jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

A couple of weeks ago, I began using keywords in LR. I went to my folders of images, and it was easy enough to select all in one group and apply the same keyword. From there, I could break the group down into sub groups. For example, the group would be cars, with sub groups for antique, racing, hot rods, etc. As I continue with keywords, I find that I need a simpler base setup. For example, I could use "People" and "Things" as my two main groups, but that's too vague. Looking for ideas online didn't help much.

So, I'm open to suggestions for how to have a good organizational base for keywords.

tsilva Loc: Arizona

Jesus, Only YOU know what will make it easy for YOU to find YOUR pictures

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Possibly some ideas here:
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-355009-1.html

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Yes, but figuring that out is too hard!

I'm looking for a tried and true method that actually works. So far, my efforts have expanded my base of keywords way too much. With so many clever, talented people here, I know someone will be able to help me avoid thinking too much.

By the way, my name is Jerry. I'm not Mexican. :D

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Thanks. I'll take a look.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I got some ideas from my previous post about keywords, so at this point, I'm accumulating information. This seems like it could become a very large topic. Maybe we need a separate section here for Lightroom Keywords. :D

jim quist Loc: Missouri

I might have a couple of dozen key words per photo. Whatever I think I might need to make it a lot easier in 5 years to find that one photo. The upside is for a shoot a lot of the images might have the exact same key words and that's easy enough to duplicate.

A football game:
football, collegiate, sports, white jersey, green jersey, PSU, MSSU, stadium, Kansas City, MO, Arrowhead, touchdown, field goal, referee, quarterback, September, 2015, 9/14/2015, afternoon, shady, rain, locker room, homecoming, player name, player number, home game, away game, new camera, new lens, Cam, Newton, Blinn, Ft Scott, sleet, rain, cold, community college, national, championship, wet camera, etc

What I am wearing in case thats all I remember.
anything unusual that happened. (cheerleaders tripped/band patriotic tribute))
What newspaper or magazine published the photo
CNN arrived at one game, so I added CNN

I received a call from a newspaper in Texas wanting to use photo of Cam Newton at the Blinn vs Ft Scott Community College National Championships that was played at PSU in Kansas. So I make it as easy to find a photo as I can. What if on the phone all the guy could remember was it was drizzling sleet that day? I had sleet as a key word.

I dont keyword every photo, except for general keywords when I upload. I only need them on photos that are keepers

OnDSnap Loc: NE New Jersey

Use what you want per shot...IMO, start with a main keyword, from there.... the more the better per shot, more forgiving searches. Few of my shots have only one keyword associated with it, usually a person, but others that that, I'll use what colors,textures, patterns, grass, sky, clouds,etc. etc. Some have as many as 20 keywords attached to it. Greater searching power...

Revet Loc: Fairview Park, Ohio

I have been keywording for 3 years or so (18,000 photos). I had the exact question when I first started. You can look at all the Lightroom "experts" suggestions you want but ultimately you will end up with your own unique keywording system. That is the beauty of Lightroom. What is cool is that you can change it on the fly. It is not difficult to change at a later time period. Its as simple as creating new categories, then left click and drag. I did a complete restructure about 8 months ago and the whole thing for 18000 photos took me an hour. Now I think I have it the way I want it!!

steveo52 Loc: Rhode Island and Ocala Florida

Jerry great topic.................I too am facing the same problem.

So you aren't Mexican after all!!! ROTFLMAO :lol: :lol:

PhotoshooterNJ Loc: NJ

Lucky your Jerry.... This way you won't have to worry how to get back over the wall! :lol:

JimmyH

This works really, really, well for me. Try using, "photographs", as a key word.

Capture48 Loc: Arizona

Here is what I use as a Base KW layer. Right click on "Needs a Home" and there is a selection to put uncategorized keywords there. Keeps them from running wild.

chaprick

In the past I have used Places, People, Animals, & Things, as major categories. From there I would break it into sub-groups. I started this when I physically filed pictures and negatives back in the 1980's. I still have some of those files and I can still access what I'm looking for in them.

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

I've looked at all the posts. Here is my most basic set of keywords:

Year, Country or State, City or Area, general term (waterfall, shore, cityscape, trains, auto, antique, architecture, decay, and on), and if appropriate a special event name.

I usually mind 4-5 keywords are more than enough for me.