Lightroom Import Question: Hi everyone. Basic Import question. If I set up LR to load my pictures into LR straight from my SD card that is in my PC, then I cull through them and push...

Baysitter11 Loc: Cincinnati

Hi everyone. Basic Import question. If I set up LR to load my pictures into LR straight from my SD card that is in my PC, then I cull through them and push the Import button, are they storing on my hard drive at this point AND in the LR catalogue? Also, do I make the new destination folder under "MY Pictures" for 2014, BEFORE putting my SD card in the compter and importing to it? I know these are basic but I want to do this right. I have read Kelby's "Lightroom 4" and Revell's "From Snapshots to Great Shots" and they seem to assume and I need a very literal, hand holding progression for this part ... the very beginning. I so enjoy this forum. I learn everyday about all aspects of photography. Thank you to all who lend a hand here.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

I strongly suggest that you do not import directly from your card to lightroom.

First, copy the files from your SD card to your computer. Eject your card, do not format. Then have LR import and "MOVE" those files (not copy) into it's library structure.

After you are sure the images are good to go, then you can format, preferably after you've backed up.

Baysitter11 Loc: Cincinnati

Cdouthitt wrote:

I strongly suggest that you do not import directly from your card to lightroom.

First, copy the files from your SD card to your computer. Eject your card, do not format. Then have LR import and "MOVE" those files (not copy) into it's library structure.

After you are sure the images are good to go, then you can format, preferably after you've backed up.

I have read both ways.. I just did not know if when I did bring them via the card to the LR, cull through them, the IMPORT, if I was getting a HD drive copy that was OK if LR went buggy or was it ALL in LR and I could lose the originals. I do back up my originals on another external drive. Thank you for your input.

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

Baysitter11 wrote:

Hi everyone. Basic Import question. If I set up ... (show quote)

I will share what works for me.
1. Via my computer system, I create a folder on the external drive where my photos live, using my established folder structure of years/months/dates.
2. Connect camera/card to computer via USB or card reader, copy all photos to selected folder. Use LR's import/add to catalog without moving feature to locate the folder and import all the photos, applying the general keywords for that shoot on import. I use the setting that lets me say "don't import duplicates" to protect me in case I forgot to reformat last time.
3. Disconnect camera or eject card
4. Cull the unwanted photos from the drive and from LR (remove and delete from disk). I can tell better which ones to get rid of if I can see them well. Since switching to an EVF from an optical viewfinder, I have a much higher keeper rate so this doesn't take long to do.
5. Back up the shoot keepers on my backup drive, then reformat the memory card in the camera.
6. Add other keywords and finish developing the photos.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

Baysitter11 wrote:

....are they storing on my hard drive at this point AND in the LR catalogue? Also, do I make the new destination folder under "MY Pictures" for 2014, BEFORE putting my SD card in the compter and importing to it? .....

Yes, they are storing on your hard drive and being registered in your catalog.

You can make new folders before the Import process, but LR has a smooth way to make a consistent folder structure for you.

During import, the photo files are stored on you computer where you tell LR to put them. In the process, they are recorded in the LR database catalog.

Note that the catalog never has photo files in it. It only has references to those photo files.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

Cdouthitt wrote:

I strongly suggest that you do not import directly from your card to lightroom.

First, copy the files from your SD card to your computer. Eject your card, do not format. Then have LR import and "MOVE" those files (not copy) into it's library structure.

After you are sure the images are good to go, then you can format, preferably after you've backed up.

With due respect, your strong suggestion makes little sense to me. Digital copies are digital copies.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

Watch this video:

http://tv.adobe.com/watch/getting-started-with-adobe-photoshop-lightroom-5/lightroom-5-importing-your-images/

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

bsprague wrote:

With due respect, your strong suggestion makes little sense to me. Digital copies are digital copies.

I have, as has my friend, lost files due to them being corrupted by importing straight from the card into lightroom...not sure why, but they did.

I've never, in over 200k+ files, had a file get corrupted by copying the files from the card to my computer, and then importing them into LR.

It's a workflow that works for me, and may make 0 sense to you, but it is what it is (my workflow).

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

FWIW, here is my work flow with the quickest results and fewest steps that insures always having two copies of a photo file.

Step 1: Put the SD card in the computer.

Step 2: Launch LR. On my computer, I have set Windows Explorer to recognize that inserting a SD card means to launch LR in the Import mode for me. The computer does this step for me.

Step 3: Double check that Copy is selected, New Files is selected, "Don't Import Duplicats" is checked and the destination in the upper right corner for the files is right. (I have three cameras and keep the files organized by date in folders designated for each camera.

Step 4: Press Import

Step 5: If the photos have significance, immediately do a windows based backup to a external drive.

Step 6: Put the SD card back in the camera and format it in the camera to "clean it" for the next shoot.

Step 7: Review and delete photos I don't like from the LR catalog AND the hard drive with one of Lightroom's delete functions.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

Cdouthitt wrote:

I have, as has my friend, lost files due to them being corrupted by importing straight from the card into lightroom...not sure why, but they did.

I've never, in over 200k+ files, had a file get corrupted by copying the files from the card to my computer, and then importing them into LR.

It's a workflow that works for me, and may make 0 sense to you, but it is what it is (my workflow).

Like I wrote, "with due respect".

Baysitter11 Loc: Cincinnati

minniev wrote:

I will share what works for me. br 1. Via my comp... (show quote)

This sounds very concise. I like it. I would ask if you highlight change to DNG instead of Add. Would that make a difference? Thank you for the step by step.

Baysitter11 Loc: Cincinnati

bsprague wrote:

Yes, they are storing on your hard drive and being registered in your catalog.

You can make new folders before the Import process, but LR has a smooth way to make a consistent folder structure for you.

During import, the photo files are stored on you computer where you tell LR to put them. In the process, they are recorded in the LR database catalog.

Note that the catalog never has photo files in it. It only has references to those photo files.

This answer really helps me to understand the process better. I wasn't sure if everything was staying in the catalogue or was the import actually getting copied to the HD. I have used LR before but someone else set it up for me for 2013 and now I must do it myself. I have always imported with the DNG option. No problem there. Thanks.

Baysitter11 Loc: Cincinnati

bsprague wrote:

FWIW, here is my work flow with the quickest resul... (show quote)

Thank you. One step three do you ever convert them to DNG's?

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

Baysitter11 wrote:

This sounds very concise. I like it. I would ask if you highlight change to DNG instead of Add. Would that make a difference? Thank you for the step by step.

My view is that the DNG format is a generous gift from Adobe to the camera world. In theory it was supposed to become as universal as .jpg. But, very few camera makers are using it. My preference is to keep the original RAW files on my computer. In my case they are Sony and Panasonic. If it looks like Sony and Panasonic are going away, I might convert.

Some say the DNGs are a little smaller, but disk space is so cheap I don't bother with that.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

Baysitter11 wrote:

Thank you. One step three do you ever convert them to DNG's?

No. I don't convert them or move them. My rational is that if I copy them, they remain on the SD card until I can make an incremental backup of my computer disk drive. Once backed up, I'll clean the SD card.