How to Select Multiple Photos in Lightroom

(Last updated on October 5th, 2023)

Short Summary

• To select multiple photos in Lightroom, you can use different methods, such as using the filmstrip, the grid view, or keyboard shortcuts.
• To select multiple photos using the filmstrip, click on each photo while holding down the Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac) key, or click and drag over a range of photos.
• To select multiple photos using the grid view, click on each photo while holding down the Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac) key, or click and drag over a range of photos.
• To select multiple photos using keyboard shortcuts, use the arrow keys to navigate through the photos and press Shift while clicking on the first and last photo of the range you want to select, or press Ctrl+A (Windows) or Command+A (Mac) to select all the photos in your current folder or collection.
• To perform actions on multiple selected photos, such as applying edits, exporting, deleting, moving, copying, renaming, or adding them to a collection, you can use different methods, such as using the right-click menu, the toolbar buttons, the library menu options, or keyboard shortcuts.

Introduction

If you are a photographer, you probably know how powerful and versatile Lightroom is. Lightroom is a software that allows you to edit and organize your photos in a professional and efficient way. Whether you want to enhance the colors, adjust the exposure, crop the image, or apply a preset, Lightroom can help you achieve your desired results.

But what if you want to perform the same action on multiple photos at once? For example, what if you want to export, delete, or move several photos in bulk? Or what if you want to apply the same edit or preset to a group of photos? How can you select multiple photos in Lightroom without wasting time and effort?

In this article, we will show you how to select multiple photos in Lightroom using different methods, such as using the filmstrip, the grid view, or keyboard shortcuts. We will also show you how to perform common actions on multiple selected photos, such as applying edits, exporting, deleting, moving, copying, renaming, or adding them to a collection. By the end of this article, you will be able to select multiple photos in Lightroom like a pro and save yourself a lot of time and hassle.

How to Select Multiple Photos Using the Filmstrip

One of the easiest ways to select multiple photos in Lightroom is using the filmstrip. The filmstrip is a horizontal bar that shows thumbnails of all the photos in your current folder or collection. You can access the filmstrip in any module of Lightroom, such as the library, the develop, or the print module.

To select multiple photos using the filmstrip, you can use one of these two methods:

• Click on each photo while holding down the Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac) key. This will allow you to select individual photos that are not adjacent to each other.
• Click and drag over a range of photos. This will allow you to select consecutive photos that are next to each other.

Here are some tips and tricks for using the filmstrip:

• To zoom in or out on the thumbnails, use the slider at the bottom right corner of the filmstrip.
• To scroll through the photos, use the scroll bar at the bottom of the filmstrip or use your mouse wheel.
• To filter the photos by flag, rating, or color label, use the buttons at the top right corner of the filmstrip.

How to Select Multiple Photos Using the Grid View

Another way to select multiple photos in Lightroom is using the grid view. The grid view is a mode that shows thumbnails of all the photos in your current folder or collection in a grid layout. You can access the grid view in the library module of Lightroom by clicking on the grid icon at the bottom left corner of the screen or by pressing G on your keyboard.

To select multiple photos using the grid view, you can use one of these two methods:

• Click on each photo while holding down the Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac) key. This will allow you to select individual photos that are not adjacent to each other.
• Click and drag over a range of photos. This will allow you to select consecutive photos that are next to each other.

Here are some tips and tricks for using the grid view:

• To change the size of the thumbnails, use the slider at the bottom right corner of the screen or press + or – on your keyboard.
• To sort or group the photos by different criteria, such as capture date, file name, rating, or color label, use the options at the top right corner of the screen.
• To use the quick collection feature, which allows you to temporarily add photos to a collection without moving them from their original location, drag and drop them onto the quick collection icon at the top left corner of the screen or press B on your keyboard.

How to Select Multiple Photos Using Keyboard Shortcuts

A third way to select multiple photos in Lightroom is using keyboard shortcuts. Keyboard shortcuts are combinations of keys that perform certain actions in Lightroom. They can speed up your workflow and make your life easier.

To select multiple photos using keyboard shortcuts, you can use one of these methods:

• Use the arrow keys to navigate through the photos and press Shift while clicking on the first and last photo of the range you want to select. This will allow you to select consecutive photos that are next to each other.
• Press Ctrl+A (Windows) or Command+A (Mac) to select all the photos in your current folder or collection.

Here are some examples of keyboard shortcuts for selecting multiple photos in different scenarios:

• To select all the photos with a certain flag (picked, rejected, or unflagged), press Ctrl+Alt+A (Windows) or Command+Option+A (Mac) and then press P, X, or U respectively.
• To select all the photos with a certain rating (from one to five stars), press Ctrl+Alt+A (Windows) or Command+Option+A (Mac) and then press 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 respectively.
• To select all the photos with a certain color label (red, yellow, green, blue, or purple), press Ctrl+Alt+A (Windows) or Command+Option+A (Mac) and then press 6, 7, 8, 9, or 0 respectively.
• To select all the photos that match a text or metadata filter, press Ctrl+Alt+A (Windows) or Command+Option+A (Mac) and then press \ to activate the filter bar. Then, enter your search criteria in the text or metadata fields and press Enter.

Remember, if you’re sharing your work online, be sure to understand how to add a watermark in Lightroom to protect your images.

Related Links

• Add Watermark in Lightroom
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How to Perform Actions on Multiple Selected Photos

Once you have selected multiple photos in Lightroom, you can perform various actions on them, such as applying edits, exporting, deleting, moving, copying, renaming, or adding them to a collection. Here are some ways to perform these actions using different methods:

• To apply edits to multiple selected photos, you can use one of these methods:
  • Use the sync settings feature, which allows you to copy the edits from one photo and apply them to the rest of the selected photos. To do this, go to the develop module and make sure that the photo with the desired edits is the most selected photo (the one with the brighter border). Then, click on the sync button at the bottom right corner of the screen or press Ctrl+Shift+S (Windows) or Command+Shift+S (Mac). A dialog box will appear where you can choose which settings you want to sync. Click on synchronize and wait for the process to finish.
  • Use the auto sync feature, which allows you to apply the edits to all the selected photos as you make them. To do this, go to the develop module and make sure that the auto sync button at the bottom right corner of the screen is turned on (it should have a small switch icon). Then, make any adjustments you want and they will be applied to all the selected photos automatically.
  • Use the paste settings feature, which allows you to copy the edits from one photo and paste them to another photo or group of photos. To do this, go to the develop module and select the photo with the desired edits. Then, click on the copy button at the bottom left corner of the screen or press Ctrl+C (Windows) or Command+C (Mac). A dialog box will appear where you can choose which settings you want to copy. Click on copy and then select another photo or group of photos. Then, click on the paste button at the bottom left corner of the screen or press Ctrl+V (Windows) or Command+V (Mac).
• To export multiple selected photos, you can use one of these methods:
  • Use the export feature, which allows you to save your photos in different file formats, sizes, qualities, and locations. To do this, go to any module and select the photos you want to export. Then, click on the export button at the bottom left corner of the screen or press Ctrl+Shift+E (Windows) or Command+Shift+E (Mac). A dialog box will appear where you can choose your export settings. Click on export and wait for the process to finish.
  • Use the publish services feature, which allows you to upload your photos directly to online platforms, such as Facebook, Flickr, or SmugMug. To do this, go to any module and select the photos you want to publish. Then, drag and drop them onto the publish service of your choice at the left panel of the screen. A dialog box will appear where you can choose your publish settings. Click on publish and wait for the process to finish.
• To delete multiple selected photos, you can use one of these methods:
  • Use the delete feature, which allows you to remove your photos from Lightroom and optionally from your hard drive as well. To do this, go to any module and select the photos you want to delete. Then, press Delete on your keyboard or right-click on one of them and choose Delete Photos. A dialog box will appear where you can choose whether you want to remove them from Lightroom only or from Lightroom and disk. Click on delete and confirm your choice.
• To move multiple selected photos, you can use one of these methods:
  • Use the move feature, which allows you to relocate your photos within Lightroom and on your hard drive as well. To do this, go to the library module and select the photos you want to move. Then, drag and drop them onto the folder or collection of your choice at the left panel of the screen. A dialog box will appear where you can confirm your choice. Click on move and wait for the process to finish.
  • Use the cut and paste feature, which allows you to relocate your photos within Lightroom and on your hard drive as well. To do this, go to the library module and select the photos you want to move. Then, press Ctrl+X (Windows) or Command+X (Mac) to cut them. Then, select the folder or collection of your choice at the left panel of the screen. Then, press Ctrl+V (Windows) or Command+V (Mac) to paste them. A dialog box will appear where you can confirm your choice. Click on move and wait for the process to finish.
• To copy multiple selected photos, you can use one of these methods:
  • Use the copy feature, which allows you to duplicate your photos within Lightroom and on your hard drive as well. To do this, go to the library module and select the photos you want to copy. Then, press Ctrl+C (Windows) or Command+C (Mac) to copy them. Then, select the folder or collection of your choice at the left panel of the screen. Then, press Ctrl+V (Windows) or Command+V (Mac) to paste them. A dialog box will appear where you can choose whether you want to copy them as virtual copies or as actual copies. Click on copy and wait for the process to finish.
  • Use the drag and drop feature, which allows you to duplicate your photos within Lightroom and on your hard drive as well. To do this, go to the library module and select the photos you want to copy. Then, drag and drop them onto the folder or collection of your choice at the left panel of the screen while holding down the Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac) key. A dialog box will appear where you can choose whether you want to copy them as virtual copies or as actual copies. Click on copy and wait for the process to finish.
• To rename multiple selected photos, you can use one of these methods:
  • Use the rename feature, which allows you to change the file names of your photos according to a template or a custom format. To do this, go to the library module and select the photos you want to rename. Then, press F2 on your keyboard or right-click on one of them and choose Rename Photos. A dialog box will appear where you can choose a template from the drop-down menu or create your own format using tokens and text. Click on rename and wait for the process to finish.
  • Use the metadata feature, which allows you to change the file names of your photos according to their metadata information, such as capture date, camera model, lens type, or exposure settings. To do this, go to the library module and select the photos you want to rename. Then, click on the metadata button at the top right corner of the screen or press Ctrl+Alt+I (Windows) or Command+Option+I (Mac). A dialog box will appear where you can choose a metadata preset from the drop-down menu or create your own format using tokens and text. Click on rename and wait for the process to finish.
• To add multiple selected photos to a collection, you can use one of these methods:
  • Use the add to collection feature, which allows you to create a new collection or add your photos to an existing one. To do this, go to any module and select the photos you want to add to a collection. Then, click on the plus icon at the top right corner of the collections panel or press Ctrl+N (Windows) or Command+N (Mac). A dialog box will appear where you can name your new collection or choose an existing one. Click on create or add and wait for the process to finish.
  • Use the drag and drop feature, which allows you to create a new collection or add your photos to an existing one. To do this, go to any module and select the photos you want to add to a collection. Then, drag and drop them onto the collections panel at the left side of the screen. A dialog box will appear where you can name your new collection or choose an existing one. Click on create or add and wait for the process to finish.

Conclusion

Selecting multiple photos in Lightroom is a useful skill that can save you a lot of time and hassle. Whether you want to apply edits, export, delete, move, copy, rename, or add them to a collection, you can do it easily and efficiently using different methods, such as using the filmstrip, the grid view, or keyboard shortcuts. We hope this article has helped you learn how to select multiple photos in Lightroom like a pro and improve your workflow.

We also invite you to try out the methods we have shown you in this article and share your feedback with us. How did they work for you? Did you find them easy or difficult? Did they improve your productivity or creativity? Let us know in the comments below. We would love to hear from you!

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