Reader Q&A: Lightroom Ratings and Labels

Krystal in AZ asks, "I am curious if you have found an effective way to use the colored flags, and if you ever use 4 & 5 stars?  Also, how do you track which photos have been printed or scrapbooked?  I've looked through the content quickly and not seen where you might have addressed these . . . I'm working backwards through my massive collection of photos, and wishing there were a way to "flag" entire folders so I could remember where I left off lol.  Only about 40,000 pix to go!"

Great questions!  If there is one thing I have learned over time it is that simple is better.  My goal with my photo system is to keep things as simple as possible so they are easy, repeatable and sustainable.  It is really easy for me to overcomplicate things so I constantly work to simplify.

• I don't currently use 4-5 stars because over time my library is going to grow and I want to have the room to expand - to always be able to pull the needle out of the haystack so to speak.  Over time my library collection of 2 star images is going to grow to the point where it is difficult to find what I need by choosing keywords and 2 stars - I think I am about 10 years away from that but still.  When it does, I'll move a select few of my 3 star images to 4 stars and then only pull out my true favorite 2 star images and make them 3 stars.  Not using 4-5 stars right now is giving me the freedom to expand later.

• It is easy to track which photos have been printed or scrapbooked by simply adding a keyword to the image.  Currently I don't use either in my system for photos.  I've moved away from worrying about whether or not a photo is scrapbooked or printed because most of my photos are never printed until they are in a layout.  I do share them - but mostly digitally on Facebook and slideshows for grandparents.  

• Lightroom keeps track of everything in Facebook for me through the Publish Services (I spoke about this in a very recent video tutorial on this blog).  However, when it comes to my layouts I do add a keyword to delineate if the layout is printed and if it is published.  This just helps me to keep track.

• I realize that for a traditional scrapbooker it may be more important to keep track of your photos being printed as that is how they are scrapbooked and catalogued in your system - so it is all good! :)

Lastly, if you are organizing those folders of 40k pictures in Lightroom it is very easy to flag the entire folder to know where you left off - 

• Click the folder you want to flag on the left side of library and press "G" to make sure you are in Library mode.

• Press CTRL/CMD + A to select all the images in that folder.  Right click on one of the thumbnails and choose Set Color Label and then the color label you want to differentiate which photos you have worked on and those you haven't.    You could repeat this for every folder that hasn't yet been processed.

• When you are done working in a color coded folder, select the group of photos processed and then set the color label to none. This way when you return to the folder it will be very easy to see where to start working again! :)

Hope the answers are helpful to you in your Lightroom workflow - happy Lightrooming! :)

Comments

[Wendy]

This is great! I have needed a way also to keep track of where I am.

[Sarah]

Kayla -- I was just wondering about using the coloring to keep track of which folders I have done. Perfect timing. Thanks!

[Kayla Lamoreaux]

So glad! Lucky timing! Hope you have a wonderful weekend! :)

[Jan_GodBlessAmerica]

Kayla, do you keep your imported photos in the Pictures folder on your Mac or at some other level? I know more a how to on a Mac question. lol
Also at what level are your LR catalog and import kits on your Mac?

[Kayla Lamoreaux]

Great question!

Macintosh HD USERS LEGACY LADY 0Photos ----- On that same level I also have my LR catalog.

I store my digital kits on my EHD. So that looks like this: SEAGATE 0KJL_LRScrapbooking Originals Designer Folders

Hope that helps! :)