Lightroom organization ? (newbie to LR)

[Wykyd]

I just got started with LR thanks to the Wednesday lunch group. :) I can figure out the presets and other such controls but where I'm having difficulty is with organization. Let me set up the situation first...
I like to save ALL of my images. I've found that what I think isn't worth saving today is a gem tomorrow when I've discovered a new technique or maybe I just see the image differently... Anyway, I am saving all of my originals on my D drive. So do you suggest I save the edited versions with a slightly different file name in a different directory? And while I'm thinking about it, let's say I edit an image in LR, if I don't save it and exit LR, what happens to those edits? And how do I save those changes?

I know these sound like stupid questions but I'm an old PS freak and this just works differently. I feel like an idiot because I'm actually VERY adept at learning new software... then again, this is an Adobe product... lol

So if you have a system you use for organizing your photos, please describe it. I'm looking to get well organized before I get too many images.

BTW, for those who recommended it, you are right, it rocks. :)

[barP]

well, the good news is you are on lightroom, and all your questions have good answers. actually, these specific questions have multiple answers because how you organize your files is ultimately up to you. my personal strategy is that before i import images into lr, i put them where they will live permanently - on an external hd, in this case. i organize by year and project. so, i may have a folder called "car pictures from june 5th" in my "images 2008 folder". i like that because then i have a folder of the same name in my images 2008 lightroom catalog (i have separate catalogs for each year - keeps them from getting huge and sluggish). once i have them imported, all versions of images from that project go into that folder, with new filenames. even though lr makes it very easy to change all filenames at once, i tend to leave my original filenames in place so i can always tell at a glance which images in a folder are important.

as to "changes" you make and how they get saved....one of the coolest things about lr is that it automatically saves them so you don't have to think about it. what you have to remember, though, is that the original is never changed. all your adjustments are sort of an "overlay" that doesn't get permanently stuck on until you export. it's a great system!

hope that helps!

wp.

[Wykyd]

I would have loved to have left all the original file names but when I formatted my sd, it started over from 1 (I thought this should have been held in memory but it wasn't) so I've renamed them all sequentially. Love the idea of year and event. Thanks... Will have to give this some thought...

So what if I make several versions of one image? For example, I have a portrait that I want to do with a high contrast and one in B&W. How do I save both versions in LR without exporting... And if they are saved, what is the point in exporting? I guess to have the changes available in PS or something?

Thank you so much for the response. If anyone else has other organization ideas, please let me know. I'm a freak for organization but often have trouble getting started... lol

[Wykyd]

BTW, I LOVE your work! It's beautiful!

[dhphoto]

I use the "create virtual copy" function when I want different versions of the same image. The only issues I've had with Lightroom's method of saving changes is I've had the files (or previews) in LR get corrupted and had to re-import the original files and start over.

[barP]

thanks, wykyd! that makes my day.

derek is right about virtual copy - it's another of the magic beans in lightroom. a quick trick....hold down the command key (mac) then hit the apostrophe key to create a virtual copy of the selected image. even better...hit "g" to go to grid mode first, then select all the ones you want virtual copies of, and then do the shortcut. it creates copies of all of them at once, AND maintains the selection. that makes it nice if you decide, for example, that you have 20 photos that all need to be duplicated and converted to black and white.

as to the point of exporting....you have to export anything you want to use someplace else besides lightroom. you can print, do slideshows, etc. all from inside lr, but if you need jpeg to the web, for example, you have to export with your adjustments.

wp.

[Wykyd]

Thanks so much for the input. I've decided to go with a system like this:
2008
-- 06-June-08
-----Event IF it is relevant.

I was so unsure because I may take just a few photos walking around the gardens or taking a walk down the street to see what I see. I don't consider those an event.

I also played around a little with the "create virtual copy" and that was fabulous! I'm still not completely clear on it but I'm getting there... I also tried the export. Worked great when I exported one but I tried to use the option of export and the prior image but nothing happened.

Even though it's been a bit of a strain learning a new adobe product, I can tell already how much time it's going to save me in the long run... Not counting the days I'm spending learning the thing... lol

Thanks again for the help. :)

[bobby71]

If I may...
I'd tweak your system a bit:
2008
-- 2008_MM_DD
-----Event IF it is relevant.

that way it sorts a bit nicer, by month number, instead of alphabetically - mainly if you're looking at your folders outside of LR.


[QUOTE=Wykyd;719551]Thanks so much for the input. I've decided to go with a system like this:
2008
-- 06-June-08
-----Event IF it is relevant.
QUOTE]

[Wykyd]

Thanks, Robert. I just realized my system might be a little confusing... Let me explain then ask a question.
-- 06-June-08 IS
-- MM-Month spelled out bcuz I'm lazy - YY
I only put the year on there just in case something crazy happened and a folder got out of it's year folder... lol (I've been using computers for 20 years and I've accidentally moved folders unintentionally many times... lol)

So here's the question, wouldn't this work well for sorting? I hadn't planned on sorting by day because there are many days I'll only take a few photos. Seems like a lot of extra work but I'm TOTALLY ready to be convinced on this. :) And I really do appreciate your guidance. :)

[bobby71]

"I only put the year on there just in case something crazy happened and a folder got out of it's year folder"

which is why i'd put the 2008 in front, then the month. I actually use day as I'm not using subfolders for month. So I can have something like:
2008_05
2008_06_15_Zoo
2008_06_21_Party
2008_06_30_FamilyShoot

May was a slow month, where I didn't take many pics, so they're all in that folder. Since I don't have subfolders for month, I just attach the event name to the end of the date.
With your same reasoning of accidentally moving folders, it's a bit scary (to me) to not have the month or yr as part of the folder name of the event. But that's me, and I'm weird - haha.
There are as many ways of organizing as there are photographers on this site, so go with what works for you.

[Wykyd]

That makes perfect sense. One more question and I promise I'll leave this alone (can you tell I'm a bit of an organization freak? lol) What do you do if you have say 3 "events" in June but you have about 30 "stray" photos... Do you put them in 2008_06?

I just know that if I get this organized now, I won't be so lazy about processing my photos as I take them... which is why I am so jazzed about LR in the first place. :)

[LDB]

For the ones not part of a specific event what about something like:

2008_06_grafitti
2008_06_people
2008_06_macro
2008_06_animals

etc. etc.

[Wykyd]

Perfect!!! You rock! ;)

Off to go tweak it all... lol

[bobby71]

Thank you Leo!
Good luck Cheryl!

[barP]

i know what you mean about "stray photos". i'm a bit of an org freak, too, so i've disciplined myself to always find a way to put them in a folder, even if that means there are only 2 images in it. the challenge is when i go walkabout and take pictures of: gas meter, homeless dude, flower....etc. i know i won't remember how to find those a year later when i get to messing with them, so i need to be able to find a folder called "gas meter." USUALLY i can at least remember what year i took them.....



the side benefit is it forces me to look at my photos more instead of shoot-n-stash. i have to sit and pick thru them, and i think that makes me a better photographer. but....i'm weird like that.

wp.