organization software question

[sarahle]

Being an amateur photographer the past six years and now back in college studying photography and starting freelance magazine work...I would like to have some thoughts on organizing my photos. I am starting to build up a working portfolio, so that I may start a library of images. I am extremely comfortable working in PS5 and prefer to do so as I've spent years building my abilities and am comfortable moving forward in it. I read about Lightroom and I do use Bridge a little bit but even that seems like an extra step. I really just want a program that I can download my images from my camera into, let it date a file and I'll get to it and import what I want into PS5. Also another important aspect is being able to put a keyword into a search engine and pulling up matches. I just want something that will accept a download and catalogue w/a search engine...I'm willing to do the rest. I don't want a big expense but something that works...any suggestions.

[Hill Country Hack]

I use Lightroom (LR) as my only editing software. It is an outstanding organizational tool for your photos. You can select photos to import, apply developing presets, add keyword(s) as is "guitars, red, intruments". You can build catelogs to place the photos into. The images can be sent to PS for editing that can't be done in LR. Can post from LR straight to FB or Flickr.

Also, during the import you can automatically make a copy and send it to wherever you designate. You can import RAW, convert to Jpg or DNG.

As you can tell I like my LR. One day I'll get PSE to allow myself the ability to do layers, masks, stacking etc. I am not an Adobe employee or paid endorser.

[sarahle]

I have not looked at an open Lightroom, I suppose I could download a free trial and see if it did work for my needs. I am so comfortable in CS5 and am desperate for a good organization system...right now it's MY memory on my computer or my external hard drive...I desperately need some type of catalog/organization. Which Lightroom would serve my needs for storage and I'd like to keep things as inexpensive as possible. What other options are there?

[zona5101]

+1 on Lightroom
- there is only one version, the current one in WIn or Mac.
Download a trial. There are tons of vids to help understand it.
You will find you do 80 to 90 % of your normal post work in LR and have far fewer trips into PS..

[sarahle]

Thank you Hill Country Hack and Zona5101! After reading all the positive points y'all have mentioned, I believe I will have to give Lightroom a whirl..and if I like it, perhaps Santa will leave it in my stocking!