chasgroh Loc: Buena Park, CA

...I'd KISS method right from the start. Take some pictures then go through the process of uploading from your camera's card into LR...that is accomplished in the Library module. Just get them in there! Of course there's tons of peripheral stuff to get familiarized with, but to learn how to get fresh images into the software is truly the beginning. Worry about your existing images later! Worry about the dreaded "catalog" later! I know this sounds simplistic, but doing this will get you into the Develop module quickly, where you can learn to export (setting up your receiving folders and all that...)...tons of tutorials on this aspect.

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

I would advise that you set up a small catalog with a few photos that you have on your disk. Use whatever answer you pick out of the above posts.

When you take the class, I would expect that if the class is really for beginners, the instructor would cover the catalog. If not, ask about it. I suspect you will want to set up the catalog in a way comprehensible to the instructor, because then (s)he can answer questions about it. If you generate a small catalog, and get it wrong (according to the instructor) it won't take much to make it right. All you have to do is generate a new catalog. There's no limit to the number of catalogs you can have, but it does make sense to organize the catalogs in some way.

For example, I start with a catalog named LR2017. All my photos that I took in 2017 go into that catalog. I'm now using LR2018. I take the LR2017 catalog and merge it with my LR Master Catalog. I generally work on files that I've taken recently. The master catalog is there so I can search (and/or rework) images from as far back as I have digital images. The annual catalog is smaller so I don't have as large a database.

LR doesn't really care how large the database is for most things. However, I have mine set to back up the catalog weekly. A large catalog takes significantly longer to back up than a small one so I use the annual catalogs.

al13

I was disappointed in his response.

al13

Thank you for thoughtful input. I am going to set up a catalog tonight naming it LR2018 and download a couple of raw pictures I have on my camera. I think i’ll then wait for class Wednesday and play it by ear. Hopefully the instructor will start from scratch. I have been using Luminar which is fairly easy. This should be interesting for my old brain.

jpwa Loc: Inland NorthWest

Scott Kelby and Tony and Chelsea Northrup have books out on Lightroom.....both are excellent for learning Lightroom.

BlueMorel Loc: Southwest Michigan

Me, if I were starting the course, I'd take a bunch, maybe 20, good RAW photos, keep them on my card until i read the first lesson. Seems to me the first lesson should be about getting those dang images directly from the memory card into LR. I'd also set up a pictures folder named Lightroom to receive your processed images once you've used LR to process them.

I found LR Classic very intuitive to learn, and there are plenty of how-to videos to learn more.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Good info -
https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom/tutorials.html
http://www.jkost.com/

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

You may want to join a local photo club. You'll find others in your situation, and veteran retired photographers and serious enthusiasts that will guide you through the first steps. In addition, the club setting provides wonderful camaraderie, outings, image critique, competitions, guest speakers etc etc etc to make your photo experience a good one. Most clubs will allow you to attend meetings without joining, but if you want to increase your participation you usually are asked to join and pay the modest annual membership fee.

jackpi Loc: Southwest Ohio

Organize by year, then event.
File name: yyyymmdd_event_sequence#

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

I basically do that, but I'm looking for something better. At my age I can't even remember what year I took a given image (which is one reason that I place the date in the file name -- when I find the image the name tells me what year it was but the date is no help in finding the image).

I put the event text first. I also use spaces instead of underscores. I think it reads better. I used to do sequence# (index#) but when I started to shoot with two bodies I switched to date and time instead of date and index#.

pithydoug Loc: Catskill Mountains, NY

Lots of ways to set up catalog naming convention. The default is date which i find not intuitive. Check out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0W8rZOoWgI&list=PLllFqBuTM0WI0fC_PujkGoLMyXWXd3yF7&index=13

traderjohn Loc: New York City

I would go to the class without any prejudices and be guided by the course syllabus.

sodapop Loc: Bel Air, MD

I would be willing to bet that the first class will deal with the setting up of LR. Not understanding that portion of the program leads inevitability to chaos. I know cause I have been there

al13

Thanks to all. I will post tomorrow evening as to how it went. My main concern now is parking. Vanderbilt charges enough for the class that a parking permit should have been included but wasn’t. And, their handicap parking is by permit only. They are a private university and can get away with permitted handicap parking.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

I use Elements and I use this folder naming convention too, except that I use the date the photos were taken instead of the upload date. Usually I don't go down to the day but yyyy mm Descriptor works well. With respect to a PC and Windows, the more you know about how its file structure is organized into drives, folders, sub-folders, and files, the better off you'll be.