Most Lightroom users are always looking for timesaving techniques that will streamline their workflow without any sacrifice in image quality, which is why understanding how to batch-edit multiple images is a great way the streamline the process.

You’ll learn how to do exactly that in this three-minute episode from the Adobe Live channel whose stated mission is “to empower individuals like you to unleash your creative potential.” And we all want to do that, right?

This lesson is another installment of an eight-part series with educator, digital artist and post-processing expert Aaron Nace. In today’s episode he guides you the process of applying the same enhancements to multiple image with a similar look. And the technique works equally well with both basic adjustments and complex masking techniques.

Nace explains the concept like this: “All you have to do is edit an image as you normally would, and at the end just copy and paste the settings to the other images in your filmstrip.” He pulls up five images caprured at the same time and begins with Lightroom’s Crop tool to refine the shot by straightening the horizon and adjusting highlights and shadows.

Then Nace employs Lightroom’s masking tools to accentuate his main subject—a man running along the beach with a nice sky, the sea in the midrange, and the sun peaking above the horizon. The next step is to employ a Radial Gradient for a subtle vignette effect that makes the edges of the frame a darker blue.

The image is now significantly improved and it’s time to copy the aforementioned adjustments and quickly past them to his other four images so that they all have a consistent look without having to edit each of them separately. This is essentially what batch-processing is all about.

Nace demonstrates this final step so quickly and effectively that we won’t bother summarizing the process here, so just take a look and follow his simple instructions. Then you’ll want to update your everyday workflow accordingly so that you can get back out in the field with a camera as soon as possible.

There’s much more to learn about productive post-processing techniques on the Adobe Live YouTube channel, so be sure to pay a visit and explore what’s available.

And don’t miss the tutorial we featured recently with an Australia-based adventure/travel shooter who demonstrates five Lightroom Mobile techniques for editing travel and landscape photographs on the go.

One foolproof method for capturing amazing outdoor photographs is to include contrasting elements in a composition to boost visual impact. According to instructor John Pedersen, this technique is “a sure-fire way to grab interest and create stunning photographs.”

Pedersen is a full-time photographer, author, and workshop leader based in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. The contrast techniques he demonstrates today go way beyond the common notions of light versus dark.

It turns out there are other forms of contrast that many photographers ignore to their detriment. These include contrasting colors, texture, patterns, and other such elements that can really draw the viewer into a scene. The best part is that leveraging this technique doesn’t require any special gear or advanced skills. In fact all you have to do is open your eyes and broaden your mindset.

Pedersen begins with a quick explanation of why contrast works so well. As he says, “it goes into our subconscious because we’re all conditioned to look for irregularities in our environment.” His theory is bolstered by an interesting fact that harkens back to when we were cave people.

He notes further that “contrast is one of the biggest irregularities that we as photographers and artists can use.” Pedersen pulls up several dynamic images to illustrate various ways to employ this game-changing style of composition. His first example demonstrates the power of color contrast.

Pedersen says that “anytime I can find colors that contrast against one another I immediately create a composition around them.” All you have to do is carefully scrutinize a scene, find the appropriate elements, and proceed accordingly. Pedersen’s first example is a stunning image of a brilliant green anemone against a really dark background.

The next form of contrast Pedersen looks for when shooting in the field involves the juxtaposition of varying textures. Here he demonstrates how to compose a shot with the intersection of these contrasting attributes in mind. One example is his photograph shot on a rocky beach in which he split the scene in half with smooth driftwood in the upper portion and clearly defined pebbles below.

As the lesson proceeds you’ll learn how to employ other types of contrasting elements in a way that really grabs attention. It’s all about using these simple techniques to boost the visual impact of your imagery. Once you’re done watching pay a visit to Pedersen’s instructional YouTube channel where there’s much more to learn.

We also recommend watching a tutorial we featured with another accomplished outdoor photographer who demonstrates how he captures spectacular landscape photographs with lenses of different focal lengths. Here’s a clue: Don’t always go wide.

If you’ve never explored your camera’s Spot Metering mode there’s a good chance that your exposures are off when photographing outdoor scenes with complicated light. We’re going to demystify this important tool in the tutorial below.

Instructor Ejaz Khan makes this bold claim: “Spot Metering is the ultimate tool for photographers aiming to master the creative use of light.” In this 13-minute episode you’ll learn when, why, and how to harness this technique for unmatched exposure control with precision.

Khan is an experienced wildlife and nature photographer who transitioned from years of working with renowned fashion magazines like Vogue. He now travels the world making instructional videos that turn seemingly complex techniques into actionable steps that anyone can master with ease.

This episode demonstrates why understanding the benefits of Spot Metering will significantly elevate your shooting skills, whether your passion is wildlife imagery, landscape photography, or even environmental portraiture. Khan promises that by following his advice you’ll quickly “turn your photos into art.”

The basic concept is this: The proper use of Spot Metering enables you to eliminate all the guesswork and emphasize specific areas of light and shadow within the frame to achieve superior results. All you have to do is enable your camera’s Spot Metering mode and follow Khan’s straightforward instructions.

This technique is especially essential when the brightness of a subject is considerably different, either lighter or darker, than other areas within the scene—like when photographing birds against a super bright sky. Conversely, Spot Metering is also a big help when the key object of a landscape scene is in shade and other elements are in direct sun.

You’ll see why the size of the spot measured by the camera is a key consideration for optimum results. This spec varies from one model to another so may want to pull out your manual and determine what to expect. Positioning the spot properly is also part of the equation, as is understanding of how focus and metering settings interact.

There are a few more things to lean and Khan explains them all. We’re pretty sure that you’ll no longer ignore Spot Metering by the time this lesson concludes. Then head over to Khan’s popular YouTube channel where you’ll find many more instructional videos for upping your game.

And on a related note, don’t miss the earlier tutorial we featured with another accomplished pro who demonstrates a quick-and-easy Photoshop technique for fixing underexposed bird photographs in barely six minutes.