You are such a amazing photographer, thank you for your explanation but I do have to see your video again to really understand it which is no fault of your own 🌺🌻🌼🌻🌺
Great video! I have been hesitating for years about leaving Lightroom because I never felt confidant with organizing capture 1. This video is a game changer for me. Thank you very much!!!
I have never used a Catalog in C1. I tether 100% of my shooting, and therefore use Sessions (I use a PhaseOne XF & IQ3-100). Sessions make it very easy to uses Tokens to best organize images.
Great video with clear and concise instructions. I've always found that designating another folder to be my "Capture" folder etc. always trips me up when I revisit the session Now I leave those as is and make subfolders in the "Capture" folder ie. your Look 1, 2, 3, and make those my session favourites so all my captures are in the same folder and organized by shoot within the folder.
I've seen other techs and photographers use the same system you describe and it makes perfect sense. Each shoot is different but I will typically create my custom folders alongside the capture selects and output folders so that they are all easily visible as soon as the session is entered into from a file browser. This also allows the Capture (named) folder to be utilized while composing or if the preferred final organization hasn't been decided on yet. Lots of ways to skin a cat.
Great video🤌✨ I’m a pretty seasoned C1 user and still learnt a lot from your explanation of C1 Sessions. You’re very good at explaining things. Any chance you cover the C1 Cloud workflows soon? That’s what I was searching for when I found your channel. Either way, Godspeed. I look forward to your next video.
This was a really great tips. I have used C1 since version 7 and used session alot and also catalog. But your advice to include any folder as favorite was a really good tips. I would like to know how you for example find all your flower shot taken the last 5 years when you only use session. Are you combinding favorite like you show in this video or are you put your session in a master catalog?
Thanks for the kind words! For this type of organization, catalogs make the most sense, as it is possible to create virtual organization and keywords across thousands of images. Doing this in a session would be more difficult. Adding favorite folders to a session associates those folders and images with a session, but unlike catalogs, sessions are not stable when many thousands of images are associated with them (think of sessions as per-shoot). Creating sessions for when you're out and about, or when working on a very specific set of images in the field, and then importing that session into a larger catalog for fast searching and keywording is my recommendation.
Yes I fully agree with you. I mostly start my edit with a session. That way you always have your capture one folder in your orginal picture folder with all the adjustments. And then add the session to the catalog for more organisation. And if the catalog should get corupt you still have all your adjustments in the capture one folder in the orginal picture folder. Thats a great way to work.
Hey Zac, thanks for the video, super clear! I've been using C1 for a couple years with sessions (I used to work with Bridge + Camera Raw) and it`s just now that I noticed you can IMPORT photos into sessions. Is there any benefit in importing into a new session photos you already downloaded? Isn't one of the advantages of sessions in fact being able to browse/edit whatever folder you want? I must be missing something, but I don't even get why the Import button within sessions exists... why don't just use a "master" session and from there browse and edit whatever folder you need (all the adjustments are saved within each edited folder). What's the benefit of creating a session for each work (and importing your files there) vs. using a master session (located somewhere on the drive, My Images F.E.) and just browse and edit your files as you need? Thanks!
Thanks so much for watching, and for the kind words! I think in most cases you're exactly right. I always advise users that are new to sessions to not create a new session for shoots that are already completed, and that either importing those shoots into a catalog or, as you describe, use a master "browser" session to access files. That being said, I could see someone shooting to a card and then creating a new session to import images into if that's a workflow they find useful.
@@zendrson thanks for taking your time Zac, I've watched your videos about C1 and they are great: straight to the point and super clear, and great audio and video quality makes everything more enjoyable also. Thanks again!
Thank you! It's a Zoom H5 audio recorder. Works as a recorder as well as a mic. Not typically used in this way, but it works and the mic is surprisingly good with vocals, so I just go with it.
Since I'm already using Catalog, is it possible to move a Catalog folder into a new Session? meaning it will move the Files and the edits to the new Session folder?
Please explain the relationships between Catalogs>Sessions>Projects - how they are used in your workflow and when. In my case, I typically use PhotoMechanic first to input the metadata from a shoot session (including the media from other photographers in a photo event (for my volunteer organization). Then I ingest them into a common folder (the import folder). From there, I'd like to process the import folder into Capture One (COL24). How to meld my existing workflow into a COL24 workflow?
Projects are virtual organizational tools found in catalogs. When importing a session into a catalog, C1 will place all of the relevant session files into a project, so that the session, now within the catalog, is contained in one place and can be searched within without having to search through the entire catalog (See my catalog video for more).
I have both Adobe Lightroom classic and capture One. Are used capture One in my flash photography in my studio because it's tethering is clearly superior to Adobe Lightroom classic. The complaint however offered by many regarding capture One is that it is overly complex. It is a great program but just watching your video demonstrates my point regarding complexity. Quite frankly this design is extremely cumbersome and laborious. Sure once set up it probably would be much better but it is again a disappointment in how complicated capture one seems to make everything even the simple task of saving images to a folder.
When I import raw files from an SD card do they go into a sub folder inside the Capture folder for that session? For example, if I create a Session called October 2024 it has a Capture folder. Is that where I would put sub folders containing each set of raw files I do that I want in the October 2024 Session?
Typically the images you import into the capture folder will be images alone and not folders. This makes them visible when you click the "Capture Folder" section in the Session. You certainly can create folders within the Capture Folder, subsequently accessing them through favorites. However, I prefer to put these subfolders NEXT to the Capture, Selects, and Output folders. Works better for my brain, but to each their own. As long as you know where the images are and can easily access them within C1, you're good!
@@zendrson Thanks... I was a C1 Express user who finally got a paid version. I was using Catalogs before but felt like I was saving raw files twice because after editing I would drag the raws from the SD card to a folder on my hard drive. So, I guess they were there and in the Catalog? Again, thanks. Still watching your video.....
How do I export a lot of images including the adjustments I have made and in the original CR format? If I choose “Export Original Files” (in the menu “File ➡ Export” then it won’t include my adjustments. And if I Choose to export form the export menu I can choose between JPEG, TIFF, PNG, DNG or PSD”. Which one is the same as original file size? I want to export them in full size to get them into my Lightroom Library system (on a different computer). And I have checked "Include adjustments" tab but none of my adjustments are included when the images are exported. Quite frustrating...Thanks in advance ;-)
Hi Susanne, thanks for the question. What you're looking to do here comes down to how raw converters operate. Adjustments aren't made to the actual raw file, because this would be like making a destructive adjustment on a piece of film, (the original), and so the original would be damaged. To get around this, when we make adjustments, those adjustments are always shown on top of a JPEG preview, and then baked into another file format like JPEG or TIFF files on export for either upload, print, or final file storage. These file formats are read essentially the same way between both Lightroom and Capture One because the adjustments have been "baked in" to the file and aren't up for reinterpretation. That being said, there is a way to export raw files alongside the edits Capture One has made to them, but these edits can only be understood by Capture One. Exporting originals (raw) with adjustments will result in a .CRW files with a .XMP file next to it. If you have "Pack as EIP" checked, then Capture One will export a single EIP file, which is basically a .zip file that can be read by capture one. In this way you can send raw files between C1 software on different computers with minimal sidecar files and preserving adjustments, but again, this only works for Capture One. Trying to open a .crw files with a .xmp sidecar in Lightroom from a Cpature One edit will apply only the most basic adjustments at best, if at all, and the EIP format will be ignored by Lightroom entirely. To answer your question "Which file is the same as the original file size", if you're looking to save a high resolution version of the image with your adjustments, a Tiff file will generally be your best option, as it will retain the original dimensions of the image as well as prevent excessive compression like in a JPEG format. Tiff files have very large file sizes, however, so I recommend editing from raw files and then exporting only the finished files as Tiffs for archiving and JPEGS for uploading to the web. TLDR: I would recommend exporting your files from Capture One as Tiff files, and importing those into your Lightroom Catalog, so long as this accomplished what you're after.
@@zendrson My goodness, I only realised today what an absolutely thorough and helpful reply yo spent time on for me...🫶 I am so grateful that you took the time for this and apologise for not replying sooner. MUCH APPRECIATED (and saved for later times) 🙏
So I have a bunch of photos I have taken over the years. I used to use Lightroom but I decided to cancel my subscription with Adobe. Now I'm trying to find the best way to import over 10,000 photos into C1 and not sure the best practice for that. I had my photos saved across multiple hard drives and just built a NAS and want to consolidate everything to that. So right now I'm not sure if I should use a Catalog or Sessions to find all my photos. I'm guessing I should use a catalog. I also want to be able to organize my images on my NAS drive but I can't easily organize them manually because they are all over the place and I was planning on using something like C1 to find all my photos and I can group them up within C1 and organize them in their own folders on the drive through C1.
So actually a session would be the most appropriate to find and organize files across multiple folders and hard drives. You'll be using the "system folders" tool almost exclusively, as there will be no need to import anything into the session you're using to organize your folders. Just make sure to set up your workstation so that you can see as much of the system folders tool as possible, and be prepared for lots of folder expansions. It might get tedious, but it can be done!
Im kind of confuse. So I don't really need to use Sessions if I never tether? I feel like I like it better how I use Lightroom. a single catalog that houses 60,000 photos and I have collection sets and collections and smart collections to organize all those files. Also I don't do photoshoots for clients. I do landscape photography for my self. So I don't feel I have the need to separate the catalog in to smaller catalogs
Sessions are great for dynamically managing files- meaning they can be easily moved around and organized into folders. This is a great strength for tethered shooting scenarios. Sessions are also great for browsing other files that aren't already inside a session or catalog. If you don't need that kind of functionality, then catalogs are definitely the way to go. The choice between Lightroom and Capture One comes down to what you're currently using, your preference for whichever raw processor you find most appealing, and other tools in the software :-)
Just recently I had a conversation with a guy who was telling me how he and his colleagues use catalogs instead of sessions for tethered shoots. Because you get one clean containers with contains everything. I couldn't wrap my head around it, why would complicate you life this much just so that you have ONE file for a shoot.
I mean, theoretically its fine, but sessions do the same thing but allow for more flexibility. Are they capturing multiple shoots all into one catalog, or creating a catalog for every new tethered shoot? The former is understandable, the latter is... not great. If they're tethering and have their primary catalog available, then tethering into the catalog cuts out the middle man of importing the session later, which makes good sense.
Another great lesson about how to use Capture One. This channel has the best explanations I’ve found so far!
You are such a amazing photographer, thank you for your explanation but I do have to see your video again to really understand it which is no fault of your own 🌺🌻🌼🌻🌺
Zac: You are an outstanding instructor! Thank you for your Capture One videos.
I have been using C1 for years, I now get sessions so much better. Thank you!
Glad the video helped!
Finally I am happy to enjoy such a good explanation of sessions! 😇👍 Thanks a lot for you effort 🙏
Brilliant video. Struggled to get my head round sessions having come from LR but this is now all falling into place. Big thank you! 😊
Great video! I have been hesitating for years about leaving Lightroom because I never felt confidant with organizing capture 1. This video is a game changer for me. Thank you very much!!!
I LOVE hearing this! So glad the video was helpful.
Very nice video, very clear and well explained. Thanks !
Great Tipp Zac! Thank you very mutch. I use CP1 since years but never thinked about this… You got my subscribtion. ;-) All the best from Switzerland
Thank you for a very clear and concise explanation. Look forward to viewing more of your videos.
Glad it was helpful!
Superb 👍
Thank you! Cheers!
NICE TEACHING AND UNDERSTANDABLE
I have never used a Catalog in C1. I tether 100% of my shooting, and therefore use Sessions (I use a PhaseOne XF & IQ3-100). Sessions make it very easy to uses Tokens to best organize images.
Sessions are definitely the way to go for tethering in most cases. The IQ3 is a great back!
Great video with clear and concise instructions. I've always found that designating another folder to be my "Capture" folder etc. always trips me up when I revisit the session Now I leave those as is and make subfolders in the "Capture" folder ie. your Look 1, 2, 3, and make those my session favourites so all my captures are in the same folder and organized by shoot within the folder.
I've seen other techs and photographers use the same system you describe and it makes perfect sense. Each shoot is different but I will typically create my custom folders alongside the capture selects and output folders so that they are all easily visible as soon as the session is entered into from a file browser. This also allows the Capture (named) folder to be utilized while composing or if the preferred final organization hasn't been decided on yet. Lots of ways to skin a cat.
Amazing info; thanks...
Glad it was helpful!
Great video🤌✨ I’m a pretty seasoned C1 user and still learnt a lot from your explanation of C1 Sessions. You’re very good at explaining things. Any chance you cover the C1 Cloud workflows soon? That’s what I was searching for when I found your channel. Either way, Godspeed. I look forward to your next video.
Thank you! I'm glad it helped. I do plan on doing some cloud based workflow videos soon!
This was a really great tips. I have used C1 since version 7 and used session alot and also catalog. But your advice to include any folder as favorite was a really good tips. I would like to know how you for example find all your flower shot taken the last 5 years when you only use session. Are you combinding favorite like you show in this video or are you put your session in a master catalog?
Thanks for the kind words! For this type of organization, catalogs make the most sense, as it is possible to create virtual organization and keywords across thousands of images. Doing this in a session would be more difficult. Adding favorite folders to a session associates those folders and images with a session, but unlike catalogs, sessions are not stable when many thousands of images are associated with them (think of sessions as per-shoot). Creating sessions for when you're out and about, or when working on a very specific set of images in the field, and then importing that session into a larger catalog for fast searching and keywording is my recommendation.
Yes I fully agree with you. I mostly start my edit with a session. That way you always have your capture one folder in your orginal picture folder with all the adjustments. And then add the session to the catalog for more organisation. And if the catalog should get corupt you still have all your adjustments in the capture one folder in the orginal picture folder. Thats a great way to work.
Hey Zac, thanks for the video, super clear!
I've been using C1 for a couple years with sessions (I used to work with Bridge + Camera Raw) and it`s just now that I noticed you can IMPORT photos into sessions.
Is there any benefit in importing into a new session photos you already downloaded? Isn't one of the advantages of sessions in fact being able to browse/edit whatever folder you want? I must be missing something, but I don't even get why the Import button within sessions exists... why don't just use a "master" session and from there browse and edit whatever folder you need (all the adjustments are saved within each edited folder).
What's the benefit of creating a session for each work (and importing your files there) vs. using a master session (located somewhere on the drive, My Images F.E.) and just browse and edit your files as you need?
Thanks!
Thanks so much for watching, and for the kind words! I think in most cases you're exactly right. I always advise users that are new to sessions to not create a new session for shoots that are already completed, and that either importing those shoots into a catalog or, as you describe, use a master "browser" session to access files. That being said, I could see someone shooting to a card and then creating a new session to import images into if that's a workflow they find useful.
@@zendrson thanks for taking your time Zac, I've watched your videos about C1 and they are great: straight to the point and super clear, and great audio and video quality makes everything more enjoyable also. Thanks again!
@@tatoxl Thank you!! More or on the way :-). I take requests, so let me know if there's a topic you'd like to hear about
Nice video, what mic are you using? Never seen it before
Thank you! It's a Zoom H5 audio recorder. Works as a recorder as well as a mic. Not typically used in this way, but it works and the mic is surprisingly good with vocals, so I just go with it.
Thank you!! yeah it sounds great too! Pretty surprised @@zendrson
Since I'm already using Catalog, is it possible to move a Catalog folder into a new Session? meaning it will move the Files and the edits to the new Session folder?
Please explain the relationships between Catalogs>Sessions>Projects - how they are used in your workflow and when. In my case, I typically use PhotoMechanic first to input the metadata from a shoot session (including the media from other photographers in a photo event (for my volunteer organization). Then I ingest them into a common folder (the import folder). From there, I'd like to process the import folder into Capture One (COL24). How to meld my existing workflow into a COL24 workflow?
Projects are virtual organizational tools found in catalogs. When importing a session into a catalog, C1 will place all of the relevant session files into a project, so that the session, now within the catalog, is contained in one place and can be searched within without having to search through the entire catalog (See my catalog video for more).
I have both Adobe Lightroom classic and capture One. Are used capture One in my flash photography in my studio because it's tethering is clearly superior to Adobe Lightroom classic. The complaint however offered by many regarding capture One is that it is overly complex. It is a great program but just watching your video demonstrates my point regarding complexity. Quite frankly this design is extremely cumbersome and laborious. Sure once set up it probably would be much better but it is again a disappointment in how complicated capture one seems to make everything even the simple task of saving images to a folder.
Time and practice!
When I import raw files from an SD card do they go into a sub folder inside the Capture folder for that session? For example, if I create a Session called October 2024 it has a Capture folder. Is that where I would put sub folders containing each set of raw files I do that I want in the October 2024 Session?
Typically the images you import into the capture folder will be images alone and not folders. This makes them visible when you click the "Capture Folder" section in the Session. You certainly can create folders within the Capture Folder, subsequently accessing them through favorites. However, I prefer to put these subfolders NEXT to the Capture, Selects, and Output folders. Works better for my brain, but to each their own. As long as you know where the images are and can easily access them within C1, you're good!
@@zendrson Thanks... I was a C1 Express user who finally got a paid version. I was using Catalogs before but felt like I was saving raw files twice because after editing I would drag the raws from the SD card to a folder on my hard drive. So, I guess they were there and in the Catalog? Again, thanks. Still watching your video.....
How do I export a lot of images including the adjustments I have made and in the original CR format? If I choose “Export Original Files” (in the menu “File ➡ Export” then it won’t include my adjustments. And if I Choose to export form the export menu I can choose between JPEG, TIFF, PNG, DNG or PSD”. Which one is the same as original file size?
I want to export them in full size to get them into my Lightroom Library system (on a different computer). And I have checked "Include adjustments" tab but none of my adjustments are included when the images are exported. Quite frustrating...Thanks in advance ;-)
Hi Susanne, thanks for the question. What you're looking to do here comes down to how raw converters operate. Adjustments aren't made to the actual raw file, because this would be like making a destructive adjustment on a piece of film, (the original), and so the original would be damaged. To get around this, when we make adjustments, those adjustments are always shown on top of a JPEG preview, and then baked into another file format like JPEG or TIFF files on export for either upload, print, or final file storage. These file formats are read essentially the same way between both Lightroom and Capture One because the adjustments have been "baked in" to the file and aren't up for reinterpretation.
That being said, there is a way to export raw files alongside the edits Capture One has made to them, but these edits can only be understood by Capture One. Exporting originals (raw) with adjustments will result in a .CRW files with a .XMP file next to it. If you have "Pack as EIP" checked, then Capture One will export a single EIP file, which is basically a .zip file that can be read by capture one. In this way you can send raw files between C1 software on different computers with minimal sidecar files and preserving adjustments, but again, this only works for Capture One. Trying to open a .crw files with a .xmp sidecar in Lightroom from a Cpature One edit will apply only the most basic adjustments at best, if at all, and the EIP format will be ignored by Lightroom entirely.
To answer your question "Which file is the same as the original file size", if you're looking to save a high resolution version of the image with your adjustments, a Tiff file will generally be your best option, as it will retain the original dimensions of the image as well as prevent excessive compression like in a JPEG format. Tiff files have very large file sizes, however, so I recommend editing from raw files and then exporting only the finished files as Tiffs for archiving and JPEGS for uploading to the web.
TLDR: I would recommend exporting your files from Capture One as Tiff files, and importing those into your Lightroom Catalog, so long as this accomplished what you're after.
@@zendrson My goodness, I only realised today what an absolutely thorough and helpful reply yo spent time on for me...🫶 I am so grateful that you took the time for this and apologise for not replying sooner. MUCH APPRECIATED (and saved for later times) 🙏
So I have a bunch of photos I have taken over the years. I used to use Lightroom but I decided to cancel my subscription with Adobe. Now I'm trying to find the best way to import over 10,000 photos into C1 and not sure the best practice for that. I had my photos saved across multiple hard drives and just built a NAS and want to consolidate everything to that. So right now I'm not sure if I should use a Catalog or Sessions to find all my photos. I'm guessing I should use a catalog. I also want to be able to organize my images on my NAS drive but I can't easily organize them manually because they are all over the place and I was planning on using something like C1 to find all my photos and I can group them up within C1 and organize them in their own folders on the drive through C1.
So actually a session would be the most appropriate to find and organize files across multiple folders and hard drives. You'll be using the "system folders" tool almost exclusively, as there will be no need to import anything into the session you're using to organize your folders. Just make sure to set up your workstation so that you can see as much of the system folders tool as possible, and be prepared for lots of folder expansions. It might get tedious, but it can be done!
Thanks for the tip!@@zendrson
Im kind of confuse. So I don't really need to use Sessions if I never tether? I feel like I like it better how I use Lightroom. a single catalog that houses 60,000 photos and I have collection sets and collections and smart collections to organize all those files. Also I don't do photoshoots for clients. I do landscape photography for my self. So I don't feel I have the need to separate the catalog in to smaller catalogs
Sessions are great for dynamically managing files- meaning they can be easily moved around and organized into folders. This is a great strength for tethered shooting scenarios. Sessions are also great for browsing other files that aren't already inside a session or catalog. If you don't need that kind of functionality, then catalogs are definitely the way to go. The choice between Lightroom and Capture One comes down to what you're currently using, your preference for whichever raw processor you find most appealing, and other tools in the software :-)
Thanks from a years long catalogue user. 😅 🙊 😅
You're very welcome! Glad it helped!
Thanks. Still confused but less.
I'm glad the video helped. Happy to answer any questions if you're still a little confused.
Just recently I had a conversation with a guy who was telling me how he and his colleagues use catalogs instead of sessions for tethered shoots. Because you get one clean containers with contains everything. I couldn't wrap my head around it, why would complicate you life this much just so that you have ONE file for a shoot.
I mean, theoretically its fine, but sessions do the same thing but allow for more flexibility. Are they capturing multiple shoots all into one catalog, or creating a catalog for every new tethered shoot? The former is understandable, the latter is... not great. If they're tethering and have their primary catalog available, then tethering into the catalog cuts out the middle man of importing the session later, which makes good sense.