Thombar Loc: Hominy, OK

Unfortunately I began loading my photos from IPhoto and Piscas, into Lightroom, way before I knew what I was really doing. I have since added photos from both my camera and numerous preset downloads, as well as pictures and grunge textures. The files are now really a mess and I get a lot of "picture not found' messages.
I really need to start over from scratch now that I have a better understanding of how LR works. I'm also getting an external HD to store all of my photos and post processing videos on. Can anyone tell me what the process for doing this might be, or direct me to a tutorial on how to do this? I have a good deal of $$$ invested in presets and grunge textures that I really don't want to lose. Any help/suggestions would be appreciated.

Shellback Loc: North of Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands - Kansas

Review these tutorials -
Videos
LR4 - Complete training package
http://en.elephorm.com/tuto-lightroom-4-complete-training.html

Adobe Lightroom 5 - Training Videos by Anthony Morganti
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLllFqBuTM0WI0fC_PujkGoLMyXWXd3yF7

Learn Lightroom 5 - Adobe TV
http://tv.adobe.com/show/learn-lightroom-5/

LR Catalog FAQ
http://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom/kb/catalog-faq-lightroom.html

10 Tips for Optimizing your photos with LR
http://petapixel.com/2015/02/08/10-tips-optimizing-photos-lightroom-primer-basic-techniques/

Text
Photo Editing in Lightroom 101
http://photographypla.net/lightroom-101/

Thombar Loc: Hominy, OK

Hi Shellback,
Thanks for the quick response. None of these seem to cover what I want to do. I want to start with a clean LR but save all my current photos then re-import them into new folders that are better organized.

Shellback Loc: North of Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands - Kansas

Hmmm - I would Google what you are trying to do and see what tutorials or answers pop up... There is a ton of info out there and I found a lot of answers using the search engines.

Also, fellow hogger Searcher is very knowledgeable about LR and may have some info for you. Also, he put together some LR links that might help: http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-156310-1.html

Hope this helps...

OldBobD Loc: Ohio

If you intend to start with a "clean Lightroom", maybe you should organize all your stuff into organized folders first (before importing into Lightroom). The folder structure in Lightroom is relatively unimportant - you use keywords, flags, ratings, etc. to find stuff in Lightroom whatever folders it's stored in.

pithydoug Loc: Catskill Mountains, NY

I don't agree that the folder structure is unimportant. In fact I would suggest something visually appealing and makes sense. The default LR using the nothing but dates really sucks. I agree that search structure will get you there, but eventually.

I use something like 2015 for outer with each directory named A reservoir 2-15-15, Maine Vacation May, etc. With the panel on the left you can visually dial into where you want to be without ever having to run the search. Yes, we should also use keywords, etc but as a secondary search.

doduce Loc: Holly Springs NC

Try this Tim Grey session on managing files in LR--that's where you probably have to start. He's quite good--clearly a LR ninja with a good, open, conversational style--and has a very nice daily Q&S post you can subscribe to. This link is to his tutorial hosted on the B&H Explora site.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/photography/tips-and-solutions/15-tips-image-management-success-lightroom-5

Woodham Lock Loc: Woodham UK

Had the same issues. I purchased Scott Kelby's book on Lightroom.
The most important thing to do is import from the same location so I put the photos that I wanted to import into a new folder called Lightroom Imports and left everything else where it was. I did have to read the relevant sections in the book a few times but once the penny drops on how it all works it is great-stick with it!

twillsol Loc: St. Louis, MO

First, get your photos organized so you know exactly what photos you want to import.

Then, start with a brand new catalog and do all your importing into the new catalog.

Hope this helps.

Morning Star Loc: West coast, North of the 49th N.

Isn't it as simple as making sure the actual photos are on your hard drive, then deleting the catalogs?
Or if you're not comfortable with that, copy all your photos and files to an external hard drive, including any other files you want to keep, then disconnect the external drive.
Delete your catalogs, check that your photos are still on the hard drive, or copy them back from the external, and start your new catalog.
Just to be sure, I do not use LR, but from reading many messages here, the catalogs show you thumbnails, not the actual photos.
Before you even begin to do all that, think over how you want to have your photos organized so that you have to do this only once.

brucewells Loc: Central Kentucky

Thombar, I had many photos when I started using LR, and knew that I wanted to "catch up" before starting to add new photos to my catalog. I knew that whatever I did during the organizational process, I wanted to do the same for all photos. In other words, I knew I wanted a workflow that would allow me to find any photo at any time in the future.

In my quest, I came upon a book titled "Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classroom in a Book". It takes a few days, but reading the book front to back gave me the insight into how Lightroom works its magic and gave me the groundwork for establishing my workflow. It also serves as a great point of reference when I want to do something a bit different.

I highly recommend the book.

photoshack Loc: Irvine, CA

I went through what you are going through right now.

1. Lightroom makes a catalog file and then "tracks" your settings, location, the thumbnails it creates and other data in this file. You can have multiple catalogs (one for Drive A, one for Drive B, etc.) but I don't recommend that. The file you open today has missing photos that's where that picture not found comes from. Create a NEW catalog, name it proper and make sure you keep it somewhere you are backing up. If you are shooting RAW images (and I hope you are) there is a very valuable feature called "side car" which you can google; turn that on with the catalog so it creates tiny xml files with your raw files and all your adjustments to raw files are saved with the file itself; if your catalog is corrupted or lost it won't matter.

2. If you are all set and want to "move" your photos and organize them in Lightroom (the ONLY way to organize them, you do NOT want to move directories outside of LR) you create your master "library" folder" in LR, then you use LR to import from all other sources into your new library folder. Your default settings are to set by year, then subfolder by date. I recommend you keep this; it is looking at the exif data to determine when. It doesn't matter if LR gets it wrong for some reason (like you always use a program that scrapes exif data from your converted JPGS) since you can reorganize and tag, etc. later. You use the MOVE option to do this if you want it gone from wherever it is currently sitting. I recommend this to avoid confusion.

3. Once you have imported from all locations, you then get about the organizing within LR. You right click to create folders in the structure, you drag folders from one folder to another much like finder or explorer. Always use LR to move files; it tracks where you have organized and moves the little "sidecar" files automatically. You can begin the process of adding metadata to find your stuff; you can use the "view in subfolders" to see them all, then sort by date, etc. to help you do this.

The Picasa import is horrendous; the duplication of files, etc. really does make for a long clean up but once you have it dialed in and use LR to manage your images you'll be much happier.

Hope I've helped...it is tough getting all this in one email..

Thombar Loc: Hominy, OK

Thanks, Doduce! I will give this a try.

:thumbup: :thumbup:

pithydoug Loc: Catskill Mountains, NY

I agree with all except using the default date LR convention. if your are one to organize you mind around dates fine. if 1/2/14 tells you these are the photos of the XYZ zoo trip, no problem. If not the dates are of little value and you need to use a pile of keywords and searchs to find pics. In essence, the left LR pane becomes of little to no visual use. If those directory names use words and dates they become visually useable.

There are many youtube videos that discuss taking the time to construct a directory/naming convention that makes sense to the user doing the work. And most steered you away from the dates.

Trivial ex:
2014
.> a zoo 1-2-14
.> Jones Shot 1-5-14
.> Maine Vacation 1-12-14
.
.
.
2015
.> a zoo 1-5-15
.< smith wedding 2-12-15

Which looks more readable in the left pane than a series of dates? If the years are top directories you can expand and collapse at will. Use keywords but mostly to dial into locating more specific pictures - zoo/elephant/water.

Don't mean to harp but more time you put into defining your library structure, the easier it will be work the tool.

Thombar Loc: Hominy, OK

Thanks Morningstar. That makes sense.