How do YOU use Collections in Lightroom?

I've started exploring collections recently. I have mostly just used the folder views for organizing and viewing my photos.

To start, I created a smart collection that shows all flagged images containing the text 'wedding'.
I can see how this is useful, but I'd love to see how others use collections, smart or otherwise.

Open ended question, I know.. but I think I'd learn a lot from other's experiences here. Thanks!

Pretty much the same way you do but I have different levels. So I have a collection of all Namibia photos, I have a collection of 5 star Namibia photos and I have a collection of 5 star Namibia in Black and White. I also have a collection of all 5 star Black and Whites (from wherever in the world) etc etc.

I also have a To Do smart collection. It contains any image with no keywords or the keyword "to do". I set up an import preset to automatically add the "to do" keyword to all my photos on import. Once they have been processed and keyworded I delete the "to do" keyword but until that is done I can easily find any images that I haven't got around to processing or keywording.

I've created smart collections for images without keywords, geotags, etc. I wish I could sync smart collections to Lr Mobile.

I used to use collections a lot but now I got so lazy I just browse photos from 'folders' within the library

That's how I use it, Will. So far I haven't quite seen its advantages.

I use them for multi-day events, trips, or vacations. My photos are downloaded into folders according to the date they were shot -- each day has its own folder. I think that's rather common, but it does make it difficult to browse using the folder view when related photos span multiple folders. That's when collections make sense.

The other time I use collections is when I'm creating a photo book. I dump all the ones I'm thinking about using into a collection. As I create the book, I discard the ones I've decided against. At the end, I'm left with a finished book and a collection that contains only the photos that were used.

...I use a separate filemaker database to track all my photoshoots: so any event, etc that I shoot gets assigned a unique ID code that I use to track everything related to that photoshoot, for example a photoshoot for POTN would get the code POTN_3042015413. (The code is made up with the date, month and year, followed by the shoot number.)

I import and convert to DNG on import with Bridge. I cull in FastPictureViewer by rating with a single star.

I open the Lightroom import dialogue and import into Lightroom (simply into default folders sorted by date) with the ID code as one of the keywords on import.

In my collections I have a collection set labelled "Workflow."

In workflow, I have collection sets labelled:

1 Production
2 Distribution
3 Archives
4 Re-edit

I create a Collection Set in "Production" called POTN_3042015413. I create a Smart Collection called "Catch All" with the settings "Keywords contain all POTN_3042015413". I create another Smart Collection called "Stars" which is identical to the Catch All Smart Collection but also filters by rated images.

I edit the images in the "Stars" collection. Often I cull down further simply by rating an image zero, and sometimes I dip into the "Catch All" folder to use an image I may have culled that I suddenly decide I like. I sometimes create additional folders for things like "Facebook selections" etc, but they all remain in the POTN_3042015413 collection set.

Once the edit is complete, I drag the entire POTN_3042015413 Collection from "Production" to "Distribution." I create collections in my "Photoshelter" Publish Service and drag those images into there and publish. I drag the images I want to publish to facebook into the facebook publish service and publish those as well. I keep the collection set in "Distribution" until I'm comfortable that I no longer need the images readily in sight. (For example with a graduation I get orders for about a month after the graduation is over, so I keep the folder there until the orders die down.) Then I drag the folder into the "Archives" set (which has collections sets organised by date).

If a client asks me to work on images again, I drag them out of the Archives and into the "re-edit" set, edit the images then put it back into the archives.

The system works well for me because I'm easily distracted and my brain needs a very systematic approach to things like editing in order to be able to get things done efficiently.

As a hobbyist I am only interested in my really good shots so I use collections to create my "Gallery" collection. Under the Gallery Collection I have sub collections for each location I might visit. As an example a few Sub Collections from here in AZ are: "Lower Salt River", "Boyce Thompson Arboretum", "Desert Sonoran Museum", etc. Only my best shots go into the "Gallery".

I use key words and filters to locate subjects. Key words are "Horses", "Birds", "Landscapes", "Wildlife", etc. The filter will search out Key Word with flagged images. This way I can locate specific locations and subjects quickly. I have not updated my SmugMug web page but eventually I want it to reflect my "Gallery" collection in Lightroom.

Between the two (Collections and Keywords) it keeps things well organized. I pondered for a long time whether I wanted collections of Subjects and Key words of locations or vice versa - It likely doesn't matter. It's just what works best for you.

Thanks Banquetbear... I'll have a close look at that!

I use often quite detailed keywording, along with IPTC Subject Codes, which as they are searchable in LR are another quick way to differentiate images by category. I then use Collection groups and Smart Collections to auto sort images into a whole range a subjects and groups. I do a lot of Aviation photography, so my Keywords for those would include location and show details, aircraft types and manufacturers, operators, and any other pertinent information. The Smart Collections are useful, as of course they can pull the same images into different categories, so you don't have to remember where to look for anything. Smart Collections are really good, as once you get used to how to do it you can generate some really complex sort parameters.

I use Colour labels, although you can use any text, not just colours in the labels, to denote the status of images. Unlabeled images are unprocessed, Green are finished images, Blue are images that are intermediate stages, So a RAW file that needed further processing in PS would be Blue. Purple are my Print proof copies ready for printing, Red are rejected but processed images. I do use a couple of text labels for specific purposes too. I also use star ratings too. I apply the same to things like the kids sports and the odd few photographic jobs I do for others.

I have only a few normal Collections, Most of those are actually the Print Collections generated when you save a print in the Print module. The great thing about that is that I can generate a proof copy at the correct aspect ratio and chuck it in the corresponding Print Collection and it will be ready to print if I then open it in the Print Module, without the need to apply the preset to it. Handy if you are processing a series of images, but are not going to print them immediately, but as a group later. Just select them in the Print Collection open the print module and print.

Alan

I have collections of different categories. For example, I set p a collection "group" of shoots according to year which actually reflects my library folder setup.

And then there are categories of topics that may or may not "contain" specific shoots, they may contain specific shots that pertain to a particular collection subject.

It's not complicated since I'm familiar with my setup!

And, not only do collections reflect my library folder setup, but they also are compatible with my keywords!

I'll admit, though that I've rarely used Smart Collections or the Publishing Collections (I had some problems in the early days and just stopped trying).

I don't use anything other than the Quick Collection. I use the folders and subfolders. I have it as year --> date - occassion. In Lightroom I go through the pictures in the folder, and flag as picks the ones I like and want to edit. I then select all of the flagged photos and add them to the quick collection. So the quick collection is all of the photos I'm working on editing.

I use collections to organize photos from different trips I've been on or certain topics. I use Lightroom to create a web page for the different topics. I also use the slideshow for a similar function. One of the main benefits I see with collections is that you can rearrange photos from multiple folders.

Another nice thing about collections is that they don't take up hard drive space, aside from bits of info stored in the catalog. So you can have one photo in say 10 different collections, but the only hard drive space that is "gobbled up are the original images stored n your lbrary!