In Adobe Lightroom Classic, Catalogs, Folders, and Collections serve different purposes in organizing and managing your photos. Here’s a breakdown of what each one does:
1. Catalog (The Database) 📂
A Lightroom Catalog (.lrcat file) is the database where all your edits, metadata, and organization settings are stored. It does not contain the actual photo files but remembers where they are stored and keeps track of all edits non-destructively.
Key Features:
✅ Stores photo metadata, edits, ratings, and organization.
✅ Doesn’t contain actual photos—only references them.
✅ Can have multiple catalogs, but most users prefer one main catalog.
Where It’s Stored?
By default, Lightroom Classic saves the catalog in:
- Windows:
C:\Users\[YourUser]\Pictures\Lightroom\ - Mac:
~/Pictures/Lightroom/
💡 Tip: Back up your catalog regularly to avoid losing edits!
2. Folder (Actual Photo Location) 🗂️
A Folder in Lightroom refers to the physical location where your images are stored on your computer or external drive.
Key Features:
✅ Mirrors the actual file structure on your hard drive.
✅ Photos remain in their original location unless moved inside Lightroom.
✅ Changing folder locations outside Lightroom causes “Missing File” errors.
Managing Folders in Lightroom:
- Found in the Library Module under the Folders Panel.
- Right-click a folder > “Update Folder Location” if you move files outside Lightroom.
3. Collection (Virtual Grouping) 🎞️
A Collection is a virtual album inside Lightroom that allows you to group photos without moving them from their original folders.
Types of Collections:
🔹 Regular Collection – A manual group of selected photos.
🔹 Smart Collection – Automatically includes photos based on rules (e.g., 5-star rating).
🔹 Collection Set – A folder that holds multiple collections.
Key Features:
✅ Photos in collections don’t move from their folders.
✅ A single photo can belong to multiple collections.
✅ Useful for organizing projects, themes, or editing workflows.
Comparison Table
| Feature | Catalog 📂 | Folder 🗂️ | Collection 🎞️ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stores Actual Photos? | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Stores Edits & Metadata? | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Can Be Moved? | ✅ Yes (but carefully) | ✅ Yes (but update location in Lightroom) | ✅ Yes |
| Can Contain Duplicates? | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Yes (Virtual) |
Which One Should You Use?
- Use a Catalog to manage all edits and metadata.
- Use Folders to store and organize your actual photo files.
- Use Collections to create custom, flexible groupings without moving files.
Would you like help setting up an efficient workflow? 😊
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