AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

I tried it. It didn't work. Don't remember now why.

JFCoupe Loc: Kent, Washington

Some great suggestions already posted.

To get started go to You Tube and request a video using key words in LR.

Are you aware of the sorting tools at the top of the screen when in Library/Grid mode. Clicking on text will enable you to search by key words.

Also look at You Tube and learn about collections and smart collections. It will help you decide on how to key word images. LR really is a very valuable tool for managing your images.

JFCoupe Loc: Kent, Washington

Tip based on a question above.

In LR in Library/Grid mode, you can highlight multiple images and enter key word(s) for all highlighted images at one time. I frequently do this when I have been shooting in one location on a shoot. Then individually or again is subsets you can additional key word to one or more images as needed.

For example on a recent trip to Death Valley, I started all images with Death Valley as a key word.
Some images were at Mesquite Dunes, so I selected (highlighted) those images and added Mesquite Dunes to them. Others were at Ubehebe Crater and I selected those images and entered that description. Some images had clouds or sunsets, etc, and as desired I added those additional key words.

I will also some times add Print or Contest entry to specific images.

Further, I will then sort and color code and star images.

Then, I can sort on any combination of these key words, color codes and star codes. Makes finding images later relatively easy.

Have fun experimenting and getting to a good personal filing approach.

AlanW Loc: Upstate NY

I have a KelbyOne subscription and I found Scott's SLIM (Simplified Lightroom Image Management) system works best for me after trying several other methods. It is based on having a few top level categories (10 or so) and then sub-folders as needed. You then duplicate this structure as collection sets and create collections under the bottom set. You then work within those collections(see example below). It is the basis for my workflow in LR. I also use some keywording to help find things across multiple collections. Collections (and virtual copies) are powerful tools in LR once you get familiar with them.

Example folder:
_Sports/Soccer/GF Varsity vs LG 10152019/<Import all your images for this shoot here>

Corresponding collections and collection sets:
_Sports/Soccer/GF Varsity vs LG 10152019/Full Shoot (All images for this shoot)
_Sports/Soccer/GF Varsity vs LG 10152019/Picks (First round of culling)
_Sports/Soccer/GF Varsity vs LG 10152019/Selects (Second round of culling, to be PP'd)

Additional collection:
Projects/GF Varsity 2019/Book (Images from multiple Sports collections to be included in a book)

I suggest you look into the Kelby SLIM system via google.

Hope this helps more than it confuses :)

Alan

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

I have nearly 200,000 images in my current Lease catalog and can find any image within a few seconds.

I make use of descriptive folder names, keywords, collections. My folders are listed by year then by month and date. Are you doing at least one of these things?

My folder structure allows me to be almost as fast using Windows Explorer in most cases. I do NOT group folders by subject matter- that's what Lr's collections and keywording is for.

pithydoug Loc: Catskill Mountains, NY

Me too! I find LR's default of using dates of no value to me. I have no idea what would be in folder with just a date, especially if it's years old. My outermost directory is say 2019. Each folder is specific to the place and date. Eg. 2019->
XYZ State park 3-15-19
Tom's wedding 4-21-19
XYZ State park 5-22-19
....
2020->
etc
....
.....
adding keywords will help you zero in even quicker

Photocraig

Hi AZ, I betcha you could use Excel (if you have it) to accomplish what the DOS program does---if you still want to do it. Excel has a powerful search and sorting capability as well as competent date arithmetic. It is a mini database (simple) and a computational monster for algebra enabled people.

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

I've used Excel for decades. It's one of my favorite programs. However, it won't do what the original database did, and I'm still searching for a database like that one. But thanks for thinking of me!

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

I also catalog by subject, which makes sense because I often use two cameras essentially simultaneously, and I will often visit the same place multiple times with different cameras. I am much more interested in place, occasion than any other subject.

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

My organization key is the keywords.

I rename my files on download so that they have a short description of the shoot plus the date and time.
Files are stored in a folder with a path YYYY/[description]/RAW (or JPG). Edited results are stored in the folder at YYYY/[description].

I put the description on the file name and the folder name so that my family can find things when I'm gone. I rarely use it myself to find things.
Instead, I rely on keywords and collections. I try to make the keyword list fairly complete for each file. When I import into LR all the images get a generic set of keywords, applicable to all the images. After culling, I then go through the lot and add names of people appearing in the photo and any other important items applicable to individual files.

If you keyword set is reasonably complete a search for keywords will bring up images that you are looking for. You can include names in the keyword search so you can find photos of particular people at particular events. I view keywording as an art to be learned. You want a complete enough set of keywords to describe a shot fully, but not so many as to take forever to add them. LR does help with keywording. It will give suggestions when you start to enter a keyword and you can look at a list of recent keywords and select one or two of them as needed. You can also look through the entire set of keywords. It can be a big set, but it's useful if you make a type or misspell someone's name. You can edit the keywords.

Collections are also a good way to organize events, or places. And smart collections can automate the process.

As with many others, I don't remember when I took a photo. If I want to know that, I look the photo up in LR and find the date there.

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

Jason Bradley did a 4-part article in Outdoor Photographer on Organizing Your Photos. Part 4 was in the December issue. It's pretty good. He discusses the use of keywords, collections, etc.

hassighedgehog Loc: Corona, CA

Don't use Lightroom, but the similar Photoshop Elements Organizer. Download from card by date. When they are ID'd by the program add Keywords like Place, Event, photography, other, etc. then year if I have been there more than once. Ex. Disneyland 1995 Oct. Try to abbreviate, ex: Disny 1995 oct. Some abbreviations only I might know: Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens becomes RSABG. The keyword tag will have the full name.

BanjoTom

Check out IMatch -- if you use Windows, it's a fabulous program for cataloging, annotating, and (ultimately) retrieving images (or other files on your PC, since it's more than a photo-database; it's a full-blown Digital Asset Manager. Works very well in conjunction with Lightroom, too. And IMatch has the best product support I've ever encountered, and a world-wide forum of helpful users as well. Try it out for free at photools.com...

lschiz Loc: Elgin, IL

Being a LR user for many years I have found the Cataloging is great, by year, month event, however you prefer BUT
Key wording is such powerful tool. I focus on key wording for gen info and details. You can find any word in seconds and all the images pop up.
I'm sure there must be other programs equality good as LR with key wording.
I would suggest spend time to keyword any image enough to find it.

CamB Loc: Juneau, Alaska

Something I do sometimes with Lightroom. When I am looking for a picture to represent an idea I will look through the keyword list. This will often give me some hints. Clicking on a keyword in the list brings up all the shots with that word.
...Cam