You’re Using Lightroom Wrong: The Truth About Newborn Photo Editing

I’m about to say something controversial in the photography world.

You’re using Lightroom wrong.

Some photographers might be reaching for that “close tab” button right now, thinking I’m way off base. If you’re still with me, I appreciate you giving me a chance to explain. And if you’re already using Lightroom the way I’m about to describe – well, you know that sometimes the tried-and-true methods are still the best ones.

I’ve noticed an interesting trend lately. More photographers are relying solely on Lightroom for their newborn editing workflow. I understand the appeal – it’s marketed as an all-in-one system, Photoshop seems intimidating, and who doesn’t want to simplify their process? One click preset promises are all the rage.

But as someone who’s been editing newborns since 2017 and using Photoshop since 1999 (literally a century ago, lol), I need to share some hard-earned wisdom about Lightroom vs Photoshop for newborn photography.

The Limitations of Lightroom for Newborn Photography

Let me paint you a picture. It’s midnight. You’ve just finished your third newborn session of the week. Your eyes are burning from staring at your screen for hours. You’re trying to remove a stray power cord from the background of an otherwise perfect image in Lightroom, and it’s just… not… working.

Sound familiar?

Here’s the truth about Lightroom that nobody seems to be talking about:

1. Lightroom doesn’t do nearly as good a job as Photoshop for the fine-tuning newborn photos require
2. It simply doesn’t have the capabilities necessary for professional-level newborn work
3. For many edits, Photoshop is actually FASTER (I know, shocking!)

As a newborn photographer, I honestly can’t imagine trying to edit exclusively in Lightroom. Those perfect, dreamy images you’re admiring? It takes more than basic adjustments to achieve that level of polish.

How Professional Newborn Photographers Actually Use Lightroom

Don’t get me wrong – Lightroom is an incredible tool when used correctly. Let me share how I actually incorporate it into my professional workflow:

Lightroom’s Strengths in Newborn Photography

• For creating softproofs to show clients – This is where Lightroom truly shines!
• To import my already-edited PSD files for final color tweaking and cropping
• To create virtual copies for different print sizes (absolute game-changer!)
• To upload directly to client galleries – The Pixieset integration is seamless
• To experiment with different color treatments with the flexibility to change my mind later

These are all things Lightroom excels at! But it’s definitely NOT where I go when I need to:

When to Switch to Photoshop for Newborn Photos

• Cull my galleries – Photomechanic is much faster
• Remove distractions like power cords from the background
• Add creative elements like a sunset sky or texture overlay
• Smooth out wrinkly backdrops for that polished studio look
• Fix baby acne or jaundice-tinted skin with precision
• Create beautiful composites (which might be part of your workflow depending on your style)

As newborn photographers working with posed setups, we often run into these challenges. Need to composite images to safely execute the froggy pose? You’re simply not doing that in Lightroom.

Finding the Perfect Balance: My Actual Workflow

The most successful newborn photographers I know (including myself) use both tools in harmony – it’s not a Lightroom vs. Photoshop situation. Intstead it’s Photoshop for the heavy lifting and detailed work, Lightroom for organization, final touches, and client delivery.

Let me walk you through my typical workflow with a recent session:

1. Import and cull in PhotoMechanic to select the best images
2. Use Lightroom to create softproofs for client viewing, selection and purchase (no more editing images that haven’t been purchased yet!)
3. Open Purchased Images in Photoshop for detailed skin work, background cleanup, and any necessary compositing
4. Save edited files as PSDs with layers intact (always preserve your work!)
5. Return to Lightroom for final color grading, cropping, and creating deliverable versions
6. Export and deliver the final masterpieces

This hybrid approach gives me the best of both worlds – Photoshop’s powerful editing capabilities and Lightroom’s organizational strengths.

Why Some Newborn Photographers Resist Using Both Photoshop and Lightroom

I often hear photographers say they’re sticking with Lightroom because:

• “Photoshop is too complicated”
• “I don’t have time to learn another program”
• “My clients are happy with my current results”

These are valid concerns, but here’s my question: How much time are you wasting trying to make Lightroom do things it wasn’t optimized for?

Yes, Lightroom is designed for editing work, but not nearly as robustly as Photoshop – making it time-consuming and inefficient for detailed newborn work.

Taking Your Newborn Photography to the Next Level with Photoshop

If you’ve been struggling to achieve those polished, professional newborn images while stubbornly sticking to just Lightroom, this misuse of tools might be why.

The journey to mastering both programs might seem daunting, but I promise the results – and time savings – are worth it. Your newborn photography deserves the right tools for the job. Want to learn more about editing? Check out this recent post all about newborn skin retouching.

I’m curious – what’s your current workflow? Are you a Lightroom loyalist, or do you already move between both programs? Drop a comment below and let me know where you’re at in your editing journey.

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Ready to transform your newborn editing process? Check out the Newborn Editing Academy and get my entire workflow and methods all in one place. Yes, Lightroom is designed for editing, but not nearly as robustly as Photoshop – learn how to use both tools optimally and save HOURS every week!

About the author: Paige McLeod is an award winning photo editor and owner of Glean & Co photography studio in Boise, Idaho. She’s been working with newborns since 2017 and has 3 boys who constantly keep her on her toes.