What is your approach to learning Lightroom 5? Hi, When I first started using Lightroom, I relied on the wealth of information available on the web such as the Adobe tutorials, Youtube...

Lee Thomas Loc: Michigan

Hi,
When I first started using Lightroom, I relied on the wealth of information available on the web such as the Adobe tutorials, Youtube and many of the links suggested here on the UHH. I learned enough to get started but quickly felt like I was trying to take a sip of water out of a fire hose in learning more. I'd appreciate hearing from those of you who use Lightroom 5 who can offer a systematic approach to learning Lightroom. I feel that I am only using a small percentage of its capabilities but really don't know how to build on what I am currently using. Thanks in advance for your assistance.
Sincerely,
Lee

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

Lee, I have found that by taking sequential lessons in full courses offered by Lynda.com and KelbyOne.com (subscription services) provided me with a logical pathway. I started with Jan Kabili and followed with Julianne Kost, Terry White and Chris Orwig on Lynda.com. Tutorials are great but they don't connect. I still use these subscription services almost daily. I wish you good luck.

Lee Thomas wrote:

Hi, br When I first started using Lightroom, I ... (show quote)

Lee Thomas Loc: Michigan

DavidPine wrote:

Lee, I have found that by taking sequential lessons in full courses offered by Lynda.com and KelbyOne.com (subscription services) provided me with a logical pathway. I started with Jan Kabili and followed with Julianne Kost, Terry White and Chris Orwig on Lynda.com. Tutorials are great but they don't connect. I still use these subscription services almost daily. I wish you good luck.

Thanks for your quick reply, David. Julieanne Kost's videos were great and got me started but I quickly realized I was on my horse trying to ride off in all directions at once. 8-). I'll look into your suggestions.
Sincerely,
Lee

bretedge Loc: Moab, UT

The first thing I do when Adobe pushed out a new version of Lightroom to the world is buy Nat Coalson's latest Lightroom book. Nat is a good friend of mine and we led workshops together before he moved to England. I've never met anyone with more knowledge of Lightroom and more importantly, the ability to share it with others in a way that is easy to understand. I highly recommend his book as THE starting point.

Lightroom 5: Streamlining Your Digital Photography Process

wisner Loc: The planet Twylo

Lightroom, or any program, can be quite intimadating when you first start using it. Scott Kelby's Lightrrom 5 book and Julianne Kost's videos on Adobe TV are a good place to start.
Teaching both Lightroom and Photoshop, has made me realize how frustrated it can be for people; they see wonderful images and expect theirs to look like that as soon as they start using the program. The learning curve is quite steep, especially for Photoshop but, like any endeavor, the more you use it, the more comfortable you become.
Start with the Library Module and the Develop Module; ignore the others for now. Spend time learning one tool at a time. When I teach Lightroom, I spend two to three sessions just with the Library.
Good luck!

jethro779 Loc: Tucson, AZ

I have used the AnthonyMorganti.com tutorials on lightroom & photoshop elements and find them both informative enough that I can do pretty much what I need and have the ability to rematch the videos when I forget things.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

I just use the "search what you need right now" method for learning things.

For example...you install LR and now you wonder how to get started...what to do first?

Search "how to get lightroom set up"

And then when you are good to go on that....you wonder how to get images in to it.

search "how to get images into LR"

That's how I tackle all of my photo learning....it's too hard to just watch dry video after video of things you may never use or be interested in.

Flyerace Loc: Mt Pleasant, WI

I understood what the tutorials said, but could not figure out how to make the photo do what I wanted. How much adjustment was needed. I purchased some presets and applied them to a copy of a photo I wanted. When I saw the exact result I wanted, I looked at the sliders to see what had been done. I then reset and replicated the sliders until I really SAW what the sliders did. It helped a ton to give me the confidence to try the adjustments to other photos. Due to the non-destructive nature of LR, I could play and play and never ruin a photo. I could always change what I had done. Now I have dozens of my own presets that can be applied when I need them. I learn every time I touch LR. So cool. Good luck with your exploration of LR!

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

Lee Thomas wrote:

Hi, br When I first started using Lightroom, I ... (show quote)

We all learn differently. I cannot learn something this complex without a solid reference book. I started with LR 2 and Rob Sheppard's good basic LR book. When I went to LR 3 I tried Martin Evenings book but it put me to sleep so I sold it and got David du Chemin's Vision and Voice which remains one of the best books on photography I've ever read. At LR 4 I added Piet Van Der Eynde's LR4 book and acquired more technical know-how which now made sense. When I moved to LR 5 I got Michael Fry's book on using LR5 specifically for landscape work. I still use each one of these books.

Learning LR is a process. At times you have to retrace your steps to relearn something or go more in depth on something you skimmed over earlier. My advice is to keep your learning integrated with your photography, keep adequated references, practice each new skill, and keep a notebook.

G Brown Loc: Sunny Bognor Regis West Sussex UK

Work out what you want to do and then look it up on adobe learning zone. After a few tries it usually sticks....If you try reading /watching the lot it drains out of your ears

PhotoArtsLA Loc: Boynton Beach

Though I have Lightroom as one of the Adobe CC suite of apps, my approach to use it is to run Photoshop instead.

To organize things, I use the once great (now quasi great because the mindless chimps of Microsoft bought the company) Expression Media 2. Luckily, in that no one at Microsoft has ever had an original idea, the software has been only half-decimated in the buyout, or is that sell-out?

Lee Thomas Loc: Michigan

Thanks to everyone for their excellent suggestions.
Sincerely,
Lee

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Lee Thomas wrote:

Hi, br When I first started using Lightroom, I ... (show quote)

I locked myself in a room and didn't come out until I figured it out. The develop module was not the issue - but the catalog threw me a curve. Once I let go of trying to manage files in the OS folder system AND Lightroom, it all made sense. Once you start using Lightroom you are best served if you use it to do all file management. The other "stuff" is similar enough to other editing programs and fairly easy to learn.

PixelPaula

I find the online classes offered by www.ed2go.com are very helpful. Type Lightroom 5 in the search box. It costs, of course, but it is instructor led with great resources. There are two lessons per week for six weeks. Perhaps you already know the information offered but you can look at the detailed course description to see if it meets your needs and is worth the cost to you. I am taking the class now and have made great progress with my post-processing skills.

sodapop Loc: Bel Air, MD

http://en.elephorm.com/tuto-lightroom-4-complete-training.html

This beats them all in my opinion. Short 4 minute segments, Logically in order. Clear and understandable down to the detail.
I found that many books are a good read but poor references when you are stuck on something. The Goodle search method as suggested above also works well for individual stumbling blocks.