Isn’t it time to really learn Lightroom so you can enjoy and get the most out of your photos? With my video training you can and will.
Lightroom 4: The Fundamentals & Beyond
A Workshop on Video with Laura Shoe
Master the fundamentals of Lightroom and way beyond!
In this series for both beginners and experienced users, learn how to import, organize and manage, edit and share your photos.
This Lightroom 4 series is no longer available for purchase. Please consider the Lightroom 5, 6 and Classic version (click here) – it covers features not available in Lightroom 4, but otherwise is mostly applicable to Lightroom 4. (This is the OLD Lightroom 4, not the cloud-based Lightroom that is in version 4 in 2020/2021)
Start you best-in-class Lightroom training with this series.
10 1/2 hours of training on 55 videos
For PC, Mac, and mobile devices
“Laura’s video training has to be the best and easiest way to master Lightroom. It’s superb…perfect for both beginners and intermediate level Lightroom users and will impress advanced users as well.”
Photosource International
Laura Shoe has taught for Adobe, creativeLIVE, Rocky Mountain School of Photography and other organizations and has been making video tutorials for 10 years. From her years of teaching experience she anticipates where students get stuck, and with a clear and concise presentation style, guides you through the complexities with ease.
This series covers the most important parts of Lightroom that everyone should learn well – the Library and Develop modules – as well as Map. Here’s a summary of what you’ll learn:
Get and Stay Organized
Understand how Lightroom works with a catalog and how to avoid painful mistakes users often make
Make decisions on where to store your photos and how to organize them, set up Lightroom to meet your needs
Protect your photo library: understand what needs to be backed up and how
Import from memory cards, hard drives and Elements
Move and reorganize your library; resolve and avoid missing file issues
Add keywords, stars, labels, names, other “metadata” to find any photo almost instantly
Use the Map module to save time and easily find photos based on location without having to add location keywords
Edit Your Photos to Bring Out Their Best
Watch me develop a photo start-to-finish, then delve into the tools to transform your images
Learn and focus on the basics, or master and leverage every tool in the Develop module
Take care of problem areas in your photos and bring attention to your main subject
Eliminate distractions by removing spots and objects
Retouch portraits to smooth skin, remove blemishes, reduce appearance of wrinkles and under-eye shadows
Fix architectural lines and lens issues
Convert all or part of your photo to black and white, add color toning, grain, and other creative effects
Get more done faster with presets and by working on many photos at once
Move from Lightroom to Photoshop (or Elements) and back
Share Your Photos
Export copies of your photos to send out for printing or to share electronically
Email photos from within Lightroom
Upload to Facebook, Flickr and other services
Watermark your photos with a logo or your copyright
And MUCH MORE!
Beginners: I give you guidance on which videos are most important to watch, so that you don’t feel overwhelmed. Experienced users: in addition to many videos intended particularly for you (The Pros and Cons of DNG, The Tone Curve, Noise Reduction and Sharpening, mastering the Map module, etc., etc.), you’ll find that almost all videos have content intended for you as well – use them to fill gaps in your knowledge.
Video Table of Contents
Beginners: if you feel overwhelmed by 55 videos, focus on the green-starred ones. (There is also lots of content in these videos for experienced users.)
Introduction
- Series Introduction
- What’s New in Lightroom 4
- Introduction to Lightroom
Organizing and Managing Your Photo Library
- Organizing Your Photos and Backing Up Your Photo Library
- Moving Your Photo Library
- Importing Photos Already on Your Computer
- Importing Photos from New Memory Cards
- Importing from Elements
- Orientation to the Library Module
- The Identity Plate
- Setting Library Grid and Loupe View Options
- Lightroom Preferences
- Catalog Settings
- File and Folder Management – Reorganizing files and folders
- Pros and Cons of Converting Your Raw Files to DNG
- How to Convert and Manage Your DNG Files
- Evaluating Photos (Loupe, Survey, Compare views, flags, stars, color labels)
- Keywording Basics
- Organizing and Managing Keywords – The Keyword List Panel
- Adding and Viewing Photo Information Using The Metadata Panel
- Renaming Photos
- Searching for Your Photos
- Collections and Smart Collections
Using the Map Module to Help Organize Your Photos
- Map Module Part 1: Adding and Managing Photos
- Map Module Part 2: Leveraging the Power of the Map Module
- Map Module Part 3: Saved Locations and Filtering
- Map Module Part 4: Automated Ways to Assign GPS Location
Developing Your Photos
- Orientation to the Develop Module
- The Histogram
- Overview of Developing a Photo – My Workflow
- Develop Process Version
- Cropping and Straightening Photos
- The Spot Removal Tool
- The Red Eye Tool
- Camera Profiles
- The Basic Panel
- Viewing Before and After
- The Tone Curve Panel
- The HSL Panel
- Adjustment Brush Basics
- The Adjustment Brush: More Examples
- The Graduated Filter
- Converting to Black & White, Split Toning
- Adding Vignettes and Grain with The Effects Panel
- The Lens Corrections Panel
- The Detail Panel: Noise Reduction and Sharpening
- Soft Proofing
- Working Groups of Photos with Sync and Auto Sync
- Virtual Copies and Snapshots
- Creating and Using Presets
Sharing Your Photos
- Exporting Copies of Your Photos
- Emailing from Lightroom
- Watermarking Your Photos
- Publish Services
Working with Photoshop, Elements and Other Image Editors
- Setting Preferences for Working with Photoshop, Elements and Other Image Editors
- Editing in Photoshop or Elements
Miscellaneous
- Managing and Developing Your Videos
What You Get
55 Videos
Top quality instruction
1024x768px
Playable on PC, Mac, Mobile Devices
Shortcuts
Speed up your workflow with this PDF of Laura’s favorite Lightroom shortcuts.
100% Satisfaction Guarantee
Try the series RISK FREE – if you don’t love it, contact us within 60 days for a full refund.
What My Customers Say
What a great discovery Laura has been, with no nonsense tutorials and very clear to understand step-by-step instructions. I really thought I knew Lightroom but was really just skimming the surface. Other instructors I have tried usually just say “do this”, Laura firmly sits in the “why you should” bracket. Please support this top class instructor and you will not be sorry. In fact like myself you will be very delighted that you did. – Graeme Broadhurst (United Kingdom, camera club member)
Laura’s training is always clear and to the point. She seems to anticipate my questions before they even form in my mind. I highly recommend Laura’s training to beginners as well as advanced users. She knows her stuff!
– LM Greene (Computer Consultant/Photo Enthusiast, Connecticut)
I tried using Lightroom for a number of years and always gave up right away - there are so many subtle issues with the interface, and it's not always clear what's going on. I purchased your Lightroom Fundamentals and Beyond video series and I am so glad that I did. Your clear, detailed explanations are so helpful and have given me the understanding I was missing by trying to figure it out on my own. Thank you so much!
– Jim Detwiler
Laura Shoe’s Lightroom course has allowed me to finally understand what Lightroom is and what I can do with it. I have paid hundreds of dollars for Lightroom lessons in person and on the internet, but I screwed up constantly. But by following all the easy steps in Laura Shoe’s course I see myself now as a Lightroom pro! She is clear, calm, easy to understand, exact, precise and friendly. What more do you want?! Hurry, she is the best Lightroom coach you’ll ever need!
– Marijke Rawie (Documentary Consultant, Amsterdam Netherlands)
As a serious non-professional travel photographer I had been using Photoshop for 15 years when Lightroom came along. After attending classes in Lightroom where I came away confused, I bought Laura’s video course on LR. Her clear instruction taught me LR and today I use it for all my photography, only occasionally going to Photoshop. I can’t thank Laura enough and would recommend her videos highly.
– Sandra Kunz (Bend, OR)
I just wanted you to know how much I have enjoyed your Lightroom video series. The tutorials are clear and concise, but cover all relevant aspects of the Lightroom features. In fact, I make it a habit to sit down once every couple of weeks and give myself a short “refresher” on some aspect (usually of the Develop module). There is so much functionality that I find I’m always rediscovering something about the program when I revisit a video. Thanks so much.
– Michal Bagley (travel and pet photographer, Austin, Texas)
I purchased your Lightroom tutorial series and have found it to be superb! I gained a great deal of expertise and felt more at ease in editing my images after participating in this series. Thank you for aiding me in becoming a better photographer.
– Dick Weaver (Pensacola, FL; convert from B/W film and darkroom printing; photo club president)
Laura is the consummate professional, at the top of the game in terms of delivering the best available Lightroom training, tutorials and tips for both the advanced and beginner. Her training course are extremely well crafted. Pace and pitch of delivery is a pleasure to experience. – Matt O’Brien
Learning how to get the most from Lightroom is so much easier with Laura’s video workshops. Each topic is covered by a short stand alone video which can be watched on its own or as part of the series. I have both The Fundamentals & Beyond and Producing Great Output (for Lightroom 5) on my iPad. Ahead of working on some photos I watch one or more video chapters to refresh my memory. It’s great when you are on a train, etc. My knowledge and use of Lightroom is so much better now thanks to Laura’s clearly explained tutorials.
– Sandy (Cambridge, UK)
Your straightforward and clear videos finally opened my eyes to the value of Lightroom after I had made several previous failed attempts. Largely thanks to your instruction, I now use it for almost 90% of my photo work, and I have recommended your videos to many other people.
– Caspar Davis (Victoria, B.C.)
Without Laura Shoe, I would have given up on photography completely. I came to it late – in my 60s – and after frustrating experiences with Photoshop, I switched to Lightroom. I found that the teaching resources available didn’t work very well for me. I wish I could remember how I discovered Laura’s work, but I am enormously glad that I did. Her videos have helped me so much – the content and presentation are beyond reproach. Thanks to her inspiration, photography is now an important part of my life. I can create and print images that give me great satisfaction and just occasionally pride. Laura – thank you so much! John Woodman (Castletown, Isle of Man)
I am 67 years old, an ‘enthusiast’ photographer, and was slowly discovering Lightroom through trial and error until I discovered your website. THANK YOU so much!! You have saved me hours of frustration. After working through both Fundamentals & Beyond and Producing Great Output workshops on video I now feel like I know what I am doing (and why). And I love Lightroom! – Barb Twite (Australia)
The Laura Shoe video series for Lightroom has been indispensable in my development as a photographer. While I had strong photography skills in terms of capturing photos, the post-processing learning curve was steep for me. I purchased both series of Laura’s educational videos and have enjoyed her ability to explain Lightroom in a way that makes sense and is easy to follow. I am presently working on a book about the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve and the knowledge gained from Laura Shoe’s video series has contributed greatly to the success of this project. I would highly recommend this series to anyone wanting to learn more about Lightroom.
– Joe Ordonez (Rainbow Glacier Adventures; professional nature photographer, author, tour leader)
I have Laura’s tutorials on Lightroom 4 and 5. They have enabled me to utilize the wonders of Lightroom. Tutorials are clear, easy to understand and tell you what you need to know. They are the best I have seen. Well worth the cost. Keep up the good work, Laura.
– Rick Currie (landscape, nature and travel photographer)
I had been using Photoshop Elements. At first I was overwhelmed with learning how to use Lightroom because I couldn’t intuitively grasp all of its capabilities. I watched Adobe and YouTube videos but I still did not have a comprehensive understanding of this software. Then then I found Laura Shoe’s instructional videos. They gave me a solid grounding in the capability and function of Lightroom. Since then I have watched many other good tutorials by other people. But it is Laura’s set of instructional videos which I found to be the clearest and most concise – especially at that point in my learning curve. It was money very well spent to allow this teacher to guide me through the intricacies of Lightroom while I gained confidence.Thank you for a wonderful product.
– Grace Finaldi
I’m one of the many who moved from Aperture to Lightroom. Most of my struggles these past months have been in the Library module. I just couldn’t grasp how to organize my photo library. All the books and online tutorials kind of just glanced over this important step. My eyes were opened and the light began to shine as I watched your videos and followed your instructions on how to organize my photos. I can’t say enough about how easy, thorough and precise you are in explaining the concepts in your videos. I’ve learned so much from you in fact that recently I was asked by a long-time LR user to show her how to organize her library! Thanks for all your help. I couldn’t have done this without you!!! Susan Pederson
Laura Shoe’s Lightroom tutorials are simple, clear, and comprehensive. I have made a career of teaching computer applications and Laura Shoe’s tutorials are taught by a person who knows how to teach.
– Stephen Cysewski (Professor of Computer Applications, Emeritus, University of Alaska Fairbanks)
I am a retired healthcare educator who teaches digital photography. Laura is a superb instructor. I especially enjoy viewing the videos I purchased so I can refer to them while I’m working projects such as the Book module. I have An Apple desktop and a PC side by side, so I can easily refer to Laura’s material on the PC while I’m working on the Apple. I feel grateful that I know about Laura and her excellent videos. I urge you to order her products. You won’t be disappointed! With gratitude for a great instructor like Laura, – Barbara Bourgette (North Providence, Rhode Island)
I have had Lightroom for a couple of years and really had no understanding of the complexity of all the modules and was muddling away in a disorganised manner getting nowhere fast. Sure I had a couple of books on the topic but they didn’t quite get the message across to me in a way that I could understand. Then I found Laura and her tutorials. I got the Fundamentals and Beyond and have learned more than I thought was possible. Laura is a pro — she explains without ego in clear concise and easy to follow manner. She gets on with the job, edits out unnecessary fluff and gets to the point, highlighting various relevant scenarios. I recommend and endorse Laura’s packages, totally. – Mike McPhee (Perth, Western Australia)
I can not tell you how many times I go back to your [Fundamentals & Beyond] tutorials to help me fix an issue in Lightroom or to figure how a tool is used. Thank You So Much! They have saved me countless hours trying to do it on my own.
– Carla Mongelluzzi
I found Laura’s videos on Lightroom 5 to be the best way to learn how to use it. The series contains a wealth of information on all the tools in the program. Being a video-based learning series, I was able to pause when I wanted to try what Laura was teaching. Laura is a fantastic teacher who clearly explains the process of the actions being used. I highly recommend Laura’s videos to any one wanting to learn Lightroom the best and easiest way possible.
– Joe (seascape photographer, Australia)
Laura Shoe’s workshop has provided an immeasurable insight into Lightroom and its catalog. Her clear communication and concise instructions corrected my misconceptions and enabled me to continue cataloging over 20,000 of my collected images. Thank you, Laura.
– Glenda Scott (graphic production; Richland, WA)
L – Learning made easy and enjoyable
A – Anyone who can’t learn from Laura should pursue a different art form
U – You have nothing to lose and mastery of Lightroom to gain
R – Are you still reading this? Order a class already…
A – And another thing; She’s so entertaining, you don’t even need to be interested in Lightroom
S – So what’s it gonna take to get you into one of her lessons?
H – How about a money back guarantee?
O – Or the ability to ask her questions via Facebook?
E – Everyone can pick up something useful from her blog
– Gary Bakeman (Anchorage, Alaska; abstract and landscape photographer)
Purchase Options
This Lightroom 4 series is no longer available for purchase. Please consider the Lightroom 5, 6 and Classic CC version (click here) – it covers features not available in Lightroom 4, but otherwise is mostly applicable to Lightroom 4.
Lightroom Fundamentals & Beyond - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lightroom the right photo-editing program for me?
Lightroom is an excellent program for both serious amateurs and professional photographers. If you are an amateur and you are managing a large collection of photographs, or you want to take the time to make the most of your photos and you don’t mind the time investment to learn Lightroom, then to me you qualify as a serious amateur. Read more in my article, Should I Learn Lightroom or Photoshop or Both or Neither?
Which training video series is right for me, The Fundamentals & Beyond, or Producing Great Output?
Generally speaking: begin with The Fundamentals & Beyond, and then proceed to Producing Great Output.
In The Fundamentals & Beyond I teach what I consider to be the core of Lightroom – the Library and Develop modules (plus the Map module.) You’ll learn how to import, organize and manage, and edit your photos, and how to share them by exporting copies, emailing from Lightroom, and using Publish Services to upload to social media and photo sharing sites. If you are a beginner, you should start with The Fundamentals & Beyond. If you are an experienced user who wants to fill in gaps in your knowledge or learn to work more efficiently, you can also benefit greatly from The Fundamentals & Beyond.
Producing Great Output is a companion series that assumes some foundation in the fundamentals of importing, organizing and editing. It specifically covers how to use Lightroom’s output modules (Book, Slideshow, Web, Print) to create photo books, slideshows and web galleries, and to design single and multi-photo print layouts and print to your own printer or export to send out to print. I also spend 2 ½ hours on important output concepts that are critical to getting great output, and that I believe all photographers need a solid foundation in. This section is very valuable even if you don’t use Lightroom’s Print, Book, Slideshow or Web modules. You’ll learn why sometimes you don’t get in print or other output what you see in Lightroom, and what you can do about it (the big and sometimes unnecessarily intimidating topic of color management), and how to set output settings like JPEG quality and sharpening.
Do you provide free updates when Adobe releases a new version of Lightroom?
There were free updates to this series offered for new features added during the Lightroom 4 product cycle, but that cycle is over so there will be no more free updates.
I like to learn on my own and there is a lot of free content on the web – why would I need your video series?
No question there is a lot of content out there – and some of it is quite good! However, some of it is not of the highest quality, and moreover, it is difficult to construct comprehensive education for yourself from piecemeal free content. I am often surprised at how many cool things or critical skills in Lightroom even users with many years of experience don’t know about. I provide comprehensive, consistently high quality education that builds your skills as you go along.
I have seen many short videos on the web as well as in-person “crash courses” that show off cool Lightroom tools or techniques that leave folks excited to try them, but don’t go into sufficient detail to actually enable you to use the tools successfully, or to understand how to get unstuck when you invariably get stuck. I have taught Lightroom in-person for many years, so I understand where users get stuck and what things are difficult to grasp, and I guide you through these.
Do I need an internet connection to watch the videos?
No – after you receive the videos , you will not need to be on the internet to watch them.
Can I put the videos on multiple computers and mobile devices?
Your purchase entitles you to copy the videos onto all of your own computers and/or mobile devices, exclusively for your own personal use. For detailed terms and conditions, contact us.
How can I put the videos on my iPad or other mobile device?
Once you have the videos on your computer, you can use iTunes to “sync” them over to your iPad or iPhone. For Android devices check with your device manufacturer for instructions on how to transfer and view MP4 video files and PDFs.
How will I play the videos – is software included?
You will double-click on each video to play it with your computer’s default media player. Free media players include QuickTime, Windows Media Player, and iTunes.
Can I play the videos on my TV?
Most television DVD players will not play MP4 videos directly. Alternatives include using Apple TV, or connecting your iPad or laptop to your TV.
Can I resell this product or give it away?
Due to the nature of this product, the included license agreement explicitly prohibits resale or redistribution. The only exception is that you may give a newly purchased unopened DVD or a newly purchased download as a gift, without retaining any files for yourself. Please support Laura’s small business by complying with these terms. For detailed terms and conditions, contact us.
What if I’m not satisfied with your product?
If you’re not fully satisfied with my video tutorials, contact us within 60 days of purchase for a full refund.
Thank you Laura. I will do the above.
Karen
Hi Adrian, yes I do – international shipping is free at this point. Thank you for your interest!
Hi Laura I have Lightroom 4 which I am embarrassed to say I’ve never used! Before I purchase your fundamental training would you recommend I upgrade to a newer version? I am wondering if it is a bit like Photoshop Elements – I have 10, 15 has just been released but I can still do all the basics with what I have.
Thank you for your interest in my videos, Ruth! It just depends on whether you value the features added since Lightroom 4 – but the basics are still the same. Otherwise, if you purchase a camera that came out after support for Lightroom 4 ended, you’ll find that you won’t be able to import them directly into Lightroom 4 – you’ll need to convert them to Adobe’s DNG format using their free DNG Converter, and then import the DNG files into Lightroom 4.