confused about workflow

i can't figure out how need set workflow pictures. bought lightroom 3 after using lr4 beta. till imported camera iphoto , did editing in photoshop elements 8. have bridge didn't use much. working on macbook. leave of favorites in iphoto , put rest in folders on external drive.
should do? should totally quit iphoto , empty pics out in different folders on hard drive? should use lightroom pictures camera or bridge? pain export original iphoto. suggestions

 

it's big question - , it's big project.

different people have different answers, personal response.... believe it's typical.

use lr3 90% 95% of photo needs.

- import camera directly lr. may need import in batches, can keyword similar groups of images. saves time later. (btw - don't format memory card @ least 1 day - lr images automatically backed nightly, wait 1st backup cycle before formatting card).
- @ point sort images in lr. obvious duds flagged deletion (there quick way flag deletion in lr - under "flags" in help). refine keywords make easier find them later. use lr's default folder structure, , use keywords , collections group images together.
- quick rating (stars). go through images , mark images "not bad" or better single star. filter on 1 star (all "bads" invisible) , give 2nd star images "ok" or better. takes short time, , eliminates lot of images pool. i'm pack-rat, keep these images... don't @ them much, @ time.
- start paying bit more attention , pick number of images worthy of 3rd star. check sharpness , and not-obvious clipping @ point. takes longer, have short list work with.
- filter on 3 stars, repeat, rinse 4th , 5th stars.
- of editing in lr well. go photoshop when required, edited images come lr. it's automatic anyway.
- use virtual copies if image may need presented in fundamentally different ways.
- use export presets ensure consistency when images sent various final destinations.
- use collections, folders of collections, , smart collections sort images projects, client files, etc.
- happen used way aperture creates books - keep copy of aperture around book-making. export candidate images (already tweaked , edited) folder, , import folder aperture create book. don't use aperture else images in aperture. aperture iphoto on steroids - may want same thing iphoto. don't bother of sorting or keywording aperture, since want aperture layout book. next thing want learn lr how create books it. there several solutions... need spend time learn them.

put *all* images single folder structure lr use. makes breeze up. both nightly auto ups, , occasional copy external hdd gets taken off-site. lr's default structure - create folder each year, , folder under each year each day import photos. works me.

i've never used bridge.... people have told me doesn't bring table lr doesn't better.

hope helps.

adobe has great learning resources on website.

 

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