You’ve gotten a camera and hopefully you have also invested a little bit of time getting to know it. But now you have a hard drive of images, and they are all over the place. Well, you are in luck. Adobe has designed and created a tool just for photographers to use. And no, its not photoshop. Adobe Lightroom was designed from the ground up for photographers, with a much simpler interface and workflow. I have been using it for my digital darkroom since around 2008.
However, it can still be a little bit intimidating. Modules, sections, panels slider and buttons. And triangles. There are triangles everywhere.
The great news in all of this is that I will be teaching a class all about Lightroom! On Sunday, November 9 and Saturday, November 15 I will be teaching the class “From Mess to Masterpiece: Lightroom Basics with Mike Dooley” at the Wickford Art Association, in North Kinston, Rhode Island. The class will run from 3 – 6 PM on both days
Important Date Change!!!
Sorry gang, but we had to make a change to the date! Originally scheduled for Saturday, Oct 4 and Saturday, Oct 11 the classes have been moved to Sunday, November 9 and Saturday, November 15. The time stay the same, 3 – 6 PM each day.
Whats the class
Whether you’re new to Lightroom or need a refresher, this class will help you take control of your digital darkroom.
We’ll start by demystifying the Lightroom catalog — what it is, how it works, and why it’s the brain of your photo library. Then, we’ll dive into the Library Module to import your images, organize them with folders, flags, and ratings, and learn how to use collections, smart collections, and color labels like a pro.
Once we’ve got our images wrangled, we’ll move into the Develop Module where the real magic happens. You’ll learn how to master the Basic panel — from exposure to color correction — and take it up a notch using masks for selective edits that make your photos pop.
We’ll finish the day by learning how to export your images for web sharing, social media, or sending to friends and family — with your photos looking their absolute best.
This hands-on class is perfect for photographers of all levels who want to create a consistent, efficient, and creative workflow using Adobe Lightroom Classic.
Course Objectives:
The goal of this class is to get you comfortable with the Lightroom interface. This course will give you a strong understanding of how Lightroom works. It will take some of the magic and mystery out of using this powerful tool.
📸 What is the Lightroom Catalog & Why It Matters
- Explain what the catalog is, how it works, and why it’s essential to a non-destructive workflow.
- Identify the relationship between catalogs, folders, and image files.
📥 Import with Confidence
- Import photos into Lightroom Classic using custom presets and destination folders.
- Apply keywords and metadata on import to streamline organization from the start.
🗂 Organizing Your Library: Collections, Smart Collections & Workflow
- Navigate the Library Module efficiently.
- Use flags, stars, and color labels to cull and rate images.
- Create and manage Collections, Collection Sets, and Smart Collections for better image organization.
- Filter and search for images quickly using metadata, keywords, and attributes.
🎨 Creative Editing with Lightroom Classic: Masks, Basic Panel & Color Grading
- Use the Basic Panel to correct exposure, white balance, contrast, clarity, vibrance, and more.
- Understand and apply tone curves, presence adjustments, and color grading.
- Use masks (linear, radial, brush, subject, background) to apply selective adjustments.
🧼 Non-Destructive Techniques: History, Snapshots & Virtual Copies
- Understand the power of virtual copies and the ability to revert or adjust edits without losing originals.
- Use history and snapshots to track progress and experiment fearlessly.
📤 Export and Share Your Work
- Export images for web, social media, or email with appropriate sizing and resolution settings.
- Apply export presets to streamline future sharing workflows.
💡 The Big Picture
- Develop a repeatable process for importing, organizing, editing, and exporting images.
- Understand how to back up catalogs and safeguard your image library.
Landscape Gallery
Wander Through Quiet Horizons
Seascape Gallery
Dive Into the Seascape Pool
Still Life Gallery
Bite Into the Beauty
Icons Life Gallery
Icons & Oddities
Night Gallery
Wander Around in the Dark
Your Journey Awaits
I’ve wandered the shorelines, captured the light, and yes—I drink way too much coffee. Let me help you create your story.
