Adding a star rating to an image is a quick way to quickly sort through your images. Each image can be given 1–5 stars, but what’s your system? How do you rate your images?
Adding star ratings
Adding a star rating to an image is really easy. With the image selected in Bridge, press the Cmd (Mac) or Ctrl (PC) key and tap the number for the number of stars that you want to assign. In Lightroom Classic, hold down the Ctrl key on both Mac and PC and tap the number you want to assign.
Alternatively, click the dot relevant to the number of stars you’d like to assign.
What ratings should you give?
Here’s the question. If you’re rating your images depending on how good you think they are, with 1 being your least favorite and 5 being a keeper, what are 2, 3 and 4 for? Are they slightly less bad than a 5 or not as bad as a 1? And just what are you planning to do with a 2?
Here’s one method for star ratings:
- No good. Forget it.
- This is a texture image. Pop it in your Textures folder.
- Taken for future use as a composite or reference. Pop it into your Random Finds folder (I have subfolders in there, too).
- So close! But this is going to need a little more post processing than most images, but its a keeper.
- Yay me! It’s a good shot that needs a quick run through in Adobe Camera Raw or the Develop module and it’s done.
Why rate with a 1-star?
For me, two reasons. First, I don’t throw images away. I should, but I don’t. I’m a digital hoarder. Second, remember when Camera Shake reduction came along in Photoshop? There were a couple of 1 stars that became 3 stars because of this. Who knows what else might happen?
This is just what I do but Id love to know what your system is. Maybe you only use 1 and 5? Whatever it is, drop them in the comments and let’s debate the 1–5 star system!
1 star is for trash (I don’t have room for them) if they aren’t sharp in the eyes I’m not keeping them.
2 stars is for my absolute favorites. These are the ones I really love.
3 stars & 4 stars are the models picks. If there is 1 model I will mark her picks with a 3 star. If there are 2 models I will make the 2nd models picks 4 stars. 5 stars is for all the rest of the keepers.
To enter star ratings in LR6, press the number, 1-5, to give a star rating. No command key or control key needed. As far as ratings, I use a 5-star for my best shots. Any others I keep, I really should delete, but…
Here’s my 1-5 rating system:
1=Major issues with the image, exposure, composition, whatever. I haven’t deleted it because the subject matter is interesting enough to keep it out of the trash bin.
2=Significant issues with the image, but good for reference. Not for public consumption.
3=Good enough to post on social media and informally share.
4=Good enough to print, put on my web site, but not in my portfolio.
5=Excellent, proud of this image, can share anywhere and with anyone.
1 star is for trash (I don’t have room for them) if they aren’t sharp in the eyes I’m not keeping them.
2 stars is for my absolute favorites. These are the ones I really love.
3 stars & 4 stars are the models picks. If there is 1 model I will mark her picks with a 3 star. If there are 2 models I will make the 2nd models picks 4 stars. 5 stars is for all the rest of the keepers.
Here’s my 1-5 rating system:
1=Major issues with the image, exposure, composition, whatever. I haven’t deleted it because the subject matter is interesting enough to keep it out of the trash bin.
2=Significant issues with the image, but good for reference. Not for public consumption.
3=Good enough to post on social media and informally share.
4=Good enough to print, put on my web site, but not in my portfolio.
5=Excellent, proud of this image, can share anywhere and with anyone.
To enter star ratings in LR6, press the number, 1-5, to give a star rating. No command key or control key needed. As far as ratings, I use a 5-star for my best shots. Any others I keep, I really should delete, but…
0 – no good. But I can’t delete them, so I put them in another catalogue instead 1 – There is some merit. Crop and straighten to consider further. 2 – Still some merit. Adjust exposure, texture, etc. Review. 3 – Acceptable. Add to flickr, maybe post some to facebook etc. 4 – Better images. Maybe around 10% of those rated 3 are upgraded, at the end of the month. 5 – Best images. Maybe around 10% of those rated 4 are upgraded, at the end of the month. Unfortunately, as time has gone by, I feel as though I… Read more »
It depends! :)
For client portraits: 1 star is something I like, 4 stars is something my client likes. This helps me prioritize. Once the portrait is “done” then it moves to a “pick”.
Photos I don’t like don’t get a star or get the “reject” flag.