Shifting photographs between folders and transferring folders between different folders (and presumably drives) are two of probably the most basic Lightroom Traditional duties everybody ought to know. As fundamental because it appears, it’s a frequent ache level for some of us. I believe the explanation for the ache is within the disconnect between what individuals suppose is “inside” Lightroom Traditional (LrC) and what’s truly “inside” the catalog. Let’s clear issues up and enable you to obtain this process with out fear.
Caveat, the primary key to doing any file upkeep process is having a superb backup of all of your photographs in place earlier than you begin transferring issues round. This manner you’ll be able to all the time fall again on that if one thing goes awry. The second key’s realizing do the duty in LrC, and that’s what we’ll concentrate on right here.
Within the Catalog
Contained in the LrC catalog is solely details about your photographs. Nothing extra, and nothing much less. One necessary piece of data is the place your photographs are saved in your laborious drive (exterior of LrC). That piece of data, saved as the trail to the place the picture resides, is what LrC makes use of to confer with your photographs everytime you do one thing in LrC (like modifying, exporting, printing, and so forth.). That path is established as a part of the import course of, and it’s maintained by you performing all file upkeep duties (transferring, renaming, and deleting) inside LrC. Nevertheless, should you ought to carry out a type of file upkeep duties exterior of LrC you might want my tutorial on when photographs go lacking, to set issues proper. Right here’s keep away from that downside.
Shifting Photographs Between Folders
A quite common process is solely transferring some variety of photographs from one folder to a different. You’ll wish to do that from the Library module, and I discover it best to do inside Grid view. Right here’s how:
Step One: Choose the photographs within the Grid that you just wish to transfer to a different folder.
Step Two: Click on and drag that choice to the specified folder within the Folders panel, and when the specified folder is highlighted, launch the photographs to provoke the transfer.

Step Three: When prompted by the Shifting a File on Disk message, click on Transfer.




There’s a field you’ll be able to examine to Don’t present once more, however I like to recommend leaving that unchecked so that you just all the time have the choice to cancel should you change your thoughts or if this was unintended.
The photographs will then be moved in your laborious drive from their unique folder to the specified folder, and as a part of that course of the trail within the catalog is up to date. All is nicely.
Making a New Folder Whereas Shifting Photographs
One other model of this process is desirous to take a choice of photographs and put them in a brand new folder that doesn’t but exist within the Folders panel. Right here’s do each in a single transfer:
Step One: Choose the photographs within the Grid that you just wish to transfer to a different folder.
Step Two: Within the Folders panel, right-click the mum or dad folder the place you wish to create this new subfolder inside, and select Create Folder Inside from the contextual menu.
Step Three: Within the Create Folder dialog that seems, enter the title for the brand new folder, then examine the field for Embody chosen photographs, and click on Create.




The brand new folder can be created throughout the mum or dad folder you chose, and the chosen photographs can be moved into it proper after. The catalog is saved updated.
Shifting One Folder into One other Folder
The opposite variation on this process is when you could transfer one folder into one other folder. This might be a folder on the identical drive as the primary folder or it might be on a very completely different drive. The method is identical both manner. Right here’s how:
Step One: Choose the folder you wish to transfer within the Folders panel.
Step Two: Drag that folder into the specified mum or dad folder, and launch.




Step Three: When prompted by the Shifting a File on Disk message, click on Transfer. The folder and its contents can be moved into the chosen folder.




You may create a brand new folder inside an present folder first if wanted by right-clicking the goal mum or dad folder and utilizing the Create Folder Inside command, or you need to use the Library > New Folder command to create a brand new folder (or usher in an present folder) at a location in your drive of your selecting. Notice, you may as well choose a number of folders (maintain CMD/CTRL whereas choosing every folder) and drag/drop them abruptly into a brand new folder.
Tip, if you’re transferring a number of folders or a complete drive, I like to recommend studying my tutorial on the Replace Folder Location choice as a safer various. Glad transferring!
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