How to COMBINE Multiple Lightroom Catalogs

[@AnthonyMorganti]

Do you have multiple Lightroom catalogs that you wish were combined into a single catalog? In this tutorial, I demonstrate how to do exactly that. ** I am an affiliate for all of the other companies mentioned below EXCEPT Affinity Photo and Capture One. Please read my Code of Ethics Statement: onlinephotographytraining.com/code-of-ethics/ My Current Gear I’m always trading in cameras and lenses trying out new products. As of the recording of this video, here is the gear I currently own and use. All gear is purchased by me at normal retail pricing - I’m not sponsored by anyone nor am I an ambassador for any camera/lens manufacturer. The links below are my Amazon affiliate links. **As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases Cameras: Nikon Z9: bit.ly/32Pa9Kg (Adorama Affiliate Link) Nikon Z7ii: amzn.to/351PPmL Nikon Z6ii: amzn.to/3399eS7 Nikon Z6: amzn.to/2TIBGnR Nikon Zfc with Nikon 16-50mm f3.5-6.3 Lens: amzn.to/3ykA07w Nikon D500: amzn.to/2WyO8Lt Sony A7Riv: amzn.to/3amo9JJ Lenses: Nikon Z-Mount: Nikon Z 24-70mm F4.0 Lens: amzn.to/2Z0hW55 Nikon Z 24-70mm F/2.8 S: amzn.to/2JWo5IX Nikon Z 24-200mm F4-6.3 Lens: amzn.to/3j4xVrA NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S: amzn.to/3Cw4CVU TTArtisan 11mm F2.8: amzn.to/354Vnji Sony E-Mount: Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN Art Lens: amzn.to/3iKdbBQ Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG DN Art Lens: amzn.to/36fD8F1 Nikon F-Mount: Nikon 200-500mm F5.6 Lens: amzn.to/2WpggM2 Nikon 24-70mm F2.8 Lens: amzn.to/2VQMKi9 Nikon 28-300mm F3.5-5.6 Lens: amzn.to/2QuWmyb Nikon 14-24mm F2.8 Lens: amzn.to/2ZXR55C Nikon 70-200mm F2.8 VRii Lens: amzn.to/2WG1p5f Nikon 1.4x Teleconverter: amzn.to/2WlkZ1z Nikon 18-200mm F3.5-5.6 DX Lens: amzn.to/2MiEKUk Tokina 100mm Macro Lens: amzn.to/2ZRgxfK Sigma 105mm 1.4 Art Lens: amzn.to/32PmFDZ Other Gear: Battery Grip: VG-C4EM for Sony A7Riv: amzn.to/3g3Wvnm Tripods & Ballheads Vanguard Tripod: amzn.to/2WqWB2u Siriu Ballhead: amzn.to/2W1MyS0 MeFOTO Travel Tripod: amzn.to/31GVvys The Carbon Fiber Version: amzn.to/2LjVt9m Joby GorillaPod: amzn.to/2zMNAEc Camera Straps & Backpack Peak Design Camera Strap: amzn.to/2Sqi4Eg Peak Design Slide Camera Strap: amzn.to/2DoLxLl Peak Design Everyday 30L Backpack: amzn.to/2MJPFcb Spider Pro Hand Strap: amzn.to/30k170u Spider Pro Hand Strap ver 2: amzn.to/3aC3p1Z Memory Cards Sony 120GB XQD Card: amzn.to/2HlfR8Y Sony TOUGH-G series SDXC UHS-II Card 64GB: amzn.to/2PUJHoD Sony TOUGH-G series SDXC UHS-II Card 128GB: amzn.to/3oP6EZX Sony XQD/SD Card Reader: amzn.to/2NBuSHB Sony 128GB CFExpress Card: amzn.to/353hWC4 Delkin Devices 256GB CFExpress Card: amzn.to/3pULMDR CFExpress Card Reader: amzn.to/2X2xMbQ Anthony Morganti’s MUST HAVE applications: At least one Non-Destructive RAW Editor Lightroom - bit.ly/2zwQ0nW Capture One - www.captureone.com Luminar - bit.ly/2JUJxKw (Save with the Promo Code AM16) On1 Photo RAW - on1.sjv.io/EaGR2K (Save 20% with Promo Code: AM20) Exposure X7 - bit.ly/2U8UxrK (Save 10% with Promo Code: AnthonyMorganti) PhotoLab 5: tidd.ly/2HhiN9X At least one FULL Editing App: Photoshop - bit.ly/2zwQ0nW Affinity Photo - affinity.serif.com/en-us/photo/ My MUST-HAVE Plugins: Topaz Gigapixel AI - bit.ly/3cDqa5J Topaz Sharpen AI - bit.ly/3cDqa5J Topaz Denoise AI - bit.ly/3cDqa5J *Save 15% on all Topaz Labs apps - use the Promo Code: AMDISC15 or instead of Topaz Denoise AI: On1 NoNoise AI - on1.sjv.io/EaGR2K (Save 20% with Promo Code: AM20 - May not work on sale product) Nik Silver Efex Pro 2 - tidd.ly/3dc4gYm The Best Sky Images I've Seen Available -- Ocudrone - bit.ly/3vtDpjR *Save 10% with Discount Code: Morganti10 ** Note that all of the promo codes listed above may not work on sale products. *** I am an affiliate for all of the companies listed EXCEPT Affinity Photo and Capture One. Please read my Code of Ethics Statement: onlinephotographytraining.com/code-of-ethics/ Please follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/anthonymorganti/ Thank you!

[@ronaldashley3362]

I love you Anthony M! Your video is on spot, clear and concise. I have been shooting since 1967 and have a vast library of images. I have been struggling to develop a workflow to consolidate and preserve my library and your Combine tutorial made a major contribution to my journey. Again thanks

[@gosman949]

This is an excellent workflow when going on a trip. You can make a catalog on your laptop and when you get back, simply import that catalog into your desktop main catalog.

[@anujasharma9677]

Anthony, your videos are simple and always so informative. This video just saved me from a whole lot of worries. It is always a pleasure to see your videos and learn from them.Thank you and have a wonderful day.

[@teal.photos]

When a new Anthony video is on, I always feel I NEED to see it, this doesn’t happen with ANY other KZbin channel. That shows how useful your channel is! Thanks Anthony!

[@photonsonpixels]

Really helpful tutorial, Anthony! I have a couple of minor catalogs which I have neglected to consolidate into my main one simply because I was afraid that I would screw up and then regret that I tried. Thank you so much.

[@albertr915]

Your videos are always great Anthony. Thank you for another great one.

[@mdturnerinoz]

Great tips! Would you please do a video on going the other way. i.e. creeat 3 cats from one?

[@Joe-vy3pu]

Thanks!

[@AnthonyMorganti]

Thank you Joe!

[@stevethompson8154]

Thank YOU Anthony. This will help me get images from my travel laptop to the main desktop.

[@MK-ni6gs]

Excellent tip! Thank you very much.

[@willilaufmann38]

Thanks Anthony very useful I didn’t know I could do that

[@wilfriedklein6066]

Hi Anthony, these are very useful tips for me. But I have another issue. Due to new Lightroom versions I have different catalog versions. What should I do in this case.

[@garyleavens8661]

Thanks, this is great. Can this technique be used to restore backups also? My idea is that if I process a directory of files (say from a trip) , then I export the directory as a catalog and save that catalog inside the directory as a subdirectory, I can move the directory to a backup device, then import the saved catalog by merging it into the main catalog if I want to work on some photo or photos further… it seems like that should work, right?

[@StephenEhrlichPhotos]

Great and helpful information in this tutorial. Thanks!

[@mich8261]

This is going to be super helpful. I made a mess in trying to convert my old Aperture library to Lrc, and ended up with many small libraries/catalogs. Thank you for the video

[@dougstead1956]

Thanks for another great learning experience. On occasionally I edit images on my laptop. Then, when I get home, I have troubles adding the edits to my main catalogue. I am wondering if the cat file has all the info or do I need to use the sidecar file? Thanks.

[@fenderjazzfive]

Thank you! Very helpful.

[@hanswi336]

Excellent! Thank you.

[@bobsheridan6692]

I have always had one catalog on my desktop, but when I start to travel again (COVID permitting) I plan to take my MacBook Pro and an external HD on the trip. I will likely create a new catalog for my trip (with catalog on MacBook Pro HD and RAW photos on the external). Would it be better to drag and drop my RAW images onto my desktop, then do the import catalog as you have done, or should I choose the alternate method of also making copies of the images? Just curious as to best workflow which does not confuse Lightroom.

[@beegee2234]

As ever clear and concise. Is it possible to do an identical video for Luminar AI?

[@joelbarto1103]

Thanks. I unknowingly put my first catalog on an ssd drive and would like to move it to my hard drive. Do the same steps apply?

[@DanOhPhotography]

Long explanation ... but I can import photo separately and place them in same file location as current location and then import new Catalog and merge with existing .... would new merged Catalog know when I try to edit new imported photos?

[@younklpg1215]

Good combined

[@marie-angechevalier9743]

Every time I have to update LR it creates a new catalog. Do you think I can delete the olds catalog and just keep the new one?

[@butchdouthit1997]

I was wondering if you had an opinion on a maximum size catalog? I have all my photos in one catalog (52k+). (I watched your video because I had been using a laptop for the last 6 months and needed to consolidate that catalog into my desktop catalog.)

[@eduardorusso5612]

Ok, but how its possible to have multiple catalogs with multiples folders organizations without duplicate files?