Graduation Photography Workflow
Beta Status
Phosor is currently in an Internal Beta stage. Features may change before the public release. Performance may occasionally be inconsistent depending on hardware, image formats, and library size. Unexpected bugs may still occur. Feedback from beta testers is highly appreciated.
Graduation photography involves capturing moments across a fast-paced ceremony — processional, diploma handoffs, portraits, and candid celebrations. This workflow shows how to use Phosor to cull a graduation shoot efficiently.
Overview
Graduation ceremonies produce many similar-looking photos in rapid succession. Phosor's burst sorting and keyboard-driven workflow are ideal for quickly separating the best shots from duplicates.
Before you start
Review the Recommended Workflow for the complete step-by-step process.
Suggested Category Setup
| Category | Key | Color | Output Folder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keep | K | Green | /Graduation/Keep |
| Reject | X | Red | /Graduation/Reject |
| Review | R | Yellow | /Graduation/Review |
| Portrait | P | Blue | /Graduation/Portrait |
Categories reset on restart
Category configuration is not persisted between sessions. You'll need to set this up each time you launch Phosor. See Categories.
Step-by-Step
1. Open the Graduation Folder
Open the root folder containing all graduation photos. Phosor recursively scans nested directories.
2. Configure Categories
Set up the categories above with keybindings, colors, and output folders.
3. Cull the Processional
- Use Continue Mode (⌘B / Ctrl+B) for rapid sorting through the processional line.
- Adjust the burst interval to match the pace of the ceremony.
4. Cull Diploma Handoffs
- Use Single Mode for deliberate evaluation of key moments (diploma handoff, handshake).
- Use zoom and pan to check facial expressions and focus.
Check focus on faces
Zoom in to 400% using the mouse wheel to verify focus on the graduate's face during the diploma handoff.
5. Cull Portraits
- Toggle the composition grid (⌘G / Ctrl+G) to evaluate framing.
- Use metadata (⌘M / Ctrl+M) to check exposure settings.
6. Cull Candid Celebrations
- Use Shift Burst for rapid sorting through sequences of similar celebration shots.
- Use undo (⌘Z / Ctrl+Z) to correct any mistakes.
7. Execute the Move
Once all photos are sorted, click Execute → to move them to their respective output folders.
Verify before executing
The move is irreversible. Review your category counts before executing.
Tips for Graduation Photographers
- Burst sequences are common: Use Shift Burst to quickly sort through similar shots of the same moment.
- Check focus at 400%: Diploma handoffs are fast — verify focus on the graduate's face.
- Sort in passes: First pass for rejects, second pass for keepers, third pass for portrait selections.