Page 42 - Lightroom Magazine Issue 25

› › lightroom magazine › ›
Tip&sTricks
One of the more confusing aspects of Lightroom for new users is the relationship between the images you see in Lightroom (thumbnails and previews) and the actual images that are stored in folders on your hard drive. In this issue’s column, we’ll shine a light on some essential tips for the Import dialog, as well as creating an organizational structure that’s easier to manage and scale larger as your Lightroom catalog grows.
crafting an organization strategy
Before you import your first photos into Lightroom, spend some time and take a look at how your images are currently organized. A good organizational struc- ture is key to any photo archive, so take some time to organize your photos and create a well-ordered folder structure. If your image files are scattered all over your hard drive and not really arranged in any logical order, this is just a recipe for future confusion. If it’s hard to find your image files now and your organizational structure (or lack thereof) is confusing, you’ll just be transferring that confusion into Lightroom.
organize your photos in a way
that works for you
Photographers have different needs depending on the type of work they do, so there’s no one organizational structure that’s perfect for everyone. The important thing is to create a logical system for storing your image files that makes sense for you. You may choose to organize photos by subject matter, such as Client Work, Wed-
SEÁN DUGGAN
I use a chronological, date-based folder structure, and add content-specific information to my images via keywords. Even if you don’t have a perfect organizational structure (if there is such a thing), take the time to do some basic organizational housekeeping before importing files into Lightroom. This will make it easier to apply further organi- zational fine-tuning once they’re in your catalog.
Date-based organization
create a specific location for your photos
A potential downfall of any organizational approach is a lack of organization (i.e., photos scattered all over your hard drives—see above). So, having a single place on your system where all your photos are stored (such as a central “Image Archive” folder) is one way to sim- plify the organizing process. I prefer to use external hard drives for my photo archive, because it’s easier to add additional hard drives, replace existing ones with new drives with more storage capacity, or move the archive to a new computer. The external drives are only used for my photo archive (meaning that’s the only content that’s stored on those drives). And, of course, the content is backed up to protect against drive failure.
Subject-based organization
042 dings, Family, Travel, Animals, Street Photography, etc.
› › lightroom magazine › issue 25