GreenReaper

I have done this in the past, but not very often. I need simple, step by step instructions on how to move my images from my camera card to a new folder on my external hard drive. As I said, I've done it in the past, but not very often. Any help will be greatly appreciated, thanks in advance.

fredpnm Loc: Corrales, NM

Are you saying you've never imported photo files from your camera or card? How have you been using Lightroom in that case?

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

1. Put the SD card in your computer
2. Open Lightroom Classic
3. Check that you are in the Library module.
4. Find the Import button in the lower left
5. Check the source on the left
6. Verifiy the operation at the top of the screen
7. Determine the destination folder on the right
8. Press the import button on the lower right

bleirer

Just to pile on, there are choice boxes top middle of the import screen: move, copy, add to lightroom catalog, convert to dng. I think copy is the choice in this case.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

Not piling on, but that was what I meant by #6... the choices at the top of the screen.

rick_n_wv Loc: Charleston WV

1) Put card in reader
2) Open the card in windows explorer (the folder Icon at the bottom of your screen) or right click the search and type in flies explorer.
3) right click the folder and click on copy
4) go to where you want you save it on your external drive and at the top click on New Folder
5) name folder and double click to open it
6)right click and click on paste

traderjohn Loc: New York City

Have you tried YouTube?? There is a wealth of information there.

bleirer

The OP is asking about Lightroom though. What you said would work, except after that they would then have to go to the import module in lightroom and choose to add to catalog.

sodapop Loc: Bel Air, MD

You are right. Why the extra step?

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

My process may seem lengthy but it’s straightforward. I do not save the raw files on my hard drive as they take up too much space. Here’s what I do:
1. Plug in my external HD and create a new folder Or choose an existing folder. Open the folder you just created or the existing folder.
2. Plug my memory card into the computer
3. Open a new window on the computer and click on the memory card icon to open it
4. Get to the file names list — each camera has its own naming system. Highlight all the files.
5. Drag and drop the files into the folder you have open.
6. Safely eject the memory card
7. Open LrClassic/library module and I make sure the Add option is chosen
8. Click on Import at the bottom left, choose the external drive (at the top under Source) and select the folder you’re using. (If you’re using an existing folder, make sure you’ve checked the box that says to exclude duplicates!)
9. The photos in the folder will appear and then click on the import button on the right this time.
10. Watch the loading bar at the top left. On my system, there’s a little ding that sounds when the import is complete.

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

You do not mention is you want to perform this in Lightroom or not.

To just copy and move the images: Open the Finder twice on the screen. In one window (Source) open the camera card. On the other (call if the 'Target') open an existing folder or make a new on using whatever naming convention you wish. On 'Source' select all the files you want to transfer; then drag all the select files on 'Source' over "Target" and drop. This will not rename the files. Then if you desire you can just import them to LR using the 'ADD" Choice.

To move them in LR, select Import
Select the source folder and check those files you wish to import.
The in the Far Upper right corner select the target folder (you can make a new folder in this dialog)
You can rename files with this method or append some meaningful word to the image name assigned by the camera.

Then select Import.

Two ways to get to the same endpoint.

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

One good way to import images in LrC directly is to create a folder LrC where you want it to reside. You can create folder with a right click or with the asterisk in the folder panel. Then right click on that folder and choose the option that says, Import to this Folder." This will allow you to bypass putting on your hard drive first.

bleirer

I think a lot of people like to do it that way, get them on the hard drive first maybe using a fast viewer to cull before moving to lightroom.

whatdat Loc: Del Valle, Tx.

Sounds like a lot of work; why don’t they do like Nikon processing and just let you click on transfer? Seems a lot easier. Tried Lightroom; couldn’t find import or transfer anywhere on the menu.

bleirer

Big import button lower left under all the folders. Also under File/import photos and video