LR catalog

[carrbowl]

Never used the catalog deal before and my understanding is, it can slow it down and probably not the smartest thing to do. So I'm trying to understand and get this right the first time!!

So a couple questions. Can I switch my catalogs to another hard drive? I think LR is on "C" but I don't have any room left on it. Can I switch it so it put the catalogs on "S"? how?

Secondly, I'm not sure I am understanding the catalog system. I normally file mine under what they are year > seniors, babies, families, etc. > then by the name of the person. So...would I put the catalog system the same? but just seniors, babies, families etc?

[KenJulio]

So there are a number of ways to skin a cat.....

Lightroom will not care where your files are stored as long as they don't move once they've been imported. Once imported, if you move them, you will need to have lightroom link back to them.

As for a catalog, think of a catalog as a library of your files. There are a number of ways to using catalogs, you can create a yearly catalog, category type catalog, or just one big fat catalog. In either of these cases, I recommend using keywords for your images when you import them. This way they will be easier to locate, for instance if you had a portrait shoot in Katy, Tx, the keywords I would use, Katy, Texas, TX, portrait

If you decide to create smaller catalogs for each category, and if you need to find an image or types of images across multiple catalogs, you can create a new catalog and import your smaller catalogs and do your search there. Your smaller catalogs will not be affected.

As for how large a catalog can grow, some of the known photographers, they have 150k images in theirs.

[carrbowl]

Well Ken...I used to not even mess with the catalogs and was told that was not wise. And since I need all the help I can get........ : )

So why wouldn't I create catalogs the exact same way I create my file system??

[rwwright]

the bad news. whatever you decide to do, you will probably change it one day.

i have used 3 or 4 catalog packages, love lightroom, and each time i learned more about how to do it. Dont forget, you have directory names and sub directories as one element and another key element is keywords. Then collections and attributes etc.

have fun.....

[KenJulio]

Again, there are more ways to skin this cat. :)

With having multiple catalogs, you would have to recreate any keywords that are common between them, such as Katy, Houston, Pearland, etc. Also, with having multiple catalogs, theyre additional files you'll have to add to your backup.

Now, I'm not saying don't stop doing what you're doing in how you store your files, just integrate LR into your workflow.

IF you decide to create one big catalog, yet later you decide to create smaller catalogs, you can do that by File | Export as Catalog as this would be based on your selection or your search criteria that you have executed.

EDIT: Ronnie is right, you'll probably change your workflow.