Bruce T Loc: Michigan

There are cull programs that are different from just editing through hundreds of files.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

I’m willing to call it ‘initial culling’ and ‘final culling’.

Jolly Roger Loc: Dorset. UK

My choice is "Breezebrowser Pro". It is a breeze going through a day's shots (sorry!). When you are determining on what to keep or discard, It creates a A 'Deleted' folder and moved all deleted files into it. Thus, if you choose to double check for a missing file, you will find it. Then either keep the Deleted folder or do as you choose.
A great little program.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

That sounds good. I used Downloader Pro (also from Breeze) for many years for renaming files but alas I have switched to a MacBook and DP is only supported on Windows. I was aware that Breezebrowser Pro existed but I never tried it (probably since I have a workflow that works and I don't like to churn my workflow trying different things).

terryMc Loc: Arizona's White Mountains

I don't usually have 500 photos, but whatever I have I just open the files right in the camera's card in Bridge, and start to scroll through them. Hitting the space bar will display a selected image full screen, hitting it again will return to the film strip. You can star rate the photos as you go, and then filter by rating after you get through them all. You can then save the keepers to a folder, and do whatever you wish with the others, like delete them right off the card if you know you won't need them. No importing, no catalogues, no mess. Works for me.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I like the idea of grouping similar images together. I remember Anthony Turnham doing that when he was working with Luminar Neo.

CliffMcKenzie Loc: Lake Athens Texas

Larry,

Just came back from a wild Mustang shoot (1,200+) and National\Great Texas Ballon Race (800+). If you do an airshow, typically north of 4,000. How do cull & process efficiently? Paul (trusted source) suggested Fastrawrevier.com. I have heard it is good and I believe it may be free. I use Photo Mechanic (PM) due to dual monitor support, extremely fast upload, ability to work with metadata, keywording to be used in LRC and the list goes on & on. You can start working on first images as it is still uploading. Most sports photographers use PM.

How do you turn 1,000 images in less than an hour? Using PM, simply hit “T” for tag. If you have 4 images that are almost identical, count 4 and select the one you like the best. Still not sure as they appear identical, look at your histogram and choose the image more to the right (ETTR). Changed your mind, just hit “T” again and it goes away. Elect to display only tagged images and you are now down to 150 (whatever).

At this point, I adjust keywording and some other minor changes and tell PM to upload to a super folder called “Upload Images”. Under this super folder, PM will create a subfolder pulling from data you imputed prior and puts all images into \Mowdy Ranch Mustang 20230604. It is possible I might run PM again on this folder, but rare.

Using LRC, I then import from \Mowdy Ranch Mustang 20230604 to My Lightroom\Events\ Mowdy Ranch Mustang June 2023. Critical, the images now exist in at least two places. Using LRC, I might (if 150, I would) use in Library mode “P” pick and “U” unpick. I have 3 or so near identical images I might use “N” for survey and “x” off what I do not want.

I will be teaching a series on this starting in late July (2 Zoom – refresher & in class the month of August in Tyler). If you are interested in the 2 Zoom classes message me and I will give you a free pass.

brentrh Loc: Deltona, FL

My camera has 2 card slots one records RAW then other JPG. I review all images from JPG card on my computer select the ones I want to keep
From RAW card down load them those images to computer a post process them. Save processed images and RAW file to file on computer backup to additional drives.

Canonshooteron Loc: Omaha Nebraska

Thank you all for the great responses !!