Collections inside Lightroom: I've created a collection set in my pictures folder that includes all of my photos, but now I want to create collections of folders that match my...

nimblenuts Loc: San Diego

I've created a collection set in my pictures folder that includes all of my photos, but now I want to create collections of folders that match my description of the photos therein. In the folders view I have selected all of the folders that I want to include in the collection, but upon right clicking the selected folders there is no option to add them to a collection. How do I do this?

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

nimblenuts wrote:

I've created a collection set in my pictures folder that includes all of my photos, but now I want to create collections of folders that match my description of the photos therein. In the folders view I have selected all of the folders that I want to include in the collection, but upon right clicking the selected folders there is no option to add them to a collection. How do I do this?

I don't think you can add a folder. I would try going to the folder that has the pics in it that you want in a collection, Ctrl/a for selecting all, then click on the collection panel to create a new collection or to add them to an existing collection.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Following Jeep Daddy's suggestion, if you now create collections inside this collection set, you can set the collection as the target collection. Then, as you select images to add to that collection, when you right-click, you can have a menu option to add the selected images to the target collection. You might also use the Library filters and search the entire catalog for images that have the desired attribute, such as a common keyword (or date, camera, aspect ratio, etc). Rather than navigating every folder, you can just search all images, select all images, and add to the target collection.

But, I'm concerned about what you're doing when you say "I've created a collection set in my pictures folder that includes all of my photos". You have a catalog view of "All Photographs". You can create a collection / collection set that duplicates this view, there's no negative impact as it's just a virtual organization. But, why create that collection?

Linary Loc: UK

nimblenuts wrote:

I've created a collection set in my pictures folder that includes all of my photos, but now I want to create collections of folders that match my description of the photos therein. In the folders view I have selected all of the folders that I want to include in the collection, but upon right clicking the selected folders there is no option to add them to a collection. How do I do this?

You are nearly there: You have created a Collection Set entitled say "Cornwall"
Right click on the Cornwall Collection Set and choose "Create Collection"
In the dialogue that opens check "Inside a Collection Set"
Cornwall will already be in the naming bar
Check any options you require
click "Create"

Repeat the process as often as you wish (using new names for each collection - all of which will reside within the main collection set - in this case - Cornwall).

You will now have the equivalent of folders in a collection set. (Collections within a Collection set.)

You can also right click on a folder and choose "Create Collection"
On the dialogue that opens check "Inside a collection set"
Click on the drop down arrow and choose the Collection set
Check any relevant options
Click "Create"

The new collection will be placed inside the collection set you created.

nimblenuts Loc: San Diego

jeep_daddy wrote:

I don't think you can add a folder. I would try going to the folder that has the pics in it that you want in a collection, Ctrl/a for selecting all, then click on the collection panel to create a new collection or to add them to an existing collection.

New question...how do I tell Lightroom to create a folder upon import? Now it just adds my pics to the Pictures folder. But I usually want a new folder for the pics I am importing. LR doesn't give me this option.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Keep in mind a Collection Set can "see" all the images inside that set. Using Linary's Cornwall example, you might have collections inside for individual years (2012, 2015, 2018, etc). Or, you might have subject organizations like Newquay Zoo, Fistral Beach, Huer's Hut, etc, where you have images collected without regard to date. You can have both collection types as images can exist in multiple collections at once. After all this organization work, if you select the Collection Set "Cornwall", you get a view of all the images from all the component collections at once where your library filters can also be used.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

nimblenuts wrote:

New question...how do I tell Lightroom to create a folder upon import? Now it just adds my pics to the Pictures folder. But I usually want a new folder for the pics I am importing. LR doesn't give me this option.

In the Import Dialog, the options Copy as DNG, Copy, and Move all enable "Destintion" in the right-hand portion of the dialog where you can specify where to place the resulting files during the Import. If you find you're making a lot of settings over and over across imports, you can also create an Import Preset that sets the defaults with a single click.

nimblenuts Loc: San Diego

CHG_CANON wrote:

In the Import Dialog, the options Copy as DNG, Copy, and Move all enable "Destintion" in the right-hand portion of the dialog where you can specify where to place the resulting files during the Import. If you find you're making a lot of settings over and over across imports, you can also create an Import Preset that sets the defaults with a single click.

OK. I forgot about setting the destination folder (!) as I thought Lightroom would ask me where to copy the files to.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

CHG_CANON wrote:

In the Import Dialog, the options Copy as DNG, Copy, and Move all enable "Destintion" in the right-hand portion of the dialog where you can specify where to place the resulting files during the Import. If you find you're making a lot of settings over and over across imports, you can also create an Import Preset that sets the defaults with a single click.

I always use this method of importing my images (Copy)

There is another way that someone I know always uses and that is to use your operating systems file system and take the images from your card and place them in a folder you create on your hard drive and then simply drag the folder to LR when LR is in Library module. This will automatically import them into the catalog and add that folder too. The only problem doing it this way is that you don't have all the other choices that you have when doing a normal import like adding key words, renaming the files, adding a preset to the images as the import etc.

traderjohn Loc: New York City

Linary wrote:

You are nearly there: You have created a Collecti... (show quote)

You solved my problem. Thanks.

abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

Why do you want to use collections for grouping photos by topic? I would presume that each collection has only one topic. By using keywords, you can have multiple criteria such as name, kind of event, location, subject. In an instant, you can retrieve all the photos with the single keyword. You can then refine your search by doing a text search for multiple key words.

To elaborate on a suggestion above, I copy the folder from the card to my computer and renaming the folder according. However, I import by synchronizing using the settings in the right panel. Done. I can, if I want, display the import screen so I can adjust the settings in the right panel. Better to set this to solo mode.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

nimblenuts wrote:

New question...how do I tell Lightroom to create a folder upon import? Now it just adds my pics to the Pictures folder. But I usually want a new folder for the pics I am importing. LR doesn't give me this option.

I always copy my photos from my SD card or scans to a folder first, then Import from that location. Additionally, I copy this folder to an external drive I use for all my originals. My folders are named in the format "yyyy mo short text descriptor". Sometime I'll use a dd indicator. That way the directory tree down the left side of the screen is listed in chronological order, which works well for me.

wrangler5 Loc: Missouri

Here's my slightly different approach: I have a folder, already "in" LR, called Initial Import, which is set as the default destination for importing images in Library mode. The images on the SD card are always copied here, with names changed to my date-time preference (also set as a default.) This folder is where I do my initial culling and add keywords. When that's all done, then images are moved to their ultimate destination folders, and the Initial Import is empty to receive the next batch when it comes along.

abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

gvarner wrote:

I always copy my photos from my SD card or scans to a folder first, then Import from that location. Additionally, I copy this folder to an external drive I use for all my originals. My folders are named in the format "yyyy mo short text descriptor". Sometime I'll use a dd indicator. That way the directory tree down the left side of the screen is listed in chronological order, which works well for me.

Here is my variation on this. Drive>Photos>2018>06 June, 2018>1, <Shoot name>.

PhotosBySteve

To add selected images to an existing collection, except for smart collections, is to drag and drop into the desired collection.