Getting Started With Lightroom

 Don't purchase a subscription, install the application and start using it!

Take an online course.

Mattk https://mattk.com/lightroomsystem/

Tim Grey https://www.greylearning.com/courses/mastering-lightroom-classic-2023

Lara Shoe https://laurashoe.com/lightroom-5-6-classic-cc-the-fundamentals-beyond-video-tutorials/

Anthony Morganti https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLllFqBuTM0WJTD4rpvf748Um9MMmbo4r9

In the words of Thomas Watson "THINK".

I started using Lightroom sometime in 2016. At a recommendation, a helpful friend, I purchased a $30 book. Yes it got me started but not the best way. I then found an online course which I purchased. It made sense and it was quite good and through. But led me, I found later, a some of a rabbit hole.

What's the hole?  Basically I didn't THINIK. I just had images on the 'C' drive on my PC.

FIRST THINK about your folder/volume structure. An  early course suggested year, month, day structure. That worked but... Use a large, 2 to 3 terabyte, external drive. Consider an SSD, Solid State Drive. Get another one as a backup drive. 

Second Understand that Lightroom is a DAM, Digital Asset Management application. A relational Database. It uses a Catalog to know where your on your filesystem your images is with the metadata about your camera, serial, lens, Aperture, Shutter Speed, ISO, Focal Length, and other information, 

The important is to what makes sense to you. Based on recent  videos I have landed on Categories. So I am  moving to;

CATORGIES

   TRAVEL

name of trip followed by date. For example Alaska Trip 2016 or yyyymmdd Alaska

    PEOPLE

    WILDLIFE

    LANDSCAPE  

 what works for you.

IF or when YOU INSTALLED LIGHTROOM CLASSIC AND STARTED USING IT 

DON'T MOVE YOUR FILES USING THE COMPUTER'S FILE SYSTEM 

 Finder or Explorer 

Now if you want to avoid the Lightroom Classic catalog and a few features that Classic has install Lightroom, which was call Cloud. Lightroom is basically a image browser in the Local tab.

Watch this video by Brian Matiash about Lightroom

Also my blog post here about how I am moving to Lightroom

 

Moving from Lightroom Classic to Lightroom (Update 20240923)

 Some may ask Why? Well I've hedged my bets so I can go back. I created xmp sidecar on every imported image. I changed so that xmp sidecars are created for each import and edit. Since lightroom desktop any edit there will also use the xmp. When you use Lightroom Classic you get an indication that the metadata was changed by outside of LrC choose to use the metadata on the disk.

First I created a folder under me master photos folder called Lightroom Desktop. In Lightroom Classic Library folders I changed my folder name to Lightroom Classic.

Now all new images will be copied from my camera to Lightroom Desktop. I have a folder CATAGORIES  and under that I have folder for ANIMIALS, PEOPLE, LANDSCAPE,  and others. Each subcategory I will further refine to others as needed. 

I can use my camera microphone to record a short description of the shoot and other information as needed. The import dialog in Classic ignores that information.

Yes there are some "short comings" but none are show stoppers. 

When I wanted to create a slideshow I select the images and moved them to a subfolder, Slideshow-name.

Why use Lightroom Desktop? No catalog, basically the Local tab is a browser and when you have your best images you can add them to the cloud and use web, mobile, portfolio and other that the Adobe Ecosystem.

Send images to Social Media

This isn't for all since I use the Adobe Ecosystem.

One way for Lightroom Classic users. A way, actually my way.

1. Set-up Lightroom Classic to sync. This only enabled syncing.

2. Create a collection you would like to sync with the Adobe Cloud. Perhaps name your collection "Social Media Sync".

3. Enable sync for this collection.

4. Add images to the collection.

 *** Note: using Sync smart views are sent to the cloud and they don't count against your plan.

I chose to use Lightroom Mobile so this is my chosen workflow 

Select photos you want to send to social media.

I picked the waves.

Click on the share icon

now you can scroll through the available apps on your phone. 

I'll choose Instagram.

I click feed and now I'm in Instagram and make those options you desire. For example.

That's my way. Other choices are exercises for the students.

Organize your photos

The best way you organize your photos is that works best fit you. However the most important starting point is using a single drive. I highly recommend use a single external drive. Similar to <my external drive>\my photos\...

Mine is <my external drive>\Photo Library\Lightroom Classic

                                                                      \Lightroom Desktop

After years using a date structure I've started using Categories. Some of mine are, LANDSCAPE, SPORTS, PEOPLE, EVENTS, TRIPS, etc. I have subfolders as needed to keep NAMES AND DATES to fit the category. 

But Larry what about landscape, sunrise and similar? My choice is "it depends". When it's a part of a TRIP it goes into TRAVEL and, when I remember, I add keywords and map information.

It's your choice. What works for you is your Right Way.

I started using Categories in Lightroom Classic. I did not go through the thousands of using  date organization. 

But when I began to use Lightroom I created a new folder called LIGHTROOM Desktop\CATEGORIES if I want I can easily Import any into Lightroom Classic.

Organizing Your Photos 

Every expert, content creator, ... has their way to do it. It may not work for you. How do you organize is the best way for YOU.  BUT once you begin to use Lightroom Classic only use Lightroom Library to rename, move or otherwise modify your photo locations, names etc.

In YouTube I entered this search "how to organize photos in lightroom classic " and there are lots of the best way. You need to find the way that works for you. Following are some that I have viewed and I'm still searching for the BEST . 

I want to avoid having a mess 

The Kelby Way

The Tim Grey Way 

5 Ways 

The PHlearn series 

Will moving to Lightroom change my Post-processing?

A friend asked "... better understanding of how moving to Lightroom would change my post-processing."

The short answer, not at all. It's a matter of workflow.

My longer answer "Nothing in post processing has really changed. No one will improve their editing. Camera RAW is Lightroom, they're dentical. The layout in Lightroom is better than classic.

Think of Lightroom as file browser that links to Lightroom Development with the browser.

To me the gain is no catalog, library, lost images, no need to choose delete catalog or delete from disk and catalog.

The loss is no collections in local, no labels, map, book, print, no edit history (but you can create "snap shots")...

 

As far as no labels, I the main directory of a shoot I have created a subdirectory and put the shoot there. Then after that I only move the best to the top level.

If you installed presets they don't directly transfer. They are on your computer and easily loaded."

Lightroom or Lightroom Classic?

My journey Lightroom Classic -> Lightroom  When I began using Lighroom Classic I have organized my files by date, yyyy-mm-dd. Often in Lightroom Classic, LRc, I would change the file name with the date + area/category. When I bought a course to learn Lightroom, before it was known as Lightroom Classic, the suggestion to organize by date. So that's what I've done.  Then along way, after a few years, I watched this, by Scott Kelby,   It made sense but should I change? Not likely. But I decided to there's no time like the next shoot. So I created a folder CATEGORIES. I used all caps to make it standout. Then I added subfolders for each category. Now each shoot goes into a category. Since the images are where I want them input just add to the catalog. Then along comes Adobe MAX 2023. And in Lightroom CC they rebrand it and drop the CC and add the feature ‘Local’. Ok so?  I'm happy with Lightroom Classic and then I listen to Mattk’s new podcast,  Then the videos    Scott Kelby Terry White Brian Matiash  Ok, Ok. Look into it. Maybe 90-95% of the time I used the Library and Develop modules. Can I live without a few features that Lightroom Classic has that Lightroom can't. I think so. Let's give it a try. But, there's always a but. The big but is. Don't move, rename any folders outside of Lightroom Classic. Any or all folders created within Lightroom Classic are only moved or renamed in Lightroom Classic. Why? Edits are still non-destructive, no catalog, no import. But the Adobe Cloud? All my images are on my external drive. I don't need ‘no stink’n cloud ‘ or badge's as they said in “Blazing Saddles”. I don't NEED Adobe Cloud But when I want to use it I can choose to “copy to the cloud”.  copy is the operative word. A copy with your edits is, let say exported, to the cloud. Just like when in Lightroom Classic you sync a collection.  Basically you are not required to change what you currently do.  Me, I'm all in. That doesn't mean I'm deleting Lightroom Classic and it's supporting files. So maybe I'm not so All In. I'll hedge my bets. I have been  You may want to read https://www.matiash.com/blog/common-lightroom-myths-busted EDIT: I had my main photography folder is called Photo Library. Under that folder I had "Photos go here" for my lightroom classic folders and subfolders. So to keep Lightroom, Deskltop,  separate from Lightroom Classic I used Lightroom Classic to change "Photos go here" to Lightroom Classic. In file explorer/finder I created a folder called "Lightroom Desktop". Under my new folder, Lightroom Desktop I created my Categories folder and subfolders using the same as I created in Lightroom Classic.