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Importing +/- 50,000 pictures
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Feb 19, 2019 19:43:11   #
jayw Loc: Contoocook, NH
 
I finally am getting around to using my LR 6.14 stand alone that has been on my PC for a very long time. This is when I realized that I have about 50,000 photos!

Here is my dilemma. I tried to view the photos I want to import to my backup HD by unchecking those I don't want to import. Suspected dups have been greyed out, so those are not an issue.

When I go to review my photos in LR as a preview and then unchecking those not to be included in the import, it becomes very tedious and at times I lose track and have to start from the beginning. Talk about about pulling my hair out.

I was thinking of doing multiple imports.

Anyone have a suggestion on how to accomplish this task in a easier way?

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Feb 19, 2019 19:53:44   #
bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA
 
I'm confused by "I want to import to my backup HD". Where are the files now? Are you making backup copies? Are you trying to move files?

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Feb 19, 2019 20:09:52   #
fredpnm Loc: Corrales, NM
 
Here is what I would do...import them all, every last one. Then...

Using the "Painter" feature of LR (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lcGjAgr9TI), set for Flag and Reject go thru the photos you have imported and flag to reject those you don't want. Wait until you have looked at the entire photo set before deleting any of the rejected photos. That way you will have an approximation of where you left off if you have to stop in the middle of reviewing your photos. With 50,000 you will have to stop.

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Feb 19, 2019 20:21:40   #
jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ
 
fredpnm wrote:
Here is what I would do...import them all, every last one. Then...

Using the "Painter" feature of LR (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lcGjAgr9TI), set for Flag and Reject go thru the photos you have imported and flag to reject those you don't want. Wait until you have looked at the entire photo set before deleting any of the rejected photos. That way you will have an approximation of where you left off if you have to stop in the middle of reviewing your photos. With 50,000 you will have to stop.
Here is what I would do...import them all, every l... (show quote)


I've never used that Painter feature before but I've seen it used in videos and looks like that would work great....

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Feb 19, 2019 20:41:34   #
CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City
 
You can also use stacking after the import. You'll have the duplicates in the library, but they "don't count" if stacked. Assuming the EXIF is correct, you can use the stacking option of auto by capture time. Set the difference equal to 0:00:00 on time and images at the same time will stack, assuming the images files reside in the same folder, even if being different types.

You may end up using several different tools, if desired, to filter out the duplicates and / or picking the master version within the library. The sooner you get them into the library, the sooner you'll have the more powerful searching and filtering tools to use to analyze the consolidated population of images for next steps. For example, if IMG-0001 doesn't stack because two JPEGs of this image exist in different folders, if you sort by capture time and walk the results, you'll find them next to each other and can decide which can be deleted as a duplicate and / or not the version to be retained. Flag one as rejected and you can sweep the library later to perform a mass-delete of files set to rejected.

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Feb 19, 2019 20:42:06   #
jayw Loc: Contoocook, NH
 
bsprague wrote:
I'm confused by "I want to import to my backup HD". Where are the files now? Are you making backup copies? Are you trying to move files?


My bad. Sorry.

From my HD on my desktop to my external HD. Not move, just copy.

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Feb 19, 2019 20:55:07   #
bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA
 
Three of you have advised to import. To me that means telling Lightroom where the files are, except when also copying from a camera card. The OP says he is importing to his backup drive. That's a flag he is doing something non-standard.

From where are the files coming? How is the current storage organized (or not)! Is Jayw clearing his primary drive? Is Jayw creating a backup?

Being used for the first time is a two year old version. The first thing we are doing is "importing 50000+ photos" to an external backup drive.

What answers will be provided when Jayw posts his computer has been importing for days and has locked up on photo 30,203?

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Feb 19, 2019 20:57:27   #
bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA
 
jayw wrote:
My bad. Sorry.

From my HD on my desktop to my external HD. Not move, just copy.


You want Lightroom to register where they all exist on your current storage, generate previews and simultaneously make copies on an external drive?

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Feb 19, 2019 20:59:18   #
bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA
 
And, again, Jayw, what is the current organizational structure?

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Feb 19, 2019 20:59:25   #
jayw Loc: Contoocook, NH
 
Thanks for all the suggestions.

What about importing everything through LR, then going through everything and deleting the folders on the backup HD not wanted?

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Feb 19, 2019 21:04:45   #
jayw Loc: Contoocook, NH
 
Names/dates for main folder and numbers for sub photos. Not pretty, but it works for me.

Will keep same structure when importing to backup drive.

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Feb 19, 2019 21:30:56   #
bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA
 
Jayw,

I don't mean to be rude, but Lightroom does not "import to a backup drive". Maybe someone else sees how to import and backup at the same time, but I don't.

Without getting too detailed, Lightroom will register all your photos on computer in a catalog. That's what it is for. It will offer to backup that registration catalog. It does not conveniently backup your image files. Although Lightroom might be "tricked" in a couple ways, backing up image files is for another process. It is certainly not intended for that.

If you want to get your 50,000 photos into Lightroom and make backups, I would be happy to try and help, one step at a time.

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Feb 20, 2019 07:22:07   #
Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States
 
jayw wrote:
My bad. Sorry.

From my HD on my desktop to my external HD. Not move, just copy.


If they are all in one main directory I'd simply copy the main directory from one drive to the backup drive using Windows Explorer. Start and go have breakfast...
(How familiar are you with Windows Explorer?)

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Feb 20, 2019 08:16:00   #
jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY
 
When I've had to move large numbers of images, I move one folder at a time - Cars, Christmas, etc. If a folder has too many pictures, I'll import them in smaller groups - all the As, Bs, etc. I don't do any deleting when I import. One operation at a time.

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Feb 20, 2019 08:30:24   #
jayw Loc: Contoocook, NH
 
That was going to be my next attempt.

Thanks

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