Lightroom-Best version for organization? Get help from ??? (Page 2): For organization, I would look for a program that doesn't require importing. That way, if you move a file to a...

Miker999

For organization, I would look for a program that doesn't require importing. That way, if you move a file to a diffrent folder, the program will know where it is without you having to import it again.
I learned from experience that moving an image can be a headache opening it again in LR.

Rick Garside

I am suggesting you look into ACDSee - their software is designed primarily to organize your photos and is native for PCs (Though I've been using their Mac version and am very happy with it.). It has facial recognition, locations, can do minor editing but really the reason I bought it was for its DAM capabilities. This was something that Mac lost in the transfer from iPhoto to Photos, and I'd been looking for a good replacement. It is reasonably priced, keeps things well organized and the learning curve is pretty simple. They also have a free test mode to try it out.

Jack 13088 Loc: Central NY

Miker999 wrote:

For organization, I would look for a program that doesn't require importing. That way, if you move a file to a diffrent folder, the program will know where it is without you having to import it again.
I learned from experience that moving an image can be a headache opening it again in LR.

I advocate LR with import to folders organized by date and time shot ONLY. It is one of the drop-down destination choice and requires zero thinking. Requiring thinking at Import is an invention to disaster. Besides it is very useful from OS perspective to move entire years etc. to external disks. Then it is trivial to tell LR what you did after.

Then heavily use Collections/Collections Sets for further organization. A collection consumes very little memory adding to your catalog. So little memory that I could not devise an experiment that could measure the growth. You can try any number of schemes and bury any odumb ideas by simply deleting your evidence. Nothing you do with collections will touch the files. At import you can add the files imported to a collection that describes what you were thinking at that time. Very flexible.

Another thing to remember. At nearly all places in LR using the click, shift click and alt click (sorry Mac users I am having brain fade remembering the Mac equivalent) works for making selections.

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

Jack 13088 wrote:

... At nearly all places in LR using the click, shift click and alt click (sorry Mac users I am having brain fade remembering the Mac equivalent) works for making selections.

I'm not familiar with alt-click actions on Windows. I do use Ctrl-click there.
The Mac equivalent is Cmd-click (click and shift-click are the same as Windows).

I believe Option on the Mac is similar to Alt on Windows. Control on the Mac doesn't seem to have any Windows equivalent. I suspect it's not used much because although Command and Option keys are on both sides of my MacBook keyboard, there is only one Command key on the left side. Being fairly new to Mac there may well be uses for the Control key that I'm not aware of.

Jack 13088 Loc: Central NY

DirtFarmer wrote:

I'm not familiar with alt-click actions on Windows... (show quote)

Well I typed that without checking but I’m betting you are correct. I am confident that in this matter the translation from alt and crtl is consistent there are exceptions in at least one context. There is an unusual yet useful combination. Assuming you are aware there is a difference between selected and most selected images. The most select is usually the first selected in a multiple selection case. The case I use this weird situation is when you have a series if shots you would like sync the edits to one typically basic settings if the master turns out to be in the middle of the sequence and you click one end and shift click the other then the first selected will be the most selected but you did your adjustments on one in the middle then you can make it most selected with that combination. (Worlds longest run on sentence?).

Anyway I am down stairs in family room and computer upstairs. For my knees sake I try to limit the trips up and down so I will check this out later.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

Rotorhead wrote:

Many years ago I chose Lightroom primarily to organize my photos. I have been lousy with that organizing idea. I have Lightroom 6. Old as dirt. Do I need to upgrade if my primary purpose is to organize my photos? And.....where do I go for help? Are there classes in E. Iowa or Southern CA. Recommended tutorials? Thanks a bunch.

The answers thus far have been about how to use LR but I read you question as “how do I organize my photos”, for which LR is just a tool. The big gorilla in the room is the organizational method itself. Am I correct?

Unfortunately the method is very subjective. Ask 5 people you will get 3-5 methods. Most methods have key elements, such as processes for file naming, folder structure, and keywording. However details vary. There is no one right method, only the one that works best for you based on your thinking, your subjects, your end use for the archive.

If inventing your own method is too daunting, suggestions have been given here for instructors who teach a method that may work for you.

Regardless of the method, the thing is you just gotta start and keep at it.

Jack 13088 Loc: Central NY

JD750 wrote:

The answers thus far have been about how to use LR... (show quote)

Certainly I was thinking the very same thing. Most are going to press for their favorite scheme which may or may not suit you.

With that said there are a couple of points:

Most important! Decide of a simple scheme for the folders you import into that are ignorant of the subject and never but never move files or folders around. It makes no difference io Lightroom and shouldn’t matter to you. That will keep you out of trouble.

Second liberally use collections and key words. Collections pretty much look and act like folders with the big advantage that an image can be placed in many collections and if you edit one anywhere all instances will be the same. If you want to subject an image make a vertical copy which doesn’t copy the original saving memory and avoids confusion between the original and copy.

Jack 13088 Loc: Central NY

Jack 13088 wrote:

Well I typed that without checking but I’m betting... (show quote)

OK you were correct.
click--> select this one.
Shift + click-->all between last click and this one.
Crtl + click--> toggle this one.
Alt + click--> most select this one.

ArcticTrails Loc: Valdez Alaska

Rotorhead wrote:

Many years ago I chose Lightroom primarily to organize my photos. I have been lousy with that organizing idea. I have Lightroom 6. Old as dirt. Do I need to upgrade if my primary purpose is to organize my photos? And.....where do I go for help? Are there classes in E. Iowa or Southern CA. Recommended tutorials? Thanks a bunch.

Steve Perry has a good tutorial on the Lightroom Library module. Possibly it may be of help. See: https://bcgwebstore.com/product/bcg-lightroom-course-1-the-library-module-file-handling-importing/

Best wishes,
Kai

AzYooper Loc: Sun Lakes AZ (Almost Phoenix)

UTMike wrote:

Anthony Morganti and Mark Koslowski both have excellent tutorials online.

If it matters, it is MATT Kloskowski, not Mark in case you do a search.

tshift Loc: Overland Park, KS.

Rotorhead wrote:

Many years ago I chose Lightroom primarily to organize my photos. I have been lousy with that organizing idea. I have Lightroom 6. Old as dirt. Do I need to upgrade if my primary purpose is to organize my photos? And.....where do I go for help? Are there classes in E. Iowa or Southern CA. Recommended tutorials? Thanks a bunch.

I fought doing it for a long time. I also had Lightroom 6, but finally jumped in. Lightroom Classic with Photoshop $9.99/month. Have been SUPER HAPPY with purchase and would never go with anything else. Try it you can always stop it. Thanks BE SAFE!!

Tom

sueyeisert Loc: New Jersey

I agree.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

sueyeisert wrote:

I agree.

To what and with whom? We would know if you would click the 'Quote Reply' button instead of using the 'Quick Reply' option.

tcthome Loc: NJ

Look at B&H on you tube. Scott Kelby https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLX27yyDiIs

Tim Grey LR6 if you do a search LRC if upgrade. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daYUG8orcF8

Kelby also has a book on LR6/LRC thats several years old that will point youin the right direction.

dbrugger25 Loc: Raleigh, NC

I simply use the Pictures directory in windows. I organize by year, then subject, then PDF and RAW. Sometimes, in each subdirectory I create another subdirectory titled "Best".

In the view, I select Large Icons.

I have SSD external drives classified by time. Examples are 1970-1990; 1991-2000; etc. Only the more current photos remain on my computer hard drive and I back them up frequently. I have had a few computer crashes over the years and, sadly, lost some valued photos. Now I don't take chances.

I find this far more simple than relying on any software program.