pkgoldberg

A fairly experienced amateur, I started shooting in RAW a few years ago and would appreciate advice on how to download and organize my files. I use Lightroom (CC) for post processing. I have been backing up entire shoot from camera card to an external drive before downloading to LR--but the reality is that I don't see much sense in keeping shots that I delete for one reason or another while processing. But going back to external drive and figuring out which to discard is troublesome and a pain in a large volume of shots. Is it wise to download from camera to LR, process, then save final products to an external drive? (To be honest, I'm not even sure where the original RAW files are stored in LR.) Advice appreciated.

brucewells Loc: Central Kentucky

My best advice for you is to get the book Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classroom in a Book. LR is not a simple application. It is very powerful and it helps to understand fully what it does. The book will relate that for you.

When importing in LR, you can place the images wherever you want. LR stores a link to where the image is and displays a thumbnail of it.

There are many tools in LR to help you cull your shots. I import all images, then using the LR tools, decide which I want to keep and which I want to discard. LR makes this process very easy. Once done with that, I start my editing process of the 'keepers'.

Said another way, after the shoot, ALL my time is spent in LR working with those images. There may be some I want to take to Photoshop for some reason, but I can do that from LR. No reason to step out into the functions of the OS.

Hope this helps.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

The RAW files in LR are stored in whatever directory you tell it to on import. Common misconception in the LR world as to where your images actually reside. So, if you import, using your external drive as the target, LR copies the files to that external folder.

There is no "saving" files in LR. LR is a non destructive editor, your changes are recorded in the catalog file (*.lcat) so you can, if you wish, hit reset and return to the beginning. Any changes you make in LR are automatically added to the catalog without requiring user interference. Right clicking on an image in LR and chosing Remove gives you the option of Removing it from the catalog (image remains on storage volume) or Deleting it from disk (like hitting Delete in File Explorer).

bpulv Loc: Buena Park, CA

The original files are not stored in LR. LR only stores the list of edits (see the History panel in the Develop screen) you perform and applies them to the file you save (.psd). When I download my files I first set up a series of file folders on my hard drive. The top level folder is labeled with an identifying title and date. Within that file I make three subfiles; Raw, Working and Final. The SD or CF card is downloaded into the Raw file first. The photos are than imported to LR. They are edited in LR and, if necessary exported to PS for further edits and either saved in the Final folder as .jpg files or exported back to LR for storage or output to the Final folder.

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

FWIW - here is my workflow for post processing images:

I insert my camera card into my card reader and review the images using FastRawViewer on my iMac to select what images are worth editing further in Lightroom.

After images have been selected in FRV, I am able to launch Lightroom from FRV which goes directly into IMPORT with the selected images already selected for import.

I import as DNG so my CR2 raw files are imported into Lightroom and converted to DNG files, meaning any edits are stored in my DNG files and in my catalog (redundancy).

Since I am only importing "keepers" into Lightroom and leaving rejects on my camera card by using FRV to review and select I save space and time.

My iMac backs up hourly to a Time Machine external disk and continually to Crashplan cloud backup, so within an hour my original images are backed up at least once, and I reformat my camera Card in camera.

Currently I have upwards of 50,000 images in my Lightroom catalog stored on an external 6tb disk, backed up on a 4tb Time Machine disk with an unlimited cloud backup in Crashplan, and monthly I connect a 2tb external drive to create a mirror backup of my images.

You can tell Lightroom where to store your images, and you should, or at least know where they are stored.

For me, I let Lightroom manage the sub folders, and I set the top folder initially.

I store all my images on an external drive, within a folder named Lightroom, within a sub folder named "pictures"

From there Lightroom stores images by date taken in sub folders named for the year-month-day.

I also rename my images on import into Lightroom, my initials, year-month-day-time (DNG -2017-06-15 12-05-30-15)

During import into Lightroom images get a few appropriate keywords, and as they are edited they are rated with a star code and receive as many keywords as possible to make locating them later a very simple and fast process.

Hope some of this helps

unlucky2 Loc: Hemet Ca.

To your first sentence; you CC subscription includes AB (adobe bridge) IMHO the fastest easiest way to cull. After downloading start bridge, set to display large thumbnails, highlight the first file and tap the space bar to bring a full screen picture. Right arrow for next picture full screen and delete key to cull. From there you can import to LR or CTRL + R (PC) to start AR (adobe raw). AR is not as powerful as LR but you might like to give it a try, both are non destructive editors and fully compatible (the edits of one show up and can be reversed in the other). Personally I find key wording to be the best way to organize across numerous storage devices/locations. Because my storage is so varied, (numerous ED's, a NAS, google, amazon, flicker & others) I have issues with LR's catalog. My memory of what when and where is questionable at best, so I found key wording to be more reliable than date, location.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Excellent and cheap.

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B007XC99JQ/_encoding=UTF8?coliid=I3E1W26TCEAUVJ&colid=397RKZB5HZQZX

Tet68survivor Loc: Pomfret Center CT

Interesting conversation! My Girl Friend and I shoot lots of photos, I save mine to a "D5200 DOWNLOAD (DATE) OR P600 DOWNLIAD (DATE) first! That is just to clear the card (after I compare both files to make sure I didn'tose anything important). Then put the card back in the camera and format it, (all set ready to go)! My GF let's the computer download her files to it's own place! Now the fun starts, I'm working with my photos in PE15 or just filing them in own folder (name to recognize photos) and she cannot find her photos! No matter how many times I show her! It for some GOD awful reason sticks her photos on ONE DRIVE, even after I turn it off! We both use the same model and spec computers, but hers always hides her photos! I have checked and rechecked the setups and can see no reason! Guarantee it is something so simple it is easy to overlook!

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

I put all my originals on an external drive and then delete the obvious before copying the folder to my HD.

RonMe Loc: San Antonio

I recently discovered an application called ViceVersa that is designed for file synchronization and other tasks. Although I have been using the trial version of the software to ensure my 2 on-site backup drives are exactly the same, it never occurred to me that it could also help me clean up the non-keeper photos that I have. Up until now, I've typically have not deleted poor images because it just seemed too hard to keep my on-site backup drives synchronized. I'm still researching other options for file synchronization software, but this type of software may provide at least a partial solution to your challenge. You can see a comparison of some of the available synchronization software at the following URL

http://www.toptenreviews.com/software/utilities/best-sync-software/

As an aside, I also backup my primary on-site backup drive to Crashplan42, but I have settled on Backblaze when my subscription to Crashplan42 expires in the next few months.

Toment Loc: FL, IL

Yes, it does. Thanks!

chasrl178

Mr goldberg you should find out how to set up the catalog in LR . You can down load the images to any where you want to store them then ADD them to your catalog.

SusanFromVermont Loc: Southwest corner of Vermont

Sounds like you need some instructions on how to use LR. The suggestion of a book is good, and there are also lots of video tutorials if that way of learning works for you. Look at CreativeLive.com for videos. Scott Kelby is another good source for books and videos.

There are many people who prefer to download their photos directly into a folder on their HD or xHD, and from there into LR. But that is actually an unnecessary step. When you put the card into a card reader, and hit the "import" button in LR, there are a couple of options to choose from. You can have it brought into the "Catalog" module where it appears as "previous import" and from there move photos into appropriate folders and sub-folders in the "Folders" module. You can also use the import screen to specify a location within the "Folders" module. The import screen also includes an option that sends a copy to another location, such as an xHD backup folder.

The photos you see in LR are not in LR, they actually reside on your HD in a photos folder that you designate. Downloading into LR folders actually is downloading them into the corresponding folders on your HD. LR is a Cataloging program that "reads" from the folders on your HD. This is why all rearranging of photos, creating new folders and sub-folders, and deleting of photos MUST be done from within LR in order to retain that connection. Doing it from within the folder on your HD will break that connection, and LR will tell you that file is "missing". It is still there, but LR needs you to tell it where it is!

A large volume of shots will take sorting through to determine what to delete. You could do it in-camera before importing, but with a large volume LR provides a simple way to do it. When the photo is at full size, rather than as a thumbnail, there are two flags underneath - a white one and a black one. Choosing the black one makes it easy. Simply mark photos for deletion as you look through, and at the end you can find the "delete rejected photos" option under "photo" menu. Clicking on that will delete any image marked with the black flag! At the same time, you can mark ones that you want to work on first with the white flag!

Once you have edited an image in LR, in order to have it appear as an actual photo and not an .xmp sidecar in the HD folder, you have to export that image into the appropriate HD folder. Carefully examine the options in that export dialogue: You choose a folder or sub-folder where those images should be placed. You choose a format for that image, such as .tiff or .jpg. You can choose to adjust the file size, for instance, if that image will be used for email or social media, you will want it to be a small .jpg file. A lot of people use other formats, such as .psd, .dng, but I do not like them because they show up as a symbol rather than an image in the HD folder. My preference is .tiff because it both shows up as an image, and retains any editing done in PS.

If you are working on the original RAW image, you can then re-set it; if you are working on a proof copy, you can then delete it. I always delete them once finished so they do not clutter up my HD folder with .xmp files!

Adobe provides some good online resources : Adobe's User Guide for LR https://helpx.adobe.com/support/lightroom.html and for PS https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/user-guide.html Adobe also has tutorials to watch.

Hope this helps.
Susan

pkgoldberg

Thanks, Susan. Yes, I do not find LR very intuitive, particularly in comparison to the file/folder/album options I've been accustomed to in Photos. Your comments and advice are appreciated. (I did buy a book on LR and watch videos from time to time.)

SusanFromVermont Loc: Southwest corner of Vermont

LR is very flexible when it comes to organizing your catalog. Some people use dates, others use a client's photo shoot, and others use systems similar to what you described. I have a main folder in LR which contains all my images. That main folder is sub-divided into categories. Each category then is divided up by sub-topics and/or dates. Whatever you are used to, you can use in LR.

At the same time you are building your filing system in LR, it is being built on your HD. All you have to do is have a main folder on your HD where your photos are actually stored. LR is a form of "virtual reality" which is mirroring the actual files on your HD. But you must do all manipulations of those files from within LR. You move files in LR, they are automatically moved in your HD folders. That way LR knows where everything is, and you will not have difficulty finding them when you want to view or edit in LR.

Notice that when you export photos from LR, they are going to a folder you choose on your HD. And they also can be viewed and edited from within LR because LR "knows" where the original lives.

When you close LR, and it asks you if you want to back up your catalog, you also choose where to keep those backups. This is important because it is the most recent backup of the LR Catalog that will be used to open LR the next time you click on the LR icon. Note that it tells you it is only backing up the Catalog, not the actual photos. This is why a lot of people stress the need for multiple backups of your photos! I have external HDs [xHDs] that are programmed to back up my photos on a regular schedule. They do incremental backups, only adding what is new, otherwise the xHD would fill up very quickly!

Susan