Some of Lightroom's Best Hidden Features

Lightroom Classic is a surprisingly intricate program that, despite its widespread use among photographers, contains functionalities that often go unnoticed. For real estate photographers, and indeed for those in many other genres, mastering these lesser-known tools can significantly enhance the quality and efficiency of their workflow. This helpful video tutorial will show you several such tools.

Coming to you from Nathan Cool Photo, this enlightening video showcases several hidden features within Lightroom Classic that are particularly beneficial for real estate photography. Cool demonstrates how to use these tools to dramatically improve an exterior photo, transitioning from a poorly exposed image to one that is vibrant and well lit. The inverted mask feature, for example, is highlighted for its utility in situations where the sky is well captured but the foreground is not. This technique, along with selective brushing, allows photographers to achieve balanced exposure throughout their images without the need for extensive bracketing or external editing software.

Cool also discusses the importance of comparing before and after versions of edits using the backslash and Y keys, providing a quick reference to gauge the extent of changes and ensure that edits remain true to the scene's natural appearance. Additionally, he touches on the practicality of fine-tuning adjustments with the shift key for slider controls, a simple yet effective method to achieve precise edits. These techniques not only streamline the editing process but also enhance the final image quality. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Cool.

Alex Cooke's picture

Alex Cooke is a Cleveland-based portrait, events, and landscape photographer. He holds an M.S. in Applied Mathematics and a doctorate in Music Composition. He is also an avid equestrian.

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