Recommendations for Lightroom Directory Structure for Exported Files

[mcraige]

I'm still relatively new to Lightroom and trying to decide on the best organizational structure for my files. Currently, I import the files into a directory structure like

Photos\Year\Date

then (within Lightroom) rename the date folder to something more meaningful (e.g. date-location). This works well for me. After editing the files, I then export them to a Lightroom subdirectory like

Photos\Year\Date\Lightroom

Thus far, this as worked well. However, now that I am doing incremental off-site backups, I realized I am backing-up both the originals and the edited files (not needed). Therefore, I was considering a new directory structure like

Edits\Year\Date

Is there any way to have Lightroom automatically create the new directory structure during export? Is there a better structure that I should be considering?

I know that storage is [relatively] cheap, but only backing up the originals would not only save storage, it would also save upload time (and download time if I need to restore).

Any / all thoughts are appreciated.

 

[robgendreau]

I'm still relatively new to Lightroom and trying to decide on the best organizational structure for my files. Currently, I import the files into a directory structure like

Photos\Year\Date

then (within Lightroom) rename the date folder to something more meaningful (e.g. date-location). This works well for me. After editing the files, I then export them to a Lightroom subdirectory like

Photos\Year\Date\Lightroom

I assume Lr Classic.

What are the exports for? usually exports are for a specific reason, like using the export to post here. Or onto say a media server or to a thumb drive for a client or something. Why you export them—and even bother to keep them—matters. Indeed, publishing to hard drive might be a better solution.

Thus far, this as worked well. However, now that I am doing incremental off-site backups, I realized I am backing-up both the originals and the edited files (not needed). Therefore, I was considering a new directory structure like

Edits\Year\Date

Not sure how the path affects backup.... With the software I use I can exclude any folders I want. The thing is unless you use publishing instead of just export the exports won't be find-able in LrC.

Is there any way to have Lightroom automatically create the new directory structure during export? Is there a better structure that I should be considering?

In the export dialog box there are choices about folder and subfolder, but that's about it. LrC is designed to manage the originals; the only exports it keeps track of are those what are published.

I know that storage is [relatively] cheap, but only backing up the originals would not only save storage, it would also save upload time (and download time if I need to restore).

Any / all thoughts are appreciated.

Well, LrC is designed so that you never have to keep any exports. Since it stores all the edits in it's database, you can export from the origin at any time. So it's sort of like recipes and raw ingredients; you only store them since at any time you can use the recipe (edits) and raw ingredients (original photo) to produce a meal (the export). There are scenarios where we all need to have exported images for various reasons, but not always, since LrC stores that info more efficiently.

But again, it sort of depends on why you are exporting and why or if you have to keep track of the exports.

 

[KCook]

It doesn't matter whether the software is LR or something else, they all allow for exporting to a unique folder. I organize my exports by project label, instead of date. Example -

This PC

...

...

Pictures

...

...

projects

Black and White

critters

...

blog misc

Grand Prix of Scottsdale

WHCC setups

...

transfers

Fuji X-T20 vs Oly E-M5

...

Sedona

etc (long list of a wide range of projects)

Kelly Cook

 

[Zeee]

I'm still relatively new to Lightroom and trying to decide on the best organizational structure for my files. Currently, I import the files into a directory structure like

Photos\Year\Date

then (within Lightroom) rename the date folder to something more meaningful (e.g. date-location). This works well for me. After editing the files, I then export them to a Lightroom subdirectory like

Photos\Year\Date\Lightroom

I assume Lr Classic.

What are the exports for? usually exports are for a specific reason, like using the export to post here. Or onto say a media server or to a thumb drive for a client or something. Why you export them—and even bother to keep them—matters. Indeed, publishing to hard drive might be a better solution.

Thus far, this as worked well. However, now that I am doing incremental off-site backups, I realized I am backing-up both the originals and the edited files (not needed). Therefore, I was considering a new directory structure like

Edits\Year\Date

Not sure how the path affects backup.... With the software I use I can exclude any folders I want. The thing is unless you use publishing instead of just export the exports won't be find-able in LrC.

Is there any way to have Lightroom automatically create the new directory structure during export? Is there a better structure that I should be considering?

In the export dialog box there are choices about folder and subfolder, but that's about it. LrC is designed to manage the originals; the only exports it keeps track of are those what are published.

I know that storage is [relatively] cheap, but only backing up the originals would not only save storage, it would also save upload time (and download time if I need to restore).

Any / all thoughts are appreciated.

Well, LrC is designed so that you never have to keep any exports. Since it stores all the edits in it's database, you can export from the origin at any time. So it's sort of like recipes and raw ingredients; you only store them since at any time you can use the recipe (edits) and raw ingredients (original photo) to produce a meal (the export). There are scenarios where we all need to have exported images for various reasons, but not always, since LrC stores that info more efficiently.

That is the beauty of it. When I shot events I never kept the Jpegs.

But again, it sort of depends on why you are exporting and why or if you have to keep track of the exports.

 

[Zeee]

I'm still relatively new to Lightroom and trying to decide on the best organizational structure for my files. Currently, I import the files into a directory structure like

Photos\Year\Date

then (within Lightroom) rename the date folder to something more meaningful (e.g. date-location). This works well for me. After editing the files, I then export them to a Lightroom subdirectory like

Photos\Year\Date\Lightroom

Thus far, this as worked well. However, now that I am doing incremental off-site backups, I realized I am backing-up both the originals and the edited files (not needed). Therefore, I was considering a new directory structure like

Edits\Year\Date

This is close to what I have been doing since 2011 and have always had only one catalogue. Since it is only a database it uses little storage and there is no know limit to its size.

When I travel I create a new Catalogue one the laptop . When I get home I merge that catalogue to main one the desktop using the "import from another catalogue" command. All edits are retained.

Is there any way to have Lightroom automatically create the new directory structure during export? Is there a better structure that I should be considering?

I know that storage is [relatively] cheap, but only backing up the originals would not only save storage, it would also save upload time (and download time if I need to restore).

Any / all thoughts are appreciated.

 

[davidedric]

I have a high level folder "Lightroom Exports", and within that I export to a named folder which describes the intended use, for example "Croatia for presentation to xyz".

I do keep the exported folders. Yes, I could recreate them, but it seems more convenient to have them to hand should I need them. I do NOT re-import the exported photographs to Lightroom.

If I felt I was running short of space, I'd just move some of the exported photos to the EHD.

 

[Simon Garrett]

As others have said, the main question is what you want the exports for. The folder structure (if any) will depend on that.

For me, exports are for a specific purpose, which is usually temporary. For example, if I want to send a batch of photos to someone, I export to a temporary folder, send them, then delete those exports. Why keep them? I can recreate them again if I need them again. The master copy is the one in Lightroom - usually raw files - and those are the important ones to keep.

For me, I have a couple of purposes for semi-permanent exports. I keep a selection of exported jpegs that I use for my screen saver slide show (which go in a folder with the imaginative title of "Slideshow"). One other semi-permanent version that I keep is a medium definition jpeg export that my wife can use for her artwork (as she doesn't have Lightroom). That gets exported to a folder structure tham mimics the main folders in the catalogs.

Jeffrey Friedl's "Folder Publisher" plugin is good for exporting to a folder structure (http://regex.info/blog/lightroom-goodies).