WaltG Loc: Las Vegas NV

I was recently given Lightroom 5 as a gift from my daughter. In setting it up, I have watched videos on "You Tube", and even an instructional video produced by Adobe. I guess I'm a little slow because I just cannot understand how to set up the folder system for Lightroom 5. Can someone help me understand how and where to set up the folders? I'm using Windows 8. Thanks in advance for any assistance offered.

Frapha Loc: Tulsa, Oklahoma

You don't need to set up a folder system for Lightroom. It will use your existing folder setup and not move things around -- they stay where you have them unless you decide to make changes.

brucewells Loc: Central Kentucky

The folder system is just the beginning. I recommend a book. Here's Amazon's listing . . .

http://www.amazon.com/Adobe-Photoshop-Lightroom-Classroom-Book-ebook/dp/B00ECYZ7T4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1387901897&sr=8-1&keywords=lightroom+classroom+in+a+book

It will step you through the complete setup and use of Lightroom in a very intuitive fashion, leaving you a Lightroom guru in no time. Merry Christmas!!

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

As was said...you don't need a folder system because Lightroom doesn't care.

Lightroom just keeps track of where you already store things...it doesn't matter one whit if you are organized into 100 folders or you keep things all in one folder...

Here is my system: one big folder.

That's it.

Why make a bunch of folders?


I import everything into a folder where I work on them in LR.

When I export THEN I export to different folders depending on the destination; web, archive, printing...etc.

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

I can tell you what works for me. I am somewhat organized but not obsessively so, like to keep it simple, quick, but not chaotic.

I keep all my photos on an external hard drive, organized in nested folders labeled by year, month, and date. I arranged my photos in these kinds of folders prior to setting up LR, and had it create the catalog leaving the photos exactly where they were. For new photos needing a new folder I create the new folder using my computers file system before importing the new photos from the camera memory card. These file structures show up in the Lightroom right hand list of folders when I select Import New Photos. I choose the folder I want the new photos in and click "Copy new photos and add to catalog".

I back up new photos on a second external drive immediately. I back up the LR catalog monthly.

One important factor to remember is that LR does not care where you keep your photos as long as you tell it where they are. No need for LR to make extra copies. But you must NEVER move your photos around to new places except from WITHIN Lightroom or it won't know where you put them.

It is worthwhile to take your time and set your photos up the way you want them before you create your LR catalog, so it'll make sense later on. I didn't do that the first time around and I had a lot of aggravation later till I started over and did it in a rational way.

WaltG Loc: Las Vegas NV

Thank you to everyone for their input. It has helped and I appreciate it very much. Shortly, I should be able to start using LR5 to improve some of the aspects of my photos. Thank you again.

OnDSnap Loc: NE New Jersey

Although not Free, You may want to check this out,
http://www.lynda.com/Lightroom-tutorials/Up-Running-Lightroom-5/124068-2.html

profpb Loc: Venice, Florida

Lightroom is a journey not a destination just like all knowledge. Relax, it will take some time. The more you use it the more you will learn. I'm on my fourth year with V3, V4, V5 and many updates, and there is more ahead I hope. I do 90-95% of my PP with it. I love LR5, and as I shoot RAW I get ACR 8.3 for $9.99 per mo and I get Adobe CC for free.

Nikocarol Loc: NM & FL

This is well worth watching.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSwkDC3q7uk

davidcaley Loc: Utah

Boy do I appreciate your advice, just finished watching this You Tube presentation, thanks excellent intro to LR. David

gmcase Loc: Galt's Gulch

Before you buy anything why not go to adobe.tv and watch the free Jullianne Kost videos on Lightroom? There are several, organized into a logical progression, that brings you through most aspects of using Lightroom. Once you have those under your belt then look for specific topics that weren't covered in great depth in the Lost videos. It will get you up and running fairly strongly in a few short hours and then expand and refine your skills from there.

gmcase Loc: Galt's Gulch

This is interesting because I have been contemplating doing the same thing. With the exceptional ease of categorizing, keyboarding and organization in Lightroom all these individual folders with dates galore seem like busy work. I never understood organizing into date folders. As if anyone can consistently remember when they shot a photo and use those hundreds of folders productively. If you were shooting professionally for various clients having client folders would probably make sense.

I have one folder I import everything into called "Temp and Sort". I cull out out the stuff to throw away and apply ratings and keywords - keywords if I didn't during import. From there I have about 20 basic folders I move the sorted and processed and that is where I am thinking it is too complicated. Your comments have pushed me into rethinking this again. :thumbup:

Ziza Loc: USA

These freebies should help you with Lightroom 5.

http://www.lightroomqueen.com/free-downloads/quickstart/lr5/
http://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom.html