Get Your FREE copy of Top 10 Tips for All Beginning Photographers...plus Lightroom Develop Presets & Wedding Photography Checklist!

Watch Lightroom Workflow, Importing, Sorting, Develop on YouTube

Keep your requests coming!  Continuing my series on Adobe Lightroom I go over how I manage my photos.  There are a few steps which are super easy and keep your photos easy to find.

Las Vegas Skyline at Dusk Las Vegas Skyline at Dusk by Cazillo, on Flickr

Here are a few more Lightroom videos, enjoy!

  1. Copy your photos from memory card to the computer in a new folder (inside of your folder archive folder/drive)
  2. Name the folder YYYYMMDD_clientname_phototype
    1. Clientname could be location if it is a scenic photo
    2. phototype is scenic, portrait, wedding, product, etc
  3. Import into Lightroom adding your metadata preset
  4. Go through your pitctures for ranking and deletion
    1. X key for delete, set as reject
    2. 0 stars for keep photo but don't delete
    3. 1 star to show client
    4. 2-5 stars for varing degrees of excellence
  5. Delete the rejects
  6. Rename YYYYMMDD_clientname_001.nef
  7. Keyword
  8. Develop/edit
  9. Export.

There you have it!  Questions?  Ask in the comments!!

You are not allowed to post comments.

Comments  

 
0 # Brad 2011-09-01 14:22
This was a very helpful tutorial. This is something I have been working on. Trying to organize our home photos. Thanks for the tips!
Report to administrator
 
 
0 # Leo Hoang 2011-09-01 15:09
Hi Greg, that was a very helpful video. Learnt some new tricks and keyboard shortcuts, and yes, I'm all about the shortcuts too ;)

I commented on one of your other videos a couple of weeks ago, you did respond, not sure if you remembered.

But I asked about the image editing data, and how you store it?

The "Lightroom" folder in "My Pictures" has all the data for your edits as I understand, and if I import Wedding after Wedding, that folder will eventually become too big.

What I've been doing is copying my RAW's to my D:, then Importing Pictures, once edited, I Cut and Paste that "Lightroom" folder into the same folder as the RAW's to keep that data with the RAW's. When I want to revisit, re-edit, or re-export the images, I Cut and Paste that Lightroom folder back into My Pictures.

Is there a more efficient way of doing this? I'm a Lightroom noob... don't just me! lol
Report to administrator
 
 
0 # Gregory Cazillo 2011-09-01 15:24
Quoting Leo Hoang:

But I asked about the image editing data, and how you store it?

The "Lightroom" folder in "My Pictures" has all the data for your edits as I understand, and if I import Wedding after Wedding, that folder will eventually become too big.

What I've been doing is copying my RAW's to my D:, then Importing Pictures, once edited, I Cut and Paste that "Lightroom" folder into the same folder as the RAW's to keep that data with the RAW's. When I want to revisit, re-edit, or re-export the images, I Cut and Paste that Lightroom folder back into My Pictures.

Is there a more efficient way of doing this? I'm a Lightroom noob... don't just me! lol

Not sure what you are asking, sorry. As you noticed from the video all photos are stored on a separate hard drive and editing data is in Lightroom. I only use a separate folder for temporary storage of the jpeg images that will be uploaded to the web or sent to a client/processi ng lab. Does that answer your question?
Report to administrator
 
 
0 # Remco van de Sanden 2011-09-01 15:45
Thanks Greg. I've been wondering for a couple of weeks now on how to get a better file management for my growing number of pictures. This is perfect. Good tips en tutorial. Thanks, I'm going to use this as of right now.

Thanks a lot, keep it up, love it.
Report to administrator
 
 
0 # Leo Hoang 2011-09-01 15:49
Another scenario, same problem I'm having...

If I were to mainly edit my RAW files at home on my main computer. But I'm away for the weekend and I decide to edit on my laptop.

I copy the RAW's to my laptop and edit them, then I export them to JPG's and submit them to the client.

I copy the RAW's from my laptop to my computer, and then import them into Lightroom, and they are now back to their unedited RAW form.

What files/folders do I need to copy from my laptop (where I originally edited them) to my main computer?

Not sure if that makes it any clearer on what I'm trying to ask... sorry if I'm not making sense...
Report to administrator
 
 
0 # Gregory Cazillo 2011-09-01 15:54
Quoting Leo Hoang:
Another scenario, same problem I'm having...

If I were to mainly edit my RAW files at home on my main computer. But I'm away for the weekend and I decide to edit on my laptop.

I copy the RAW's to my laptop and edit them, then I export them to JPG's and submit them to the client.

I copy the RAW's from my laptop to my computer, and then import them into Lightroom, and they are now back to their unedited RAW form.

What files/folders do I need to copy from my laptop (where I originally edited them) to my main computer?

Not sure if that makes it any clearer on what I'm trying to ask... sorry if I'm not making sense...

You should be using the export function from Lightroom. Export the photos as a catalog, copy all of that data (raw files included) to your laptop. Then edit on the laptop. Finally reimport the catalog to your master on the desktop computer. It will know that the images are already in the catalog and just import the changes, not another set of images.

You should consider buying an external hard drive or a really big flash drive. That would save alot of copying back and forth.
Report to administrator
 
 
0 # Leo Hoang 2011-09-01 16:10
I have external HDD's... Was just outlining a scenario to try explain my problem...

But you're scaring me into buying more HDD's when you said "Your HDD's WILL fail" lol...

Thanks for the advice... So I just need to export as a Catalogue... I'll give that a go...

If it's not too much trouble, in your next Work Flow Video (if there is a follow up to this one), could you demonstrate this?
Report to administrator
 
 
0 # Gregory Cazillo 2011-09-01 16:11
Quoting Leo Hoang:
If it's not too much trouble, in your next Work Flow Video (if there is a follow up to this one), could you demonstrate this?


On my list!
Report to administrator
 
 
0 # Leo Hoang 2011-09-01 16:28
Many thanks Greg.

I've commented in the past, but I will comment again. Your videos are top notch...

Your pictures are quality!
Report to administrator
 
 
+1 # Jim Ferreira 2011-09-01 17:49
Sweet Greg thanks for this, Makes lots of sense and takes many steps off of what I've been doing. One suggestion I can add after you backup for the year and wont be using it much what I do is depower the HD, To me this saved the integrity of the drive and makes it less prone to failure. Another option is remove it from the computer get a external case mod (very cheap) that way if you need to access it it will save you from reinstalling. Having power constantly to a unused drive keeps them spinning which increases the chances of failure. (something to ponder)

Thanks again, Jim
Report to administrator
 
 
0 # Ali 2011-09-01 23:26
Hi Greg,

Many thanks for the tips, that was just what I'm looking for.

One simple question, What do you recommend for Storage? I found Drobo is pretty expensive for. What do you use now?

Warm regards,
ALI
Report to administrator
 
 
0 # Gregory Cazillo 2011-09-06 11:34
I'll work on a video soon...right now I use a separate computer for photos and server.
Report to administrator
 
 
+1 # Remco van de Sanden 2011-09-02 08:58
My advise, if yo have limited budget but want good backup is like this:

By 2, 3 or 4 external hdd's ( what you need, 1 or 2 TB ) They are very cheap these days. Plug them in, use a program like SyncBack ( free, easy to use backup and synchronisation software ) and make a mirror of your files on the external hdd's. Put 1 hdd with your parent's, girlfriend, workplace and swap them out say once a week ( depending on how much work you have ), you could also put another hdd with another person foor extra backup.

Once the external hdd's are back-upped, all you need to do is Sync and it only writes the new files on the external drives. If your computer files, your ext. hdd will have the backup, as well as the one with your mother, work etc. So if they steal your computer, burn the house, the external hdd's on other locations will have your precious files ready.

Simple, cheap, and easy.
Report to administrator
 
 
0 # carol wood 2011-09-02 10:35
The keyboard shortcut for deleting rejects is Ctrl+Backspace. Easy and fast!
Report to administrator
 
 
0 # Gregory Cazillo 2011-09-02 10:36
Quoting carol wood:
The keyboard shortcut for deleting rejects is Ctrl+Backspace. Easy and fast!

Didn't I mention that a few times in the video?
Report to administrator
 
 
+1 # Gregory Cazillo 2011-09-02 10:38
Quoting Remco van de Sanden:
My advise, if yo have limited budget but want good backup is like this:

By 2, 3 or 4 external hdd's ( what you need, 1 or 2 TB ) They are very cheap these days. Plug them in, use a program like SyncBack ( free, easy to use backup and synchronisation software ) and make a mirror of your files on the external hdd's. Put 1 hdd with your parent's, girlfriend, workplace and swap them out say once a week ( depending on how much work you have ), you could also put another hdd with another person foor extra backup.

Once the external hdd's are back-upped, all you need to do is Sync and it only writes the new files on the external drives. If your computer files, your ext. hdd will have the backup, as well as the one with your mother, work etc. So if they steal your computer, burn the house, the external hdd's on other locations will have your precious files ready.

Simple, cheap, and easy.

That's almost exactly what I do but only making backups once per week isn't good enough if you shoot a lot of photos like me!
Report to administrator
 
 
+1 # Gregory Cazillo 2011-09-02 10:39
Quoting Ali:
Hi Greg,

Many thanks for the tips, that was just what I'm looking for.

One simple question, What do you recommend for Storage? I found Drobo is pretty expensive for. What do you use now?

Warm regards,
ALI

I'm going to work on a series of posts on my computer setup as well as backups. Check comment #15, its pretty close...
Report to administrator
 
 
0 # Michael 2011-09-02 19:15
Nice video Greg. When you import into Lightroom do you "Copy" (Copy photos to a new location and add to catalog) or "Add" (Add photos to catalog without moving them). I couldn't tell from the video. Thanks for the help!
Report to administrator
 
 
+1 # Gregory Cazillo 2011-09-02 19:19
Quoting Michael:
Nice video Greg. When you import into Lightroom do you "Copy" (Copy photos to a new location and add to catalog) or "Add" (Add photos to catalog without moving them). I couldn't tell from the video. Thanks for the help!

Once the images have been copied to the proper folder from the card there should be no need for copy so choose add.
Report to administrator
 
 
0 # carol wood 2011-09-02 23:01
You did mention the Ctrl + Backspace to delete rejects in your video, but it seemed to me that it was almost lost in the other information you were giving. And, it wasn't included in your list above in item #5.
Report to administrator
 
 
0 # Bill Moran 2011-09-03 11:34
greg, does your picture folder read the raw files? Mine doesnt. Can you help in that regard...Thanks
Report to administrator
 
 
0 # Gary 2011-09-06 16:03
I took Gregs advice and found the download link he mentioned. It worked a treat, it's going to make things so much easier - Cheers Greg

Microsoft Camera Codec Pack http://goo.gl/IGgEW
Report to administrator
 
 
0 # Bill Moran 2011-09-03 11:36
I mean the picture folder in explorer
Report to administrator
 
 
0 # Reza 2011-09-03 22:52
Hey Greg!

Is saving the catalog file enough as having a backup of the photos and the edits? I want to re-install my Windows, but I'm afraid of loosing my edits in Lightroom. How can I keep the edits?

BTW, Thanks for the videos
Report to administrator
 
 
0 # salsaguy 2014-02-18 06:08
The catalog does NOT backup your photos.just the edits/slider adjustments you made in Lightroom and any metadata You need to backup the photos separately using copy or a utility backup program.
Report to administrator
 
 
+1 # Gregory Cazillo 2011-09-03 22:58
Quoting Reza:
Hey Greg!

Is saving the catalog file enough as having a backup of the photos and the edits? I want to re-install my Windows, but I'm afraid of loosing my edits in Lightroom. How can I keep the edits?

BTW, Thanks for the videos

You need to backup you catalogs too. Find out where they are stored in the catalog settings box and make a copy.
Report to administrator
 
 
0 # Garak1 2011-09-04 11:22
Good video! Thanks for showing us how you can work with a lot of files in a efficient way!!! I use aperture, but I guess the basics should be the same! Makes me more motivated to learn all the shortcuts and options of aperture!!
Report to administrator
 
 
0 # Gary 2011-09-04 11:47
Great video Greg. I must learn to be as organised as you. What software do you use to create your videos? I need to make a couple of training videos to save me the hassle of repeating myself to different clients. Any clues on the announcement? I'm guessing a forum.
Report to administrator
 
 
0 # Rick 2011-09-05 10:57
Hi Greg,

Thumbs up for that tutorial.

I dont know if you heard about this one,
When u have to select photo´s by stars, or when u want to keep them or not by pressing the x button, when u turn on you´re CAPS, you dont have to use the arrow buttons anymore (or mouse), to select the next photo, it automatically goes to the next photo.

Keep up the good work.

Grtz, from the Netherlands.
Report to administrator
 
 
0 # Gregory Cazillo 2011-09-06 10:25
Quoting Rick:
Hi Greg,

Thumbs up for that tutorial.

I dont know if you heard about this one,
When u have to select photo´s by stars, or when u want to keep them or not by pressing the x button, when u turn on you´re CAPS, you dont have to use the arrow buttons anymore (or mouse), to select the next photo, it automatically goes to the next photo.

Keep up the good work.

Grtz, from the Netherlands.

Yes, its called auto advance and I don't like it. Many times I go back and forth between images and prefer to use the arrows.
Report to administrator
 
 
0 # Gregory Cazillo 2011-09-06 10:26
Quoting Gary:
Great video Greg. I must learn to be as organised as you. What software do you use to create your videos? I need to make a couple of training videos to save me the hassle of repeating myself to different clients. Any clues on the announcement? I'm guessing a forum.

Right now I am using Microsoft Expression Encoder 4 to record and Adobe Premiere to edit.
Report to administrator
 
 
0 # Gregory Cazillo 2011-09-06 10:29
Quoting Bill Moran:
greg, does your picture folder read the raw files? Mine doesnt. Can you help in that regard...Thanks

Yes. Google "windows raw support" and you will find the links to Microsoft's updates. Hopefully you are using Win7, not sure if other OSs are supported.
Report to administrator
 
 
0 # Carsten 2011-09-06 14:44
I have a bit more refined technique to skim through an import. I set the selection to "Unflagged Photos" and then flick through it using only the X and P keys.
The advantage is that you don't have to advance to the next photo and it is especially more convenient when you select a section for the compare view.
After this the flagged photos are my keepers and I iterate over them again to rate them or unflag with U. This is for the shots I have second thoughts.
I might go over them again to reject or accept in case some are missing from the rated series. Only after this is complete I delete the rejects.
Report to administrator
 
 
0 # Perry 2012-08-03 22:08
Hey Greg, enjoyed the video. I noticed that your raw (nef) files had the ability to preview the actual image in thumb nail view, what do I need to do to get mine to do the same? Right now I have my Nikon D3100 set for Raw/Jpg settings so I can get a preview of what the picture looks like before editing the NEF files. I have windows 7, and I edit my photos with Paintshop Photo Pro X4 Ultimate, and Lightroom 4.1...

Thanks, Perry
Report to administrator
 
 
0 # Gregory Cazillo 2012-08-05 07:25
Check earlier comments, searc google for windows 7 raw codec.
Report to administrator
 
256 Eagleview Blvd PMB 104
Exton, PA 19341