Simple Workflow with LR and folder/file names/structure?

Ok, I wanted to create another post regarding this and didn't want to hijack another thread so here it is.

Learning LR and to start using the catalog system I want to make sure I'm not being repetitive in my process.

For starters this is the basic "old" way I use to do this without LR.

For example...an Italy Trip.

1. Extract from memory card.
2. Rename all files to Italy#.jpg (Italy1.jpg, Italy2.jpg, Italy3.jpg, etc.) using 3rd party software.
3. If I can tell which pictures are from other cities, I would then rename them respectively, Rome#.jpg, Venice#.jpg, etc.
4. I then separate them into their unique folders like...

a. Italy>Rome
b. Italy>Venice
c. Greece > Athens

5. That's it.

Obviously, it isn't true catalog'ng but enough... I guess.

How do I go about this in LR and take advantage of it's catalog'ng features.

Do I need to still rename the files, put them in folders respectively and then import into LR before using all the other features (like tagging) in LR?

Or can I bypass everything and just import into LR and it will automatically rename/put in respective folder and ...

Thanks

Hello

Don't rename it. Just leave it in the folder as it is. OPen a new catalogue in LR.
Import the folder data into LR and leave the files in their folder, don't import them into a new folder. Save the catalogue e.g as "Trip Italy".
In LR you can set metadata for locations, that's the point where you "sort" them in a way.
Next you select your pictures by "City" or "Country" and make a collection - there you are.

greetings from a hill

platti wrote in post #3623825
Hello

Don't rename it. Just leave it in the folder as it is. OPen a new catalogue in LR.
Import the folder data into LR and leave the files in their folder, don't import them into a new folder. Save the catalogue e.g as "Trip Italy".
In LR you can set metadata for locations, that's the point where you "sort" them in a way.
Next you select your pictures by "City" or "Country" and make a collection - there you are.

greetings from a hill

Plati, if I'm understanding this correctly, I can take that folder from what I extracted from the Memory card and just move it somewhere, like an EHD (External HD) and then just go about my way on LR and start importing from there?

First question, if I move it into an HD, will the speed be hampered due to it being on the EHD?

Second question, can I keep it on my desktop, do my "develop" changes, catalog, and then when complete, move it to my EHD?

Third question, How about file names?

Lastly, I'm presuming when creating a catalog, it creates a "catalog file" which I can't ever ever loose?

Thanks!

Hello

ad 1) if EHD means external Harddisk: that depends on your connection: usb 1.1 is slower than usb 2.0, which is slower than firewire. I have my data on an external harddisk connected by firewire 400 an dLR is not realy slower. But there is information in some forums, that a capacity of 10.000 and more files LR will slow down. As well as those problems are more often reported from windowssystems than macsystems.

ad 2) yes.

ad3) you can rename files out of LR, look for that in LR-help or onlinetutorials.

My workflow:

I have my files in folders for each year and there a folder for every day of a shot (yymmdd): folder "Photos 2007" > folders "070101", "070102" and so on.

1) import files manually from card to extern hd in a folder named by date of the shots.
2) import new folder into LR
3) check and delete what is not worth to be kept, do basic developement
4) set metadata
5) save metadata in files

greetings from a hill

platti wrote in post #3625641
Hello

ad 1) if EHD means external Harddisk: that depends on your connection: usb 1.1 is slower than usb 2.0, which is slower than firewire. I have my data on an external harddisk connected by firewire 400 an dLR is not realy slower. But there is information in some forums, that a capacity of 10.000 and more files LR will slow down. As well as those problems are more often reported from windowssystems than macsystems.

Yes, EHD means External HD. I thought maybe it was reliable to run off the EHD to save me one step. But I rather not chance it. The only reason I would move it directly into the EHD is due to the fact that I have LR on a desktop and laptop. I would like to have the capability to continue my work on my laptop and if the files are already on the EHD, it would be better and easier accessible.

platti wrote in post #3625641
ad 2) yes.

I shouldn't have any problems with files not being found when I move it from the desktop to the EHD when I'm done developing or done in general?

platti wrote in post #3625641
ad3) you can rename files out of LR, look for that in LR-help or onlinetutorials.

Thanks, will look into this.

platti wrote in post #3625641
My workflow:

I have my files in folders for each year and there a folder for every day of a shot (yymmdd): folder "Photos 2007" > folders "070101", "070102" and so on.

1) import files manually from card to extern hd in a folder named by date of the shots.
2) import new folder into LR
3) check and delete what is not worth to be kept, do basic developement
4) set metadata
5) save metadata in files

greetings from a hill

So you do organize (in other words, place pictures in folders) your pictures outside of LR, or as you organize in LR, it automatically creates the folder?

Don't know if this is of interest, but this is how I keyword images in LR.

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=346660

All I do for my folder structure is batch images in groups of 200, in capture sequence.

Hi

@nustnbolts: If in LR a folder is marked as not found (foldername is coloured red) then you can search (and find) this folder by the contextmenu when you rightclick on the folders name.

Maybe I didn't expressed it correctly (for I am a native german speaker from austria):
For my originaI files I just sort my folders by year and date.
The so called "organization" is done in LR, which means: sorting by theme or event or keywords or whatever is just necessary. This is, because I do the relevant informations like metadata or keywords in LR as long as I work with the Originals.

When I have to make versions (jpg or tiff) of the originals, then I export them into a folder, that is named as the content, the files contain.

Hope, that's not to complicated to you.

EOSAddict wrote in post #3628398
Don't know if this is of interest, but this is how I keyword images in LR.

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=346660

All I do for my folder structure is batch images in groups of 200, in capture sequence.

Yes, I saw this. I'm actually involved in this thread as well.

My question however is a more simple question...sort off. While you all are discussing about how to categories, keyword, etc. the images. I'm simply still at the beginning stage of organizing the actual files itself.

If I can explain this correctly.

Essentially, we are looking at the following.

1. Organizing the actual files, in folders, or renaming files.
2. Organizing the files with metadata so the search is easier (so to speak).

I'm still on phase 1. and I was basically trying to find out whether phase 1 is automatically done when you import the images and start on phase 2.

or

I still have to organize my files after exporting froma memory card and then I can start importing into LR and adding the metadata and start catalog'ng.

I find it much easier just to use sequential file numbering and sort them purely using the tagging/keywording.