Image Finder. I simply paste in the list of file names and Image Finder will pull them out for me and copy them to a new folder.
After an Order
Whether an order has been created online or in house (better), every image should be edited to look its best. For me, images straight out of Lightroom just don’t cut it. That’s just me. Every image ordered gets edited in Photoshop. With multiple layers, masks, adjustment layers, etc., I just feel Photoshop can produce superior images.
Image Finder
Again after an order, I need to track down the images. I simply paste in the list of file names and Image Finder will pull them out for me and copy them to a new folder.
Batch Editor
I’ll load up the selects in Batch Editor and give them all a little love with my favorite mixes. With Batch Editor I can edit individual images, apply my favorite actions, filters and plugins with just one click. This allows me to produce high-end files in just a few seconds.
Image Brander
Each and every image that was ordered, I’ll put on Facebook. But I want my images branded and protected first. And since this is an extra marketing bonus, I’ll use Image Brander to brand the images and even add my website URL.
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