In a busy Lightroom Classic catalog, finding a specific image can quickly turn into a nightmare. Yet, Lightroom includes a remarkably powerful tool that many photographers overlook: the Text Filter.
The secret: the “Text” filter
In the Library module, open the filter bar. Select the Text tab, choose Contains, then type a keyword, a title, a caption, or even part of a file name.
Lightroom will instantly display all photos containing that information within their metadata (keywords, title, caption, author, copyright, location, etc.). Perfect for:
- finding an image by place, person, or subject;
- checking your series before export;
- browsing quickly through a catalog with tens of thousands of files.
Why enter information right at ingestion?
This is the precise moment — when the photo enters your workflow — where metadata gains its full value.
Each image imported into Lightroom can automatically receive:
- your author name;
- basic keywords (location, session type, client, year);
- a ready-to-use IPTC metadata template.
Doing this step early helps you avoid:
- wasting hours searching for images later on;
- author attribution mistakes or missing credits;
- losing essential data during exports or file transfers.
In summary: The cleaner your metadata at import, the more searchable, traceable, and durable your archive becomes. A simple discipline at ingestion makes your entire photo ecosystem smooth and efficient.
Pro Tip
Create a metadata preset in Lightroom with your basic information (author, rights, contact, website). Apply it automatically at each import. In just a few seconds, you protect your images and simplify your future workflow — whether for a project, a sale, or even NFT certification.