← Back to ShootCleaner

ShootCleaner + Lightroom:
Workflow Integration Guide

Use ShootCleaner alongside Lightroom—not instead of it. Faster culling, smarter enhancement, seamless integration.

How ShootCleaner Complements Lightroom

ShootCleaner doesn't replace Lightroom—it supercharges it. Use ShootCleaner for speed, Lightroom for precision.

What ShootCleaner Does Better

  • ✓ AI culling (10× faster than manual)
  • ✓ Batch skin retouching
  • ✓ One-click style matching
  • ✓ Automatic metadata embedding
  • ✓ Multi-format export in seconds
  • ✓ Desktop-fast processing

What Lightroom Does Better

  • ✓ Fine-tuned manual adjustments
  • ✓ Local adjustment brushes
  • ✓ Advanced masking
  • ✓ Lens correction profiles
  • ✓ RAW processing profiles
  • ✓ Catalog management

Best Practice: Use ShootCleaner for 90% of your workflow (cull + enhance + export). Reserve Lightroom for the 5–10% of images needing manual tweaking.

3 Integration Workflows

Workflow 1: ShootCleaner First (Recommended)

Use ShootCleaner for speed, Lightroom for final polish.

1
ShootCleaner:Import RAW files
2 min
2
ShootCleaner:AI cull 2,000 → 500
8 min
3
ShootCleaner:Apply style + enhance
10 min
4
ShootCleaner:Export as DNG or TIFF
5 min
5
Lightroom:Import enhanced files
3 min
6
Lightroom:Final manual tweaks (10–20 images)
15 min
7
Lightroom:Export final delivery
5 min

Total Time: ~50 minutes

vs 6+ hours fully manual in Lightroom

Workflow 2: Lightroom First (For Lightroom Power Users)

Use Lightroom for RAW processing, ShootCleaner for automation.

1
Lightroom:Import RAW files to catalog
5 min
2
Lightroom:Apply basic adjustments
30 min
3
Lightroom:Export as TIFF/JPEG
10 min
4
ShootCleaner:Import Lightroom exports
2 min
5
ShootCleaner:AI culling + skin enhancement
12 min
6
ShootCleaner:Metadata + multi-format export
5 min

Total Time: ~65 minutes

Workflow 3: ShootCleaner Only (Maximum Speed)

Skip Lightroom entirely for fast-turnaround work.

1
Import RAW to ShootCleaner
2 min
2
AI cull
8 min
3
Style + enhance
10 min
4
Metadata + export
5 min
5
Upload to client gallery
5 min

Total Time: ~30 minutes

Perfect for event, real estate, high-volume shoots

Technical Integration Details

File Format Compatibility

ShootCleaner → Lightroom:

  • ✓ Export as DNG (editable RAW)
  • ✓ Export as TIFF (lossless)
  • ✓ Export as JPEG (lossy but fast)

Lightroom → ShootCleaner:

  • ✓ Import Lightroom-exported TIFF
  • ✓ Import Lightroom-exported JPEG
  • ✓ Import Lightroom-exported DNG

Metadata Preservation

ShootCleaner preserves Lightroom metadata when importing:

  • ✓ EXIF data (camera settings, date, time)
  • ✓ Existing IPTC metadata
  • ✓ Color space information
  • ✓ Copyright notices

Folder Organization

Suggested folder structure:

📁 2025-Weddings/

📁 Smith-Wedding/

📁 01-RAW/ ← Original files

📁 02-ShootCleaner-Enhanced/ ← AI processed

📁 03-Lightroom-Final/ ← Manual tweaks

📁 04-Client-Delivery/ ← Final exports

Common Questions

Can ShootCleaner import Lightroom catalogs?

Not directly, but you can export images from Lightroom and import them into ShootCleaner for additional processing.

Will ShootCleaner overwrite my Lightroom edits?

No. ShootCleaner works on copies or exports. Your original Lightroom catalog remains untouched.

Can I apply Lightroom presets in ShootCleaner?

ShootCleaner uses its own style profiles, but you can recreate Lightroom looks by training ShootCleaner on preset-edited images.

Which workflow is fastest?

Workflow 3 (ShootCleaner only) is fastest at ~30 minutes. Use for high-volume or fast-turnaround work.

Do I need Lightroom if I have ShootCleaner?

Not necessarily. Many photographers use ShootCleaner exclusively. Lightroom is useful for advanced manual adjustments.

Supercharge Your Lightroom Workflow

Try ShootCleaner + Lightroom integration today.