LR 5 Arriving in Mail Today - Advice on Where to Start?

[suenewbie]

I've been using View NX2 for PP for the short while I've been into photography. I've just purchased LR 5 (I'm on Windows 8) and it's supposed to arrive today.

Any advice on the most effective ways to ramp up on this software, or advice on which LR tools I should focus on first? I see that Adobe has lots of video tutorials, which I'll take a look at once I have LR installed. What else do y'all recommend?

By the way, I am NOT a Photoshop user and am just learning GIMP, so references to the functionality of those tools probably won't help clarify anything.

I'll certainly appreciate any advice! Thanks!

[NorthernFocus]

It's hard to make a recommendation not knowing what style of learning works best for you. However, understanding how the LR cataloging function works is paramount. Otherwise you can find yourself either wasting a lot of work or spending a lot of time saving work that you've done processing images. If you have a relatively small number and are going to load everything into a single catalog it doesn't matter in the short term. But if you stick with photography sooner or later you likely will want to re-think your catalog structure so at least realizing what is and isn't important will be helpful up front.

Regarding the other, not being familiar with other processing software yet can actually be a good thing. Less frustration learning different terminology. If tutorials work for you there are hundreds of them out there for LR, both written and videos. There are definately enough free ones to get started. Those by Adobe are as good a place to start as any.

[dabhand]

Sue,

As with most anything else, time spent creating a good foundation is seldom wasted - Julieanne Kost has a 'getting started' series on Adobe TV and Tim Grey also does a set of good intro videos - FWIW I do recommend starting with either one of these and learn to 'crawl' before wanting to 'run' - personal experience !

steve

[suenewbie]

So, on the subject of cataloging - how do those of you who have been doing this for a while (and have a large number of photos) do your cataloging? Some questions that come to mind...

* When you download a set of photos from your camera, do you download them immediately into LR?

* What's first after they're in LR? Is your first step to rate them and do you discard obviously bad ones at this point?

* What do you find makes sense in terms of naming and/or grouping them? Currently (using View NX2) I'm putting each shoot's photos into a folder named with the shooting date and location. I'm also naming each individual photo with the camera's original name plus the location and an incremental number. So, each shoot is a separate folder.

* Are there other LR tools you find valuable in terms of tagging, naming, etc., that allow you to find images easily later?

* What mistakes did you make early on that you would advise me to try to avoid?

Thanks!

[Shadowman]

Scott Kelby has a LR series that provides the answer to your questions, I usually borrow a copy from the public library. The latest version may not be available but Kelby's workflow style pretty much stays the same unless there is a significant change.
Kelby usually follows the flow of the development panel top to bottom, but in most editing sequences you usually want to start with the biggest challenge first. If I can make changes to an image without affecting the big change; then I'll go in sequence. If noise is the biggest challenge, then I'll tackle noise before I attempt any sharpening. I make that comment about noise/sharpening because sharpening appears before noise editing in the development panel on the right.One other selection you might want to make right away is lens profiling.

Regarding cataloging, I usually just import by date because each time I use LR it is usually about 200 photos and I can remember the significance of the date. The significance of the import should be a key to your cataloging efforts, for instance if the images are of a special trip; then use the location of the trip as a tag.

[dabhand]

>> When you download a set of photos from your camera, do you download them immediately into LR?

No I filter them first using Irfanview as my viewer - most any viewer will do, just I'm a long time user of it.

>> What do you find makes sense in terms of naming and/or grouping them? Currently (using View NX2) I'm putting each shoot's photos into a folder named with the shooting date and location. I'm also naming each individual photo with the camera's original name plus the location and an incremental number. So, each shoot is a separate folder.

For me, the least complicated method - as I shoot primarily land/sea scape and architectural subjects I use a series of folders each named by location or subject and then just name the image meaningfully - camera detail, keywords etc all set in LR

>> What mistakes did you make early on that you would advise me to try to avoid?

Just trying to go too far too fast - get the basics first, the rest will follow.

[Mike Buckley]

Sue,

I don't use Lightroom except for editing no more than 1% of my images and I never use its cataloging functioning. However, I learned how to use other post-processing software and separate cataloging software a long time ago and still vividly remember the frustrations.

Dan makes a really great point that each of us learns differently. I urge you to decide what works best for you, whether it's reviewing videos or reading books, as an example, and that you purchase whatever works best for you perhaps before even installing Lightroom on your computer. I recommend sticking to one good book or series of videos and the like and using Lightroom as you go through the initial learning process. Once you've done that, you can consider other sources including ideas of people here.

It may come as a surprise to you that I recommend against asking a bevy of questions here at CiC. That's because it's easy to get off track, it's difficult to determine whose advice will be the best fit for you, and, frankly, whose information is entirely accurate (we all make the occasional mistake). A variety of questions of this sort are great in my mind once you've got a reasonable command of the basics throughout your entire workflow, but probably not before.

If you already understand all the implications of using a database software program, whether or not to embed that database information in the physical image files, and the like, consider yourself very fortunate. If you don't already understand that, just be aware that it's critical that you come to an understanding about that very early on in your learning curve. That's because understanding those implications will be a driving force about the many, many decisions you will have to make regarding workflow, configurations, etc., etc.

[Downrigger]

As with most anything else, time spent creating a good foundation is seldom wasted - Julieanne Kost has a 'getting started' series on Adobe TV and Tim Grey also does a set of good intro videos - FWIW I do recommend starting with either one of these and learn to 'crawl' before wanting to 'run' - personal experience !

Ditto, re: Juliette Kost. They are efficiently and clearly done.

Also, know that the one of the best things about LR, and a property of it that makes it fun and easy to learn with it, is that it is "nondestructive" so you can fool around with it on even your favorite image, all you want, and the original DNG (or NEF) file is just a click of the re-set button away. You can "play and learn" all you want and not lose a thing. So don't be afraid to jump right in.

[Shadowman]

Ditto, re: Juliette Kost. They are efficiently and clearly done.

Also, know that the one of the best things about LR, and a property of it that makes it fun and easy to learn with it, is that it is "nondestructive" so you can fool around with it on even your favorite image, all you want, and the original DNG (or NEF) file is just a click of the re-set button away. You can "play and learn" all you want and not lose a thing. So don't be afraid to jump right in.

Do you ever use Virtual Copy?

[Glenn NK]

So, on the subject of cataloging - how do those of you who have been doing this for a while (and have a large number of photos) do your cataloging? Some questions that come to mind...

1) When you download a set of photos from your camera, do you download them immediately into LR?

2) What's first after they're in LR? Is your first step to rate them and do you discard obviously bad ones at this point?

3) What do you find makes sense in terms of naming and/or grouping them? Currently (using View NX2) I'm putting each shoot's photos into a folder named with the shooting date and location. I'm also naming each individual photo with the camera's original name plus the location and an incremental number. So, each shoot is a separate folder.

4) Are there other LR tools you find valuable in terms of tagging, naming, etc., that allow you to find images easily later?

5) What mistakes did you make early on that you would advise me to try to avoid?

Thanks!

1) You don't download them into LR - you transfer them to your computer. I personally use the software that came with my cameras to do this. Then you IMPORT them into LR with the Import command.

2) I've never bothered too much with rating although many people do. I find that rating is subjective and changes with time. Images I just about discarded seven years ago are often looked at again, and with the improvement in my PP skills, I've found some good ones.

3) I group them by "date shot" - which is what LR does automatically. My reason for this is I tend to think in terms of time (we went to Hawaii two years ago so the folders are numbered from 20120316 to 20120324. I also have a folder named "Trip to Europe 2013". Or it could be Aunt Betty's Wedding. Using dated folders means each folder contains all images from one date. BUT I put all these dated subfolders into the Europe folder, BEFORE I IMPORT THEM - otherwise LR can't find them.

4) Nothing special, I mostly rely on my memory.

5) Mistakes? Me? Surely you jest. Don't throw anything away - as you improve, you'll discover tricks to salvage some pretty bad ones.

Finally for specific questions that are more difficult, I go to this site:
http://www.lightroomforums.net/forum.php

Some of the users on that site are so knowledgeable that it's humbling.

Glenn

[Glenn NK]

Do you ever use Virtual Copy?

I use it frequently to compare PP alternatives. It's one of the strong features of LR - and it takes up very little extra HDD space because only sidecar file is duplicated, not the image. In PP or CS, this is not the case I believe.

[Downrigger]

Do you ever use Virtual Copy?

Yes - you can test processing in parallel with this, or have a spare to work with if you're not sure of the the PP your doing on the original copy. Snapshot is helpful too, along those lines.

[Kris V]

Do you ever use Virtual Copy?

A lot - especially when I'm trying out things and end up with an unexpected and surprising result.

Edit: When I posted this, I realized I just hit the 1,000 mark!

[Downrigger]

When I posted this, I realized I just hit the 1,000 mark!

Good for you! I think 1000 is when the admins send you the big check.

[Kris V]

Good for you! I think 1000 is when the admins send you the big check.

Now, wouldn't that be nice!

[Mike Buckley]

Now, wouldn't that be nice!

You're joking, right? I've gotten a check after every 1000 posts. Why do you think I write so many posts? I was disappointed that the check for the 5000th post wasn't larger than any of the others.

[FrankMi]

So, on the subject of cataloging - how do those of you who have been doing this for a while (and have a large number of photos) do your cataloging?

Hi Sue. You should get a lot of different answers to this post as folks have a wide range of options when using LR. As previously mentioned, Adobe and others have a wealth of training videos available to help you decide what is best for how you want to work. To answer some of your questions...

I have well over 30,000 images and I do use LR for cataloging and occasionally some post processing.

When you download a set of photos from your camera, do you download them immediately into LR?

Yes. If I am downloading RAW images, I have LR convert them to DNG and may create a Export subfolder with the same image in Jpeg format for quick viewing when I'm not in LR.

What's first after they're in LR? Is your first step to rate them and do you discard obviously bad ones at this point?

I usually don't rate them right away and I may discard the totally unusable ones if I feel I want to take the time. More often than not, I'll discard the unusable images as I am selecting the ones I want to process and have more time to think carefully about what I am trying to achieve with that set of original images.

What do you find makes sense in terms of naming and/or grouping them?

I use three separate catalogs, One for originals and saved in-process Photoshop PSD files, one for completed images, and one for multiple Work in Process files. These catalogs correspond to the three primary storage folders in use with the same names.

Within the Original folder are 'Year' folders containing 'Date Photoshoot Name' folders, under which there may be an Edit folder for the processed PDS files.

In the Completed folder are 'Year' folders containing 'Subject' folders that usually correspond to the Original 'Photoshoot Name' folders.

The Work in Process folder is very dynamic and contains the Photoshoot Name images I am currently working with. Any Photoshop PSD files that are created here are copied back to the associated Edit folders under Original.

I usually do all my processing in either Adobe Camera Raw or Photoshop CS5 but many folks do most, if not all their post processing in LR. You should be able to use LR stand-alone or in conjunction with any other post processing package.

Hope this helps!

[FrankMi]

You're joking, right? I've gotten a check after every 1000 posts. Why do you think I write so many posts? I was disappointed that the check for the 5000th post wasn't larger than any of the others.

Roll up the pants legs, it's too late to save the shoes!

[NorthernFocus]

So, on the subject of cataloging - how do those of you who have been doing this for a while (and have a large number of photos) do your cataloging? Some questions that come to mind...

* When you download a set of photos from your camera, do you download them immediately into LR?

The simple answer is yes. But forget the term "download". I "import" them with LR using the "copy" command to place them where I want them on my computer. One piece of advice, once you start using LR, STOP moving photos around with your operating system. Use LR exclusively to move photos where you want them.

* What's first after they're in LR? Is your first step to rate them and do you discard obviously bad ones at this point?

Like many others have mentioned, I personally don't use the ratings. I may some day but currently not. I do use keywording. So arguably my first step is assigning some key words to meta data during import. That will typically be shoot location, general descriptive such as wildlife, landscape, etc. Immediately post import I cull the obvious throwaways that don't require much thought. For example obviously out of focus, head clipped out of frame, etc.

* What do you find makes sense in terms of naming and/or grouping them? Currently (using View NX2) I'm putting each shoot's photos into a folder named with the shooting date and location. I'm also naming each individual photo with the camera's original name plus the location and an incremental number. So, each shoot is a separate folder.

I used to do something similar but as number increase it becomes cumbersome and meaningless if you're using metadata. I so use a filing structure but no longer rename the photos. Metadata is a much better way to put in descriptive info. IMO.

* Are there other LR tools you find valuable in terms of tagging, naming, etc., that allow you to find images easily later?

Mostly keywords. Date/time information is already imbedded into the files so no need to fiddle with that. There is a function to put location data into the metadata that is easily propagated into a group of images. There are all those other wonderful methods of rating, flagging, etc., but I'm not organized enough to keep that many variables straight.

* What mistakes did you make early on that you would advise me to try to avoid?

My biggest mistake was trying to figure out all of these things you're asking before I started. No joke. I bought LR 3 originally. Upgraded to 4 then to 5 without ever actually using the program because I didn't have a perfect plan. Ok I can be a bit anal about things... I finally just started importing new stuff and am gradually going back and importing older images. Can't believe I waited so long to use this excellent toolset.

[Glenn NK]

Good for you! I think 1000 is when the admins send you the big check.

No, it's when they send you for a checkup.