How to Cull Photos Faster in Lightroom (Even If You Hate It)
Simple Tips to Make Photo Culling Easier and Less Overwhelming
If sorting through hundreds (or thousands) of photos after a shoot makes you want to shut your laptop and walk away, trust me—I really get it. Culling has always been my least favorite part of photography, and to be honest, I still hate it. No matter how many tricks I’ve learned to make it easier, it’s always going to be a work in progress for me.
I’m also slower at it than a lot of other photographers, which can be frustrating. I see people fly through their selections while I’m still overthinking the first batch. It’s something I try to improve on after every session or trip, but it’s not my natural strength. That’s actually why I’m writing this—because if culling drains you too, you’re not alone.
The good news? There are ways to make it more bearable.
Below I’ll share what culling is, why it matters, and the steps I take to make it as efficient as possible—especially in Lightroom.
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What Is Culling in Photography?
Culling is the process of sorting through your photos and selecting the best ones to edit and deliver to clients or keep for yourself. It involves:
- Eliminating duplicates or near-identical shots.
- Removing blurry or poorly composed images.
- Choosing the most impactful photos that tell the story or meet your vision.
While it’s tempting to skip this step and keep everything, culling saves time during editing and ensures your final portfolio only includes your strongest work.
Why Is Culling Important?
- Saves Storage Space: By removing unwanted files, you free up valuable space on your hard drive or in the cloud.
- Speeds Up Editing: Working with fewer photos means less time spent editing.
- Improves Quality: A carefully curated selection makes your work stand out.
The Fastest Way to Cull Photos in Lightroom (And Other Tips for Efficient Culling)
1. Import and Sort Efficiently
- When importing photos, use folders or create collections to organize your images by shoot or event.
- Enable Embedded & Sidecar Previews in the Import dialog to speed up preview loading in Lightroom.
2. Use Flags, Ratings, or Colors
Lightroom offers multiple ways to mark your photos during the culling process:
- Flags: Use the “P” key to pick your favorites and “X” to reject unwanted shots.
- Stars: Assign ratings from 1–5 using the number keys to categorize photos by quality.
- Colors: Use color labels (6–9) to mark photos for different purposes, such as editing or client delivery.
Choose the system that works best for you and stick with it for consistency. And when in doubt, go with your gut—whatever photo stands out to you first will likely always stand out.
Overthinking slows everything down, so trust the simple, obvious choices to keep your workflow fast and efficient.
3. Utilize Loupe and Grid View
- Start in Grid View (G) to quickly scan through thumbnails and get a sense of your shoot.
- Switch to Loupe View (E) to inspect details in potential keepers. Use the arrow keys to navigate quickly.
4. Use Auto Advance
Enable Auto Advance in Lightroom (Photo > Auto Advance) so that when you flag, rate, or reject a photo, Lightroom automatically moves to the next one. This eliminates the need to manually scroll and speeds up the process.
5. Filter and Focus
Once you’ve made your initial selections:
- Use the filter bar (Library Module) to view only flagged, rated, or color-labeled photos.
- Refine your selection by comparing similar images side by side (select two photos and press “C” for Compare View).
6. Delete Rejected Photos
After culling, remove rejected photos to declutter your library.
- Go to Photo > Delete Rejected Photos, then confirm deletion.
Additional Photo Culling Tips
1. Be Ruthless
Don’t hold onto mediocre images “just in case.” Trust your instincts and prioritize quality over quantity.
- This is the hardest one for me, and I’m constantly trying to get better at it. 😅
2. Cull in Short Bursts
Culling an entire shoot at once can feel overwhelming. Break it into smaller sessions to stay focused and avoid burnout.
- Try setting a timer for 15–20 minutes—giving yourself a deadline can help you make faster decisions and keep the process from dragging on.
3. Start with a Broad Pass
Do an initial pass to remove obvious rejects (blurry, poorly exposed, etc.), then go back and fine-tune your selections.
4. Don’t Overthink It
Remember, culling is about identifying your best work—not perfection.
The goal is to move through the process quickly so you can focus on editing and creating.
Why I Dread Culling (And How I’ve Learned to Manage It)
As a photographer, I love capturing moments and bringing them to life through editing. But culling? It feels like an endless game of “keep or delete,” and I find it tedious and draining. No matter how many times I do it, it’s still a work in progress for me. I’d love to be one of those photographers who can cull at lightning speed, and I know that improving my workflow would make me feel better overall. I’m always searching for ways to make my life easier, and I truly believe that getting faster at culling would be a game-changer.
That said, I don’t want to lose the process of photography by rushing through it too much—there’s always a happy medium. I’ve found that adopting a system and sticking to it makes culling more bearable (and yes, even a little faster).
The biggest win for me is knowing that once I push through this part, I get to move on to the creative side I truly enjoy. And in the end, the payoff of a well-curated selection makes it all worth it.
Culling may not be the most glamorous part of photography, but it’s essential for maintaining a polished portfolio and streamlining your workflow.
By using Lightroom’s tools and adopting a systematic approach, you can cut down on the time and frustration it takes to sort through your images.
The faster you cull, the sooner you can get back to what you love—bringing your photos to life.
Lightroom Tips
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