Sitting with a Lightroom catalog that contains over 360,000 photos taken across a decade offers more than nostalgia—it presents a chance to analyze your photography habits. Understanding patterns in your shooting style can significantly enhance your photographic decisions.
Coming to you from Sean Dalton, this insightful video explores how analyzing the metadata from your Lightroom catalog can reveal fascinating trends in your photography. Dalton dives into his shooting volume year-over-year, discovering peaks of intense creativity around 2017 and 2018, fueled by an almost obsessive dedication to capturing images. He discusses openly how his productivity dipped in subsequent years but notes an increase in thoughtful image creation, producing fewer but better-quality photographs. He emphasizes why periods of intense focus are critical for skill development and growth in any creative pursuit.
Dalton then shifts to discuss gear, charting his camera progression over the years. Initially favoring the Sony a7R II, he transitions through various camera models, including the Canon 5D Mark III for its distinctive color quality, and highlights drones like the DJI Mavic 2 Pro, which broadened his photographic perspective. The discussion further includes his frequent use of the popular Fujifilm X100V for everyday photography and his recent experimentation with higher-end systems like the Hasselblad X2D. His breakdown provides an accessible look at how your camera choices can influence your photographic style and output.
Another illuminating part of Dalton’s analysis is his detailed lens usage over time. He identifies his preference for the Sony 85mm f/1.4 G Master during his earlier photographic phase, reflecting on how its unique characteristics helped define his photographic voice. Dalton then illustrates his shift towards the 35mm focal length as his most consistent choice, explaining how it offers versatility and encourages careful composition. The video also covers aperture choices, with Dalton pointing out his progression from relying heavily on shallow depth-of-field effects to a more balanced and deliberate approach in recent years. This adjustment highlights the benefits of consciously diversifying your shooting techniques to match the artistic intent rather than habitual convenience.
Beyond the technical aspects, Dalton examines ISO usage patterns, revealing an increased willingness to shoot at higher ISO settings. He attributes this shift to modern cameras’ superior performance in low-light conditions and a personal preference towards storytelling over technical perfection. Dalton’s casual yet insightful breakdown encourages you to reconsider your own tolerance for image noise, emphasizing narrative over pixel perfection.
Finally, Dalton outlines the exact method he used to export and analyze his Lightroom catalog data, providing a clear, accessible pathway for you to undertake a similar analysis. Using a combination of tools, including Lightroom plugins and ChatGPT-generated Python scripts, Dalton simplifies what might initially seem a daunting technical task. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Dalton.
