15 Things New LrC Users Should Know

[Only RF]

Dan Hartford from the Lightroom Queen asked members to post suggestions for a new blog. I kicked in a few things which took a bit of time for me to warp may head around using the catalogue system. That goes back to 2011 but I never forgot the few hard lessons and surprises during my first few weeks of navigating it.

https://www.danhartfordphoto.com/blog/2026/5/lr031-15-things-new-lrc-users-should-know

 

[Archibald]

There is some pretty good advice in that blog, but reading it makes me realize how complicated LrC is.

I know someone who is considering going to LrC for her photo editing, but sending her this blog of beginners tips would intimidate her, I think. It does not read like beginner-level stuff at all.

Making sense of the catalogue by reading stuff is really hard. The only way IMO is to jump in and learn by experience over time.

 

[Only RF]

There is no really perfect solution in suppose. I’ve seen my share of “Help!” threads. 3 years of usage, corrupt catalogue and no backups, files all the place. Some take weeks to try and salvage some of it if at all possible.

To this day on another site a member still insists he didn’t like how LrC managed the files. He created his one file management system somehow bypassing the import process. If you use LrC you create and manage your own file management file system. LrC has nothing to do with that. Also it is impossible to use LrC unless you import your files. If LrC can’t read the files metadata to add it to the catalogue database it does not know it exists. Bad information for people thinking about trying it out.

A good start is paramount and I think the first several steps cover that. I also hate reading a lot as well. I have to re-read bit by bit to digest it.

 

[Archibald]

There's no way of knowing how a person new to LrC will approach it. Some will be organized and it will go smoothly, and others will just start somewhere and make do. Some just can't deal with the jargon and complexity. They will devise their own kludgy methods, and then it could go wrong. I've seen it happen back in the days of 3rd party antivirus software. Some folks just want the screens to go away, and click haphazardly until they do.

If someone new to LrC followed a good tutorial or got personal help from someone experienced, it will go well. But most people don't want help like that. They want to go at their own speed and figure it out themselves. I've seen it time and again. They want to be left alone to play and learn and figure it out on their own.

They want to edit photos, not fool around with catalogues.

"A good start is paramount and I think the first several steps cover that." - yes, agreed.

Once the foundation has been built, when things go wrong or the user can't figure something out, the best is an AI app instead of a hierarchical help system. Type in what your issue is and get an app-specific answer right away. "My Develop module disappeared. How do I get it back?" Much better than searching in the menus or help.

 

[Only RF]

So that blog is a waste of everyone’s time and energy? Sorry for being so direct but I’m missing what harm this will cause. Each to their own. New users don’t have to read it. I’ll make sure not link in any threads you are involved in.

Thanks for you input.

 

[Archibald]

So that blog is a waste of everyone’s time and energy?

Very low value for a beginner as I said.

Don't misquote me.

 

[Only RF]

I didn't. This is a friendly forum and I don't want to get into this. You expressed your opinion which is perfectly fine. I don't agree. Like anything I have been overwhelmed with, I put it aside and go back to it later.