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Sep 5, 2015 20:39:44   #
(Main Photography Discussion)
Managing Lightroom Catalogs
i completely agree about USB sticks - great for temporary storage and transfers, but too risky for any type of permanent storage IMHO.

I'm still trying to get workflow and cataloging straight in my head. I typically do a high level culling of a days shoot to delete trash images using a basic preview program. I'm assuming I should now be importing directly into LR and do the culling and deleting there. But if that's the case, when and what size previews do I make? Smaller previews seem to make more sense for culling and speeding up import, but then 1:1's would need to be created for manipulation. Doing 1:1's during import would eliminate having to do them later, but seem to be overkill if most will be deleted during culling. Could you share your process?
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Sep 4, 2015 17:15:55   #
(Main Photography Discussion)
Managing Lightroom Catalogs
Dngallagher wrote:
I also use a plugin to add specific info about the lens used, such as the naming convention and serial number to the EXIF data in every image. Has come in handy when sorting/searching metadata.


Which plugin? And are there any others that you have found to be particularly useful?
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Sep 4, 2015 11:49:52   #
(Main Photography Discussion)
Managing Lightroom Catalogs
Dngallagher wrote:
To use Lightroom on a laptop you MUST have a catalog on the laptop, or an external drive that you move between laptop and desktop, and anything that is edited/imported on the laptop would then need to be transferred to the desktop catalog as well. It is not difficult to do, but would need to become a standard procedure.

Carrying an external drive that included your entire image library and catalog is of course doable so the transfer of info is no longer needed, but that would put your images at a greater risk of being lost, so your backup procedures would need to be more bulletproof.

A very nice thing about Lightroom is that it will work your way. As long as you understand you are maintaining a database of where your images are stored.

I have a feeling the easiest method will be to have a catalog on your desktop and on your laptop - then import images in the filed to the laptop, work on them as needed, and when home export the catalog & images to be imported into the desktop system so everything on the desktop is complete.

I do not use Lightroom on a laptop at least not yet, so I am making some assumptions about exporting the catalog & images to sync the desktop.

Right now I make use of a Linux netbook to unload the SD cards when away, maintain a backup of the images on a small portable USB drive, that way I have 2 copies when I return. No editing in the field, just import everything when I return home to my desktop.

BUT, I would think a Macbook or Macbook AIR is in my near future, so I could elect to give the editing while in the field a try myself ;)
To use Lightroom on a laptop you MUST have a catal... (show quote)


Hmmm. Great points. Lots to think about. I think you're spot on about the risks of transporting your primary drive, and the limits of using just a laptop. A workflow similar to yours might work for me. Thanks

On a side note, I absolutely love my air. It's the first laptop that actually travels with me. In the past, taking my laptop was always a conscious decision due to the size and weight. The air, for me, has been ideal. But it is definitely not a replacement for my desktop.
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Sep 4, 2015 11:27:48   #
(Main Photography Discussion)
Managing Lightroom Catalogs
jerryc41 wrote:
Here's too much information.

http://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&rlz=1C1CHWA_enUS625US625&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=using%20lightroom%20catalogs


Sorry, I couldn't get this link to work
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Sep 4, 2015 11:25:31   #
(Main Photography Discussion)
Managing Lightroom Catalogs
Thanks minniev, makes perfect sense. Exactly why I didn't want to be locked into my laptop.
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Sep 4, 2015 09:46:57   #
(Main Photography Discussion)
Managing Lightroom Catalogs
I can't tell you how much this is helping me! It's easy to misinterpret things when reading and watching tutorials without having the software. You folks make it real.

Regarding where to keep things - the LR application, catalog & previews, original images. I've seen a number of strategies. I really like the idea of keeping the catalog with the original images on an external drive: limits links from getting broken, great for working between machines, but not accessible when traveling if I don't have the drive. Keeping the catalog on my laptop resolves the travel issue, but would limit working from a desktop (unless I'm missing something here). Maybe an external SSD would be the ticket like Dngallagher uses. I'm leaning toward keeping it on my laptop based on how I travel (i.e., when I'm not taking all my gear with me), but am concerned about the consequences. Thoughts?
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Sep 4, 2015 08:18:32   #
(Main Photography Discussion)
Managing Lightroom Catalogs
minniev wrote:
I am at 85,000+ now and no issues, single catalog.


Perfect! Thanks
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Sep 4, 2015 07:45:16   #
(Main Photography Discussion)
Managing Lightroom Catalogs
minniev wrote:
There is no need to create new catalogs every year. Why would you want to?


I read an article that reported that speed became an issue at 10-15K images. Is that not the case? I'd much prefer a single catalog.
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Sep 4, 2015 07:39:28   #
(Main Photography Discussion)
Managing Lightroom Catalogs
Thanks for clarifying the licensing.

Regarding catalogs, if based on volume of images I create a new catalog for every year, is it possible to copy the keyword list to the new catalog?
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Sep 4, 2015 07:14:51   #
(Main Photography Discussion)
Managing Lightroom Catalogs
dcampbell52 wrote:
I have a laptop with a 500 gb drive and carry it on trips with Lightroom CC installed and it catalogs everything to an external or multiple external usb drives (which I can then plug into my wife's computer and my computer when we return and add them to out full (non-traveling) catalogs.


Does cc licensing allow you to install the program on multiple machines? I end up using 2 desktops (home/work) and 1 laptop.
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Sep 4, 2015 07:08:09   #
(Main Photography Discussion)
Managing Lightroom Catalogs
jerryc41 wrote:
That's a tough decision, and it depends on how much you need/want PS and LR. I have CS6 and LR6, and I'm sticking with them. Neither one will ever cost me a cent, and they can do amazing things. Sure, CC gives frequent updates, but I'm probably not using more than 10% of the capability of either program, and spending $130 every year won't get me anything I need. When you stop paying, you stop processing.


That's always been my view as well, but since I'm starting from scratch with lightroom, I thought it would be a good time to evaluate both strategies. Funny thing is that I gravitate toward purchased software while both my boys (16 & 19) can't imagine anything but a subscription. Sign of our times I suppose.
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Sep 3, 2015 21:05:33   #
(Main Photography Discussion)
Managing Lightroom Catalogs
Thanks minniev. I'll look into those refs and will definitely focus on trying to get a better understanding of cataloging. I've already spent a lot of time trying to plan out a keyword strategy, but I'm sure that'll blow up the first time I try it. But no worries... that'll give me a good reason to come back and visit with all of you! :)

Thanks again
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Sep 3, 2015 18:13:58   #
(Main Photography Discussion)
Managing Lightroom Catalogs
Thanks again Dngallagher. I'm trying my best to do my homework so I don't make mistakes early on that I'll regret later. I appreciate you sharing your experience!
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Sep 3, 2015 16:57:36   #
(Main Photography Discussion)
Managing Lightroom Catalogs
Thanks Dngallagher, looks like a great link. I really appreciate it.

One more question if you don't mind. When importing from my existing archive, if I import a folder containing subfolders, will lightroom maintain that level of organization (I assume it will based on what you said about where original images reside).
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Sep 3, 2015 16:41:09   #
(Main Photography Discussion)
Managing Lightroom Catalogs
Thanks Dngallagher. I was under the impression that Lightroom created and stored preview images that could be accessed offline... which could potentially make catalogs quite large. If it's just manipulation data, they would be much more manageable. Do you happen to have a rough idea of how large your catalogs are for X number of photos?

And what's the advantage of keeping the apps on an external drive (verses having both the apps and catalogs on your primary drive)?

BTW - I really miss Wilmington... great place to live


Dngallagher wrote:
You do know that the CC (cloud version) still resides on your disk right?

For your question:

Yes, you tell Lightroom where you want your catalog and where images will be stored. The catalog stores pointers to where your images are located, so you could have several image locations on various external drives and 1 catalog can point to each one to keep track of where your images are stored.

Now, I would recommend that you keep a single location dedicated to storing your images and make things easy ;)

My set up, just to illustrate:

Lightroom CC and Photoshop CC Apps are located on a Thunderbolt SSD external for quick loading.

Lightroom catalog is also on the SSD drive for quick access.

My images are located on a Thunderbolt external disk drive - everything works fine.

To be clear:

Your images are NOT stored within the catalog, it is a database of information about your images - your images are stored on your drives as normal files in folders - again, you control where everything is located.

Multiple catalogs can be complicated. A single catalog can manage lots and lots of images, sorted/divided any which way you can ;)
You do know that the CC (cloud version) still resi... (show quote)
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