UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Finally took the plunge and added Light Room Classic CC. Where should I go for the best tutorials? Video works well for me, but any book recommendations would also be welcome.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

The first short choice is the Help menu. Click on Tutorials!

If you don't like or trust Adobe for that, there is a list of third parties that are all very good. In random order they are:

Matt Kloskoski
Tim Grey
Linda.com
Laura Shoe
Victoria Bampton, the Lightroom Queen
Anthony Morganiti
Scott Kelby
Julieann Kost

tinplater Loc: Scottsdale, AZ

I found Kost and Morganti extremely helpful.

Shellback Loc: North of Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands - Kansas

Here are some resources -
Offered in video and text options... Some are older versions, but the concept is the same and they still build a solid foundation to start with.

Into to LR - an excellent video that covers the package - it's almost 2 hrs long so be prepared for that.

How Lightroom works: Where it keeps your images and presets, and how to back up

LR Catalog FAQ

Loading Images Into Lightroom: Training Tutorial

LR4 - Video training package
Scroll down to the lessons - they are free - do not click on the buy link.
For File Handling - focus on "Lightroom Interface", "Import", "Sort", and "Organize"

Adobe Lightroom 5 - Training Videos by Anthony Morganti

Learn Lightroom- Adobe Video Tutorials

Tutorial Video - 10 Tips for Optimizing your photos with LR

Cleaning Up Your Mess in Lightroom


Info offered in textbook style...
Photo Editing in Lightroom 101


Training from Light Stalking - How to Get Better at Lightroom and Post Production

The Modules of Adobe Lightroom

A Killer Collection of Adobe LightRoom Tutorials

3 Lightroom Tweaks to Get Your Landscape Photographs to Sing

3 Easy Lightroom Adjustments to Add Drama to a Landscape

5 Simple Lightroom Tactics to Improve Almost Any Landscape Photograph

Create Perfect Portraits in Lightroom Using These 6 Classic Retouch Techniques

The Ultimate List of Keyboard Shortcuts for Lightroom with Free PDF file to download...

Hope this helps...

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

Hi Mike,

The very first thing you need to do is to read the LR manual. You can locate this online by going to the top Help menu in the program. This will give you a basic understanding of how the application works, which you need prior to using it to have the most successful use of the program. The main thing to understand about this program is that it serves two purposes, 1. a processing application, and 2. a cataloging application, and these are very different purposes. After you import an image, think "link," the application will always use the image name to find it so it is important that you do no work on that linked image outside of the application. When you do work on an image the edits will be contained in the catalog portion of the application, they are never merged with the original file until you export the image in some fashion. Additionally, the application does not make its own decisions, so you need to be very careful in reviewing all settings when you import or export; this is an area where people end up having problems. Know where you are storing your images and your catalog and this will help you with any future problems. The program is set to store the catalog in your Pictures folder, but you can direct it to store it elsewhere if you so choose. I like the Martin Evening books best, he is very rational in his approach and the book is available in an online version. Good luck.

rydabyk Loc: Florida Panhandle

I can't say Anthony Morganti enough. His videos are super easy to understand and follow along.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

Connie,

You wrote, "The very first thing you need to do is to read the LR manual. You can locate this online by going to the top Help menu in the program."

A agree with that. But only if someone learns well by reading. Many learn better visually by watching tutorials. The manual, as a pdf, is a good resource and is searchable.

It is odd that the manual is not currently listed in the Lightroom Classic CC Help menu. Instead there are links to a hierarchical website structure of documentation. However, the actual 287 page manual was updated about a month ago and you can get a copy here: https://helpx.adobe.com/pdf/lightroom_reference.pdf

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

The person did request reading material and I always recommend that people read the manual first-thing. It is basic in its approach and provides a good grounding on how the program works. Thanks for including a link to the pdf. In prior online editions I found the manual much easier to navigate, now they have broken it up into very short sections. Downloading the pdf does work well. I am Adobe certified in LR and I did that by reading the manual twice, after using the program for 7 or so years and editing over 5,000 photos, and then reviewing again sections of the manual that I thought might be on the certification test. Thus, I have a very good grounding in the program and have, for the most part (there is always that "operator error" part), never have problems using the program. Reading the manual can't hurt as Adobe is the, we hope, expert in the program.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

I'm not certified for anything but flying airplanes!

I started with LR4, bought a couple books and found that slow learning for me. Keeping my place in the book while navigating the computer next to it was awkward. Discovering the video tutorials from Julieanne Kost was my catalyst. Watching and pausing where necessary on one screen while I duplicated the process on another worked better.

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Thanks! It appears that I have my work cut out for me.

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Thank you! That will help me focus.

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Thanks goodness that I am retired! LOL

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Good points! Thanks.

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

That solves why I was not finding it. Thanks for the update.

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Thanks for replying. Looks like we are getting a consensus here.