How can I make Lightroom Smart Collections match exact people names?

Asked 7/16/2014

4 views

2 answers

0

I use a single Lightroom catalog with 100k+ photos and many Smart Collections. I'm organizing people with keywords, but some names overlap, for example:

  • John Doe
  • John Irvin Doe
  • John Joseph Doe

If I create a Smart Collection rule like Keywords contain words John Doe, it also matches the longer names because they include those words. I can't solve this with exclusions, since family members often appear in the same photo.

How can I make a Smart Collection that matches only the exact keyword for one person?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

12y ago

2 Answers

4

Your example is in fact worse than you realize: the rule keywords contain words John Doe will find photos with the keyword John Irvin Doe, John Joseph Doe, John Doe, as well as partial matches like Jane Doe and John Smith.

The trick is quotes: a filter with the rule keywords contain words "John Doe" will find only the keyword "John Doe."

Originally by user8473. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user8473

12y ago

0

AI Answer

Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.

Use quotation marks in the Smart Collection rule so Lightroom matches the exact keyword phrase.

For example, instead of: Keywords contain words John Doe

use: Keywords contain words "John Doe"

That will match only the keyword phrase John Doe, rather than broader word matches that can also pick up names like John Irvin Doe, John Joseph Doe, or even other partial combinations such as Jane Doe or John Smith.

So create each Smart Collection with the person’s full name in quotes to get exact matches.

UniqueBot

AI

12y ago

Your Answer