Lesson 1: Getting Started with Lightroom Classic

Please check through the questions listed below the video before submitting one that’s already been answered.

Questions asked and answered during the live FAQ session

• An introduction to the LIVE “Watch Party” and how it works [0:00]
• Introduction to how to navigate your course on the website [4:45]
• I am still using the standalone Lightroom 6 version but need to update to the subscription Lightroom Classic. I am very nervous about the transition and would be grateful if you could direct me to any resources to help with the transition. Just for your interest, I need to update because it seems I can’t update the computer operating system (apple mac) any further without destabilizing Lightroom 6 and I need to update the operating system for other things on the computer to operate properly. [7:43]
• If I cease my subscription at any time in the future, will I still be able to access my Lightroom Library? It is my main filing system for all my photos. Can you provide any more detailed information on this aspect? [10:36]
• I have been using Luminar recently for some editing and would consider ditching Lightroom completely if there is an alternative program for managing a photo library. What are the best programs for photo file management? [11:18]
• MyLio as a Digital Asset Management system. A photo organizer that connects laptops, desktops, phones, tablets, Facebook, etc, allowing you to organize, protect, sync and edit all your images.
• Darlene’s MyLio livestream working with MyLio Product team, explaining everything MyLio
• Will you be using the June 2022 updates? [13:11]
• Is Camera Raw a separate app/product? Do we need it for this course? [13:28]
• I have LRC, but do not have Adobe Creative Cloud downloaded. Is the Creative Cloud app necessary? [15:15]
• I downloaded your zip files and unzipped them. However, when I try to open LrC by clicking on the DPM Lr Course.lrcat file, I get a message saying “Lightroom cannot use the catalog named “DPM LR Course” because it is not writable and cannot be opened. [16:48]
• I have an existing Lightroom catalog of my own photos. Is that interfering with yours? If I “Choose a Different Catalog” it opens my pictures. [18:33]
• How to move between the DPM Lightroom Course catalog and your own Catalog [18:33]
• I have downloaded the folder to downloads and copied the raw image file into a pictures folder called Lightroom course-DPM. Have I missed anything as I noticed the download had other files in it? [20:28]
• Lightroom Classic vs Lightroom Cloud version [22:09]
• About unzipping and installing the LR Course catalog files [22:58]
• Already using LRC; will loading the DPM Catalogue for this course, confuse LRC when I process my next batch of photos. In other words, will i need to point LRC to my original Catalogue. After the Lightroom class with you and Piet van den Einde, I located my catalogue on an external G-Drive! [24:24]
• I purchased the Cloud based Lightroom approximately 12 months ago. I am still very new and intimidated by it. Have I purchased the wrong package and if so can i convert it to Lightroom Classic ?? Bearing in mind that the 1 TB of memory swayed me but I now feel as though I have purchased the wrong Lightroom ?? [25:30]
• How do I find out if I have the most current software? [27:11]
• An explanation of Adobe software plans[27:45]
• Why course lessons are not downloadable [32:58]
• I downloaded Creative cloud. Opened Lightroom Classic. When I wanted to switch to YOUR student catalog for this course, choosing open recent, I got a message asking if I wanted to close my current catalog and relaunch it [34:05]
• A couple of years ago my computer died. I assumed all my photos would be stored in the cloud somewhere. [35:42]
• I’m not sure I got the right version for Lightroom Classic. On Adobe’s site I clicked the box for Classic, but my computer icon showed Adobe Creative Cloud. The tech said I have to get Creative Cloud to access Classic. Is that really what I was supposed to do for this class? I found the Adobe site to be confusing. [38:29]
• What is the advantage to importing files into Lightroom in the camera’s format instead of choosing DNG? (NOTE: this is covered in more detail in a future lesson on importing) [41:40]
• You were quite specific (and correct) that you need to back-up the Lightroom catalog in a place different from where you store the photos. I use Dropbox for the backup. Dropbox then acts a bit like time Machine (not your favorite) in that it stores a continuous stream of back up files. What is a prudent number of these backup files to retain? [44:22]
• I cannot open the raw files in Lightroom Classic. I downloaded the file and moved it into my pictures folder on the computer hard drive. However, when I click on the DPM LR Course folder I get an error message that says that LR can not use the catalog because it is not writable and can not be opened. Any thoughts? [46:22]
• I’ve already learned much from this first video! But as I look at your extra articles, I’m becoming more aware, I’m in a pickle! Is there a way to transfer my Lightroom catalog back to my hard drive? I installed it on the same external hard drive as where I have my CR3 photos. I did it about a year ago. I have about half my CR3 photos on the external hard drive and half on the computer which is still running slow. I have a backup online storage I’ve started a couple months ago, not iCloud. I was able to load your Raw practice pictures onto my computer as a new catalogue. [47:20]
• I installed the RAW files the way you suggested. As I understand it correctly I don’t import the photo’s (yet) in Lightroom I just double click the folder and they are in Lightroom without importing. I wonder as nothing has changed to these photo’s because they are not developed yet, how it is possible that the Lightroom catalogue is imported? isn’t a catalogue available after the raw file is developed? [49:54]
• I am working with Lightroom 6 on a 2012 Mac as I mentioned to you earlier I have a brand new mac but I am not able to transfer my Lightroom 6 to this new Mac. I think they want a subscription. I would like help working out what my options are to work between the computers. My new Mac has a great resolution screen and I would like to be able to use it if possible. thank you for your ideas on possible workflows [50:55]
• I downloaded your zip files and unzipped them. However, when I try to open LrC by clicking on the DPM Lr Course.lrcat file, I get a message saying “Lightroom cannot use the catalog named “DPM LR Course” because it is not writable and cannot be opened. I have an existing Lightroom Classic catalog of my own photos. Is that interfering with yours? If I “Choose a Different Catalog” it opens my pictures. [52:09]
• With the date data available in the metadata, why would a year-based folder structure make any sense? Isn’t that redundant? [53:18]