Bogin Bob Loc: Tampa Bay, Florida

I started populating Lr by moving existing folders over to Lr. I understand the 'old' folders method of filing photos is not necessary or recommended and I would like to revise my organization by using Collections.

Can I remove or delete the folders or does that now remove the photos in that folder. I assume I can create or use ONE folder - call it Lightroom Photos and import all photos into that - then create Collections.

My current thinking is a) I am comfortable and understand folders and how I used them in the past, b) bringing them over to Lr establishes 'where they are' on the hard drive, c) making collections uses no space on hard drive and d) maybe maintain the folders in Lightroom and simply close the folder hierarchy that would be in Lightroom and start using Collections as my Folder structure.

See Screenshot http://www.dropbox.com/s/ptcms05errhvv7p/Screenshot%202015-04-07%2007.27.48.png?dl=0

All suggestions appreciated.
Bob

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

The files MUST reside in a folder somewhere. It may be that you put all your images into one folder, and have 10,000 images within that one folder, or you break it up into smaller more easily managed folders/files.

BUT, if I hear what you are saying, NO you cannot just remove the folders. You will need to move any files in them first.

Collections group together photos within all your folders based on metadata of some kind.

For what it is worth, I let Lightroom keep my images by date taken, so I have folders for year and within each year, folders for each day of shots.

From all of my images taken over the course of a decade, I use a collection to group panoramic shots based on keywords of "Panoramic Shot", so from my 30,000 images, my 100 panorama shots appear as a separate organized bunch, using no additional disk space and being added to anytime I add those two keywords to any image taken at anytime in any of my folders.

I also make use of keywording each image as much as possible, so I really do not worry about what folder the images are in, instead they are accessible almost instantly based on metadata filters.

Just remember, even though the collection takes up no space on the disk, the images still reside in a file/folder structure that does.

(Download)

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

There's no need to remove folders. If you don't want to use them in LR, just ignore them.

There's no reason you can't use both. Collections allow you to group things easily in LR. Folders provide a way to find things outside of LR.

Capture48 Loc: Arizona

I think this is smart, and I do the same thing. Still utilize the folder structure \Photos\2015\Event Name. AS the snapshot shows. I do have many collections. I use collections to group certain photos, and to make sure I follow a workflow. My ProWorkflow collection is a modification of a collection someone gave me. It verifies I have all the metadata, ratings and keywording done. My ISO Locator collection groups photos by ISO ranges. Then there is my BLOG collection, and on and on. You get the idea.

Strictly speaking if you keyword every photo and add metadata to every photo, you can easily find that photo and a folder structure is not necessary. However being old school, I do all the above, and find the organization of the folders is still needed, plus it just looks better and is easier to navigate in the Library module.

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

This is essentially the same path I follow: folder structure by date to put the actual image files in, keywords for quick finding, collections for various purposes to organize "virtual" copies of images. Collections can be deleted WITHOUT deleting the photos in them.

Some uses for collections for me: compiling stuff for a photobook, photos I mean to share with Flickr or some other web source, photos I mean to print on particular kinds of papers (so I can do that in one swoop), stuff I'm gonna save for next year's gift calendar, stuff I'm gathering for a contest portfolio. Then, when that project is completed, I can delete the collection without deleting the photos or remove some photos from the collection. Very handy!

Capture48 Loc: Arizona

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

sueyeisert Loc: New Jersey

Look at the following. It doesn't matter that it's Lightroom 4. It's free jut scroll down. http://en.elephorm.com/tuto-lightroom-4-complete-training.html

twillsol Loc: St. Louis, MO

Collections do not store photos. File folders store folders. If you delete the folders, you delete the photos. Collections looks in all your folders for metadata that matches the collection criteria you want and then simply shows you those photos. You can delete a photo out of a collection, and it is still in a folder.

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

Well I was really talking about organizing photos, not managing them. To me, organizing things means being able to find them. Managing them means you can move them around or delete them. Using those definitions, organizing them can be done within LR or outside LR. Managing them should be done only within LR.