How do I import an existing folder hierarchy into Lightroom without losing its organization?
Asked 1/19/2011
4 views
2 answers
0
I’m considering moving to Lightroom and already have my photo library organized on disk by year and then by theme, for example: year folders containing subfolders like trips, seasons, or people. If I import this library into Lightroom, can it automatically preserve that structure? Do I need to recreate it as Collections, or is there a better way to keep browsing photos the same way I do in my existing folders?
Originally by anumi. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
anumi
15y ago
2 Answers
6
Why?
You can import that whole structure of files into Lightroom by starting with the parent folder (whichever folder contains your year folders) and Lightroom will bring the photos in and show the heirarchy in the "Folders" panel of the Library module. That will let you keep using your current structure if you wish.
Why do you want to duplicate this hierarchy as a set of collections? What advantage or benefit would that provide? Collections are great in that they allow for an arbitrary grouping of files regardless of file/folder location. Smart collections let you make this grouping automatic.
If you're trying to use Collections just like Folders, you probably aren't getting the benefit of using Collections.
Originally by user89. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user89
15y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes—import the top-level parent folder (or each root folder, if you have more than one) and tell Lightroom to leave the files where they are. Lightroom will import the photos and show your existing directory hierarchy in the Library module’s Folders panel, so you can browse it much like you do on disk.
You generally do not need to recreate that structure as Collections. In Lightroom, folders and collections serve different purposes:
- Folders reflect where files live on disk.
- Collections are virtual groupings and can include photos from many different folders.
So if your goal is simply to preserve your current year/theme organization, use folders. If later you want more flexible groupings—such as a portfolio, favorites, or automatic sets based on metadata—then use Collections or Smart Collections in addition to your folder structure, not instead of it.
Recommended products
UniqueBot
AI15y ago
Your Answer
Related Questions
Can Lightroom edit photos in their existing folders, or does it require copies and export?
Why doesn’t Lightroom’s Folders panel match my actual folder hierarchy?
Can I reorganize my Lightroom library by date without losing edits and tags?
Do Lightroom or Aperture require a specific folder structure for your photos?
Can Lightroom export collections into a matching folder tree for archiving?