Hi All,

I will be buying my first mac next month, mac pro 2.66 or imac 24". I have read about Aperture and it looks I will buy it. My main concern is about the workflow for weddings.

I know I can import the images, make the adjustments in the raw and then edit them in PS all within Aperture, but when it's time to create the album it is correct to:

1. export the files as JPG to the desktop
2. use PS with those files to create the albums
3. import the album pages to Aperture

Is this correct?

Will Lightroom be a better fit for the wedding work?

Thanks,

I don't have the answer for your album questions ...

But, after trying Lightroom, I don't use Aperture anymore. Aperture's a great program, but I think LR is better. LR has curves and a vignette setting, which are two of the main things I use - Aperture has neither. Aperture does some cool things, but overall, I think LR is better imaging software.

I use Aperture (evaluated LR) and make an album for almost every wedding.

Here's how I do it:

After the wedding I import all images (around 3000) from the CF Cards, automatically adding copyright, client name into the IPTC and re-naming the images.
I edit this entire take down to around 800 using star ratings, and keywords. yes, every image gets a rough keyword (getting ready, ceremony, formals, candids, details, etc... (this generally takes 3-4 hours)

One star is a keeper, 2 stars means it should go into the album design (IMHO) and the bad images just get deleted.

I then sort to include 1 star and greater, run a basic levels, and upload these as PROOFS.

Then, I re-sort to 2-star only and export these to a new album folder. At this point I am working with around 100 images.

These 100 get a quick Photoshop treatment - curves, BW conversion, minor retouching, etc. This step generally takes a day or so.

Take these great looking 100 and build an album using Kevin Swans tutorial on Indesign, and make a rough draft album in around 4 hours.

Here it is in a nutshell
Saturday Shoot wedding
Sunday Rest
Monday Make selects, and batch correct. begin upload
Tuesday Work on PS for album images
Wednesday Rest
Thursday Craft album
Friday - Show client pre-design (release proofs a week or so later)

It's fast, there is lots of time to do other things, and I only need to correct a fraction of the entire take. I do spend time educating the client about proofs, Once they see a killer album with nice images, they know I can take the proofs and do the same thing.

Best,
Eric

Thank you Eric!