How to Select Multiple Photos in Lightroom Classic?
In the age of digital photography, we capture an increasing number of photos. Therefore, effectively managing and processing these photos becomes crucial.
In Lightroom Classic, selecting multiple photos is a fundamental yet powerful feature that helps you streamline your post-processing, editing, and organization tasks more efficiently.
For beginners who are just getting started with Lightroom Classic, it may not be clear how to select multiple photos in Lightroom. But don't worry, in this tutorial, we will quickly provide you with the answer.
In this article, you will learn:
- How to Select Multiple Photos in Lightroom?
- What's the Benefit of Selecting Multiple Photos in Lightroom?
- Final Thoughts About Selecting Multiple Photos in Lightroom
How to Select Multiple Photos in Lightroom?
Open Lightroom Classic and import your photos in the Library module. Alternatively, you can select a directory, folder, or collection on the left side of the Library module, and you'll see multiple photos appearing in the Library Filter in the middle (if you have imported photos previously).
If you don't see a UI interface like the one shown in the image below, you can click the "Grid View" button in the lower-left corner of the Library Filter panel to bring it up.
Here, you can perform operations like flagging, rating, and color labeling on your photos, and then do some preliminary management, sorting, and filtering.
Further Reading:
In the grid view, you can click on a photo's thumbnail to select it individually. That's the simplest method, but how do you select multiple photos in Lightroom? Here are three specific methods:
- Non-sequential Selection: Hold down the Ctrl key (Windows) or Command key (Mac OS), and then click on the multiple photos you want to select. This is useful when you need to select photos scattered in different locations.
- Sequential Selection: Hold down the Shift key and click on the first and last photo, and all the photos in between will be selected. This is useful when you need to select a consecutive series of photos.
- Select All Photos: Click on one photo, and then press "Ctrl + A" (Windows) or "Command + A" (Mac) to select all photos.
Did you notice? The process of selecting multiple photos in Lightroom works just like selecting multiple images in a computer's file browser.
It's worth noting that the three methods mentioned above for selecting multiple photos in Lightroom also apply to the thumbnail area below the Develop module in Lightroom.
What's the Benefit of Selecting Multiple Photos in Lightroom?
The primary purpose of selecting multiple photos in Lightroom is to leverage the Batch Editing feature for the bulk processing of photos.
Imagine this: during a photo shoot, you capture hundreds or even thousands of photos. It would be tedious and time-consuming to individually edit each photo.
However, by combining the selection of multiple photos with batch editing, you can apply the same editing settings to multiple photos all at once.
Further Reading:
Mastering Batch Editing in Lightroom Classic: A Comprehensive Guide
Final Thoughts About Selecting Multiple Photos in Lightroom
With the methods we've introduced, you should be able to master the multi-select feature in Lightroom Classic more effectively.
Whether you're a professional photographer or an amateur enthusiast, selecting multiple photos is a crucial step in your post-processing workflow. We hope this simple tutorial has been helpful to you!
Product Recommendation:
At the end of the tutorial, we'd like to recommend a creative tool called TourBox, beloved by photographers and digital artists. TourBox simplifies every step of your photo editing process, and you're sure to love the editing experience it provides.
You can set the keyboard shortcuts for selecting multiple photos in Lightroom on the buttons of TourBox. This means you can control the multi-select function in Lightroom using TourBox and your mouse, without needing to use the keyboard or remember any shortcuts.
Of course, TourBox has many other functions as well. With TourBox, you can perform various complex and tedious operations in photo management, color grading, and photo editing with fewer steps.
Check out our photo editing page to learn more about TourBox and its capabilities.
