How to Import Your Photos Into Lightroom Classic (The Right Way)

Getting your photos into Lightroom Classic is the first real step in your editing workflow — and it’s more important than many photographers realise.

In this video, I walk through the best methods for importing your photos into Lightroom Classic so you can organise, edit, and manage them more efficiently and consistently. Whether you’re just starting out with Lightroom or looking to refine your workflow, this video will help you avoid mistakes and set up your edits for success. 

Why Importing Photos Properly Matters

When you import images into Lightroom Classic, you’re not just moving files — you’re setting up:

• How your photos are stored

• How they’re organised

• How quickly you can find and edit them later

A good import workflow can save hours over the life of your photography library, especially once your collection grows. 

But if you import without a plan, things can become messy, hard to find, and frustrating to edit.

This tutorial simplifies the decisions so you start strong from the first photo you bring in.

What You’ll Learn in the Video

This video walks through all of the core choices you’ll face when importing:

• 📂 The different import methods in Lightroom Classic

  Learn what each one does and when to use it. 

• 🗃️ How to organise your files right away

  Including folder structures and naming conventions. 

• 🛠️ Import options that set you up for easier editing

  From presets to metadata to backing up originals. 

If you usually hit “Import” and hope for the best — this video will change how you think about it.

Who This Video Is For

This video is particularly helpful if you:

• Are new to Lightroom Classic

• Want a more consistent editing workflow

• Shoot a lot of files and need better organisation

• Want to avoid a messy photo library

Even experienced photographers can benefit from refining how they import their photos — and this tutorial makes it simple.

Final Thoughts

How you bring photos into Lightroom Classic makes a big difference in how fast and confidently you can work later.

With the right settings and method, you’ll spend less time organising and more time editing photos you love.