junglejim1949 Loc: Sacramento,CA

I just installed Lightroom Classic on my Desktop and will be setting up my catalog on an external hard drive. So far I have my SSD external hard drive and a folder called Jims Lightroom. I watched a video which said to used Auto import - enable auto import - auto import settings. I am not sure of how this really works or is it a best practice?
Any thoughts on where I can get more info. Most videos I have watched stated to have only two main Folders and to use Collections (instead of Folders).
It has been an interesting night.
Jim

fredpnm Loc: Corrales, NM

Set up folders...use the structure of your choosing - Photo/year/month/day/event, whatever makes sense to you. Just remember that Lightroom Classic DOES NOT store your photos, it only keeps a database of where your photos are located. Be sure to back up your catalog on some schedule, daily, weekly, or monthly depending on just how much you are using LR. I use weekly.

Collections (and smart collections) are useful, but not as your main storage structure. I would NOT use auto import. You can always create a preset import setup if you have a certain way you like to have LR settings for imports. That can come later or not at all. Such presets aren't mandatory.

For some excellent videos to help go to YouTube and look for videos from Julieanne Kost.

junglejim1949 Loc: Sacramento,CA

Thanks very much Fred

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

Videos by Kost, and info on Lightroom Queen website, can be very helpful to you.

I have all my photos on an external drive, in a folder structure by year/month/date. I create the new folders within this structure manually, import new photos into them manually and bring them into LRClassic using the "add photos" command. I have tried the automated method and I prefer my own. I like to control the process myself, that way I'm sure everything ends up where I want it. I add some keywords as I import, and refine them later. I use collections as a flexible tool to gather up images I need for some purpose (like making a calendar or preparing for a exhibit) but collections don't change where anything goes nor do they duplicate anything.

junglejim1949 Loc: Sacramento,CA

I appreciate the advice minniv thanks very much.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

Jim,

I don't know what "Auto" Import is. What video did you watch? Where are your image files now? Are you moving the image files to your new external SSD?

You might try setting up a "practice" catalog. Work with a dozen or so images and make all the mistakes you want. Then when you are happy and confident, start a new catalog and go to work on your system. Then delete the practice catalog. As already mentions, Lightroom Classic NEVER changes your originals. You can make it delete files but it will make you think twice about that.

lreisner Loc: Union,NJ

I have never used auto import, only Manual. As noted, you are only moving information into a data base, which is LR. So make sure your file structure on you hard drive is the way you want it. Then import it into LR. The cardinal rule never to break is that once you import your picture information (LR itself does not import actual files. It just reads them where ever they are stored.) you should never change or move those files outside of the Lightroom interface. If you do, you can wind up in trouble and hurt!!! Lightroom only knows what changes you make while working in the program. Therefore, if you change the name or move a file outside of Lightroom, it will be disconnected or lost from Lightroom. It can be reconnected, it is just more work and sometimes a real pain to do.

Collections are totally different from your folder file struture that reside on your hard drive. Collections are completely virtual creations and only exist within the Lightroom universe. Collections have lots of great uses, but you should also have an organized structure for them as well. If you want that structure to be the same as your file structure, then by all means, create both upon import. How to use Collections is a matter of personal work flow.

There is plenty of information out there on YouTube and within The Creative Cloud App, part of your subscription. Good luck.

JFCoupe Loc: Kent, Washington

Since you are getting started with LR, one other tip for files is:

If you decide to create a specific folder for images, perhaps different than your normal folder structure, be sure to move the images within LR. LR will move the images on your external drive and keep the links to the LR data base coordinated. Do not move the images directly on your external drive.

Enjoy LR, it is a terrific post processing tool.

junglejim1949 Loc: Sacramento,CA

What do you think of having only two folders... one for imports and one for photos and using Collections for themes etc?

Desert Gecko Loc: desert southwest, USA

I also dislike and do not use auto import. It's been years since I used auto but if memory serves, when auto is enabled, Lightroom tries to download photos from any thumb drive you plug in (and I presume from a HDD or SSD also, but I can't say for sure). To maintain a reasonably sized catalogue, I usually roughly cull my photos outside of Lightroom before import, so this doesn't work for me.

junglejim1949 Loc: Sacramento,CA

Thanks, I just did not know how it worked. Do you download your images to a drive, then cull what you don't want and import the remaining?

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

I'm confused by your question. Lightroom Classic does not "import" photos INTO Lightroom. The process labeled "Import" registers your photos in the catalog database file.

So, a "folder for imports" makes no sense. A folder for photos is logical.

You may have two different situations. One is getting everything already on your computer imported/registered in the Classic catalog. The other is about future additions from your camera.

For the first situation, please post about your current photo storage and folder structure. Where are you current photo files.

Hip Coyote

I think that is a recipe for a mess and not using LR as intended. I'd love to see the video you watched that suggested not using folders...the most basic of LR organizational structure. It makes no sense. You need to get this right up front. Do not proceed until you get your organizational thing figured out or you will have to go back and un-screw the mess your created. As me how I know!

Simplicity is the key. Create a folder in LR within your determined file structure. Import photos into that folder and only that folder. You can rename the images, add key words upon import. Process from there. You can add key words after import as well. Photos should only be in one folder but can be in many collections. (Key point!!!!)

You are misconstruing the use of collections. Collections are not folders. You can designate photos from all your photos (regardless of where it is located on your drive) and put them into a collection. The collection process does not move a photo. It only has a pointer to where the photo is. You need folders and can also use collections...two different beasts.

So, for instance, I have a folder system as follows:
Pictures>2023>02 Yellowstone>Day 1, where 02 is the month we visited Yellowstone. I use Day 1, Day 2, etc for instances where there are a lot of pics and I need to keep that all straight in my mind. If is just a birthday party, then I do not use day 1, day 2, etc. That folder might look like Pictures>2013>05 Tom Birthday Party, where 05 was the month of the party. From there you can do key words, facial recognition, etc. I strongly encourage the use of X and P to curate your photos. Delete the bad ones, work on the good ones. Do not keep bad photos.

I can then do a collection (because I used key words and/or ran facial recognition) where I get all photos with Uncle Bob and Little Fred together in a photo. I do the query, find the photos and make a collection out of them. Pics of Fred and Bob in Yellowstone are in a collection of them at the birthday party. Get it right up front and you can do this easily.

I am not sure about some auto import. Just do it using the buttons in LR and it should work out just fine.

Desert Gecko Loc: desert southwest, USA

I download my SD cards to a drive on my PC. In Windows, I scroll through and choose candidates for processing and move them to a subfolder. Then I'll import the subfolder's files into Lightroom to process.

I just find Windows Explorer to be more versatile and easier than Lightroom to cull my photos. Yes, I know that in Lightroom I can rate the photos with stars and select only the highest-rated, but that doesn't limit the overall number of photos. Often, I'll take several thousand photos on a week-long trip with my sons' Scout troop or some other adventure. Most of the photos are nothing more than candids or snapshots. Since I shoot in both RAW and jpeg, the jpegs are generally good enough for those photos. But mixed in all this are some more serious efforts deserving my attention in Lightroom. That is why I do this.

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

I maintain my own folder structure and import images from these. I've never used Auto Import. I just like my own folder design better...

bwa