Whether you’re new to Lightroom or a seasoned professional, James Paterson has 20 top tips to help you organise and edit smarter
1. Get it right from the start
Pick an organisation method that works for you and then stick to it. I like to save images to folders named YYYY-MM-DD and add keywords while importing. Then once in the Library Module, I rate my images and use a combination of Collections, Collection Sets and Smart Collections to organise and categorise the shots I want to take further.
2. Master the import
Do as much as you can during import and you’ll save lots of time later on. You can apply presets on import, add keywords and create collections. If you like to import directly from a memory card, you can automatically create dated subfolders to organise your photos. And if you like to import to a specific folder, you can save time by right-clicking it in the folder panel and choosing ‘Import to this folder’.
3. Render previews
If you find that Lightroom constantly displays ‘loading’ when you move from one image to the next, try rendering 1:1 previews before you begin editing a set or folder. Select the images in the Library Module then go to Library > Previews > Build 1:1 Previews. It may take a while to complete, so choose a moment when you can leave your system to it.
4. Use your cloud storage
By default Adobe Photography Plan subscribers get 100GB of cloud storage to use with the cloud-based Lightroom CC app. While this isn’t enough to store an entire image library, it’s a great place to upload your favourite shots (perhaps all your 5-star photos), either to edit them on-the-go, or to use as a portfolio when out and about.
5. Don’t Move!
Moving an image file around your drive is the cardinal sin for Lightroom users because Lightroom will lose track of where it is – unless it’s done via the Library Module’s Folder panel. So if you ever need to move something from one location to another – say, to store it on an external drive – then do
6. Rate and Advance
Use ratings to highlight your favourite photos. Add a star rating (hit 1-5) or use flags (hit P/X). Once you have a method then stick to it for consistency across your library. Here’s a simple tip that helps speed up the process. Enable Auto-Advance (Photo > Auto-Advance) and upon adding a rating Lightroom will move to the next photo for you.
7. CC or Classic?
Either version of Lightroom offers a different workflow – Classic is based on a traditional file/folder/collection structure, while CC utilises cloud-based storage. Here we focus on LR Classic techniques because there’s greater depth in Classic. But if you want a simpler cloud-centric workflow and are prepared to pay for the 1TB cloud storage package, CC may be the better option for you.
8. Email directly from Lightroom
If you need to email photos to a friend or client then there’s no need to export the images. Lightroom offers a convenient command under File > Email Photo. You’ll need to link Lightroom to your mail app, then you can add a recipient from your address book, include text, and even resize to an email-friendly attachment like 800px long.
9. Enable Solo mode
This is such a simple yet useful feature that stops you having to scroll right down through a long list of panels to find the one you’re after. Right-click over any panel title and enable ‘Solo Mode’ then each time you click a panel all others will automatically collapse, giving you a cleaner interface and no more need for endless scrolling.
10. Use Export Presets
The Export dialog contains lots of useful settings, but they can be a drag to go through. Instead, if your workflow requires regular re-formatting – say to make an 800px JPEG version for web – then save yourself time by setting up Export Presets. Simply choose your settings and hit ‘Add’ to the left of the box.
11. New HDR Panoramas
Like to make HDR Panoramas? In the latest update to Lightroom Classic you can now do this in one step, rather than having to create HDR merges for each segment of your pano before stitching them together. Select your entire set of exposure-bracketed images then go to Photo > Photo Merge > HDR Panorama.
12. Spray Can edits
When in the Library grid view you can use the Spray Can tool to swiftly apply edits to images in the grid by dragging or ‘spraying’ over them. You can spray on presets, metadata, keywords, star ratings, image rotation and more. Simply click on the tool, use the dropdowns to set parameters and start spraying.
13. Create sidecars
The Catalog is where Lightroom stores all your edits. But if you decide to open the file in another editor, like Camera Raw or Bridge, the edits won’t show. If you need them to, head to Lightroom > Catalog Settings and check ‘Automatically write changes to XMP’. This creates ‘sidecar’ data files and helps safeguard your edits if your catalog is corrupted.