Importing & Exporting Lightroom Catalogs for editing
Preparing Your Lightroom
Please follow these instructions carefully.
Before getting started, please make sure you're up-to-date with the latest version of Lightroom Classic CC. You'll be preparing a catalog to be edited that includes the unedited images.
To do this, we need to create Lightroom Smart Preview Catalogs. If you don't already use Smart Previews, or don't know how to build them, you can learn how by watching this video.
Why you need to use collections...
We recommend utilizing the Collections feature within Lightroom for optimal catalog organization. If you don't know how to use Collections, or if you're not sure why you should, please watch this video.
You can organize a wedding by creating a set of Collections with a Collection Set. For example, Collection set: "Smith Wedding"; within the Collection Set are Collections such as "Details", "Getting Ready", "Ceremony", "Reception", etc.
TIPS
01. Keep Lightroom updated
To avoid compatibility issues, don't forget to always keep Lightroom Classic CC updated.
02. Double check your files & image count
Please double check that you have sent all 3 files: .lrcat, .lrdata, and .lrcat-data. Please ensure that all the photos are in the catalog. (Here's a tip: open the .lrcat file after you have exported your catalog to make sure that everything is in order and that the files work.)
03. Don't rename or move your raw files
Please do not rename or move your RAW files on your computer or hard drive while waiting for the photos to be edited, and please do not rename the files in Lightroom or elsewhere. Please wait until after you have successfully imported the edited catalog to move or rename the files. Thank you!
TIPS
Step One: Make a photo selection
Select all of the photos to be exported. If you're using Collections (thank you!), click on the designated collection or Collection Set and click on Edit > Select All (or command/ctrl + a)
Step Two: Make sure that Smart Previews are built
Again, double check that the Smart Previews are built. Remember: Smart Previews are vital to this process! (We aren't exchanging actual RAW files — just their smart preview data.
How to export a Smart Previews Catalog
exporting your catalog for editing
Step Three: "Export as Catalog"
While the photos are still selected, click File > "Export as Catalog"
Step Four: Name the File
Locate the folder in which you wish to export the files, then name the file. We recommend identifying the catalog that needs to be edited with "_To Edit", which will help keep the files organized. (i.e.: SmithWedding_ToEdit")
Step Five: Check & Uncheck
Check "Export Selected Photos Only"
Uncheck "Export Negative Files"
Check "Build / Include Smart Previews"
Uncheck "Include Available Previews"
...then select "Export Catalog"
Step Six: Double Check Your Files
Your three exported files should look like the
example shown above. Compress these three
files together into a .zip (shown above):
One .lrcat file (the Lightroom Catalog file)
One .lrdata file (the smart previews data file)
One .lrcat-data file (red)
NEXT... YOU'RE ALMOST DONE!
01. Compress the three files into a .zip file
02. Upload the renamed .zip file into our shared To Edit folder
03. Send a new email notifying us of the new catalog, to admin@whistlerweddingcollective.com (Example email subject line: "New Catalog: Smith Wedding Uploaded")
04. Do not move or rename your original photos inside of Lightroom while you're waiting for edits. This is very important!
05. Are the .lrcat, .lrdata and .lrcat-data files there? Open the .lrcat file, are all the photos there?
Importing a Smart Previews Catalog
How to import a "Final Edit" Catalog
1. Download the Final Edit .zip file from the "Final Edit" Google Drive folder.
Unzip the file. Store the folder wherever you prefer, but please do not depend on our Google Drive folder as permanent storage or backup storage. It is up to you to store this safely.
2. Open Lightroom Classic CC.
(Be sure to open the same catalog that you originally exported the catalog from.)
Go to: File > "Import from Another Catalog" > Select the .lrcat final edit final > Choose
3. Uncheck "Preserve old settings as a virtual copy" if you see the option to.
Select the dropdown option: "Add new photos to catalog without moving" >> Select Import
4. To view the imported catalog of edited images, go to Library > Select "Previous Import" OR locate where you had organized these photos in a Collection with your corresponding Catalog.
