waw203 Loc: Clearwater, FL

Hello fellow Hedge hogs,

Question:
I have been using Nikon NX-D for many years, and have finally realized that I need a better organization system!
How do you transfer ALL the pictures from NX-D to the Lightroom program. Soon going to purchase a refurbished Nikon D-810, and I want to start fresh.
My D-3000 has served me well, but time to move to Full Frame.
Shooting Sports(Soccer) mostly.

Thanks in advance. I Appreciate all your posts, as I read this Forum everyday! All advice will be appreciated!

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Actually, you don't transfer anything to Lightroom. You just tell it where to find your images, and Lightroom will import them into your catalog. Make sure you use the "Add" option and not "Copy" or any other option. This will leave your images right where they are. The downside is that LR will not recognize any changes you have made to your nef files. Obviously, if you have exported them to tiff, LR can read and edit those.

brucewells Loc: Central Kentucky

Lightroom is a serious piece of software. You will have a frustrating experience of you subscribe and "just start using it". It has a bevy of nuances that will require you to figure it out, unless you get some sort of reference/training material to help you. I have always recommended this book, and still do.

https://www.amazon.com/Photoshop-Lightroom-Classic-Classroom-release/dp/0134540026/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1537293217&sr=8-1&keywords=lightroom+classic+cc+classroom+in+a+book

rwilson1942 Loc: Houston, TX

This might help: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeJrxvCCthA&index=4&list=WL&t=2240s

PeterBergh

If you, like me, learn better from books, I recommend Victoria Bampton's "Missing Lightroom FAQ" (not exact title) and Martin Evening's book on Lightroom; both are available on Amazon. I suggest starting with Bampton's book; Evening's book is hard going unless you already are somewhat familiar with Lightroom. Both books have been published for various versions of Lightroom; buy the book version that matches your version of Lightroom.

DWU2 Loc: Phoenix Arizona area

I'd add Scott Kelby's book, "The Adobe Lightroom CC Book" to that list.

tcthome Loc: NJ

Before importing your pics , its better to organize them first,e.g.. , travel, wildlife, family, etc. Then when you add them to Lightroom it will make sense. I to recommend Scott Kelby's book also. Read the beginning on importing before you do anything. Also You tube has some vids on the B&H channel by Tim Grey. Watch them also. Also a lot of good vids on post processing on you tube. Good luck & have fun.

Gatorcoach Loc: New Jersey

Another helpful reference book about Lightroom (not necessarily organizing) is Kelby's "How Do I Do That in Lightroom"

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

This might help - organizing with LR.

https://www.lightroomqueen.com/organize-photos-folders/?utm_source=The+Lightroom+Queen&utm_campaign=5a920d5ddf-Mailchimp_2017_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_17d5f8afbe-5a920d5ddf-340689973&mc_cid=5a920d5ddf&mc_eid=5082ece098

redhogbill Loc: antelope, calif

real good education costs money. when I first got lightroom I did all the free tutorials{ 2 to 3 years} just could not get a grip , until I paid for the classes at " creative live" they took me from beginning to the end, wish I had not tried to save money and just bit the bullet earlier!! https://www.creativelive.com/class/adobe-lightroom-cc-for-beginners-jared-platt

sodapop Loc: Bel Air, MD

I started out wih Lighroom and bought many books, Kelby etc. I later found some video tutorials to be much more helpful. Like sitting down with a teacher one on one and able to repeat as often as needed. Then still use a reference if necessary. Simply my own personal experience, every one is different. Anthony Morganti videos were like an old friend patiently explaining every facet of Lightroom from elementary and then more advanced.I also subscribed to Lynda for $35/month and found shortly later that my local offered the same thing via the library for free. There is a mountain of Lightroom, Photoshop etc info on Lynda. When I really got stuck, I simply Googled the question and almost always came up with an answer. I admit, learning PP was a journey,but well worth the effort.

abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

Gene is right about importing.

As for learning, I recommend Adobe's Julieanne Kost. http://blogs.adobe.com/jkost/lightroom-training-videos and https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom/how-to/understanding-modules.html?playlist=/ccx/v1/collection/product/creative-cloud/segment/designer/explevel/beginner/applaunch/basictraining/collection.ccx.js&ref=helpx.adobe.com

For overall learning, you do not need anything else.

JennT Loc: South Central PA

Small piece of advice for the Nikon D3000---keep it awhile, you will find a DX camera useful once in awhile!

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

To the other ideas, I would add that you should organize your files. I have mine organized by year, state/country,city/county. Then when I import I add a specific name to the Native Camera format.

At first, after all are organized, you can just add but you would have to manually change any file names etc. Note: You can also easily reorganize images after they are in Lightroom. Just be sure that once you have them in LR, DO NOT move them around except in LR otherwise LR will not be able to find them.

Be sure to read/learn about Collections & Keywords. These make organizing much easier.

HTH. Have fun.

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

You have received many references and some good advice, heed it. It's best to tackle using LR after you understand how the application works. Most likely you have some sort of organization for your images on your computer or hard drive. When you open the LR application, click on Import (after making some choices to let the application know what YOU want it to do), and tell the application to go ahead and import, the application simply links to your folders/files on your desktop. The application does not store folders/files nor does it choose what you import or where you import to, you must do those things. The LR window, on the left side in the Library Module where it says Folders will simply reflect the folders on your hard drive. One good way to organize your folders, prior to import, it to put them all into one Main Folder and then the rest of the folders act as subfolders. Read the Adobe Help Manual at Adobe, this very important document will explain how the application works, concentrate on the Library Module information and read this prior to starting to use the application. Another good way to learn is to create a test catalog that will be thrown away. It will not affect your actual images when you throw it away. I like the Martin Evening book, hard copy or ebook. He is very straight-forward and does not jump around a lot as Kelby seems to do in my opinion.