How to upload multiple folders

[richards1052]

I have multiple image folders on my desktop.  I want to upload all the images in each folder and map them into the same named folders in Lightroom.  Is there a way to upload named folders and automatically give them the same name in Lightroom along with uploading all the images? How do I do that?

[JohanElzenga]

When you import the images, select 'ADD' at the top middle of the import dialog. This will add the images to the catalog (which is a database, so they are only added as information) without moving or copying them to another folder. As Lightroom shows the real folders in the folder panel, this will do what you want.

[richardplondon]

Besides the Add option - which you'd use if you are happy for the images to stay where they are - it is also possible to replicate the same existing division into folders, when you use Move or Copy for a batch of imported images.

As an example: in the camera it is possible to begin a fresh folder on the card on demand, to divide up the photos into distinct groups. Different stages of an event, say. And imagine you wanted to reflect that when copying the images into the computer, as part of importing those. As well as setting the destination for the copy, the Organize option controls what subfolders the photos go into within this. Choose "by original folders" to get the same arrangement as seen on the camera card.

The other available options are: all into one folder, or, filed into a date based system of subfolders. So both those options will ignore the existing folders present on the camera card (or whatever else is the source, for your Move or Copy).

Personally I would avoid importing images from within Desktop (or Pictures, or Documents) using Add - not a very suitable kind of location for images that LrC is managing IMO. I recommend a standard disk drive specific folder, over something provided as a library location by (and within) the user profile.

If you were ever to move them away from there, or delete them, especially with Desktop it can be a temptation to have a tidy-up- the Catalog would then lose its access to these files. Also if you started syncing your user profile with OneDrive, this moves the Desktop stored files (also files stored in Documents, and Pictures) to a different disk location. And even once this is adapted to, they'll still gain some more complex online / offline behaviour, which can mean the Catalog not seeing some as available - because it can't know that OneDrive would auto-fetch local copies if so demanded.