Just returned from a vacation and processed my pics. Then realized what I really use Lightroom for and it's mainly the advanced import function to be able to rename files into my preferred hierarchy:
Photos \ YYYY \ MM \ DD \ YYYYMMDD-HHMMSS-####
(Note: I would love suggestions to reform or simplify my naming hierarchy as for some reason I'm not in love with it)
Otherwise I'm actually really happy using Windows Live Photo Gallery to do some tagging, captioning, quick crops, red eye fixes, straightening, panoramas, etc. I prefer it over LR even.
This brings up two questions: 1) Is there an alternative (free / lightweight ideally) that would give me the import abilities of LR in a separate package? Ideally then I wouldn't have to open up LR at all. Or even as a plugin to Windows Live Photo Gallery? I'm open to another DAM (provided it does metadata properly in the file and not in some proprietary database). 1a) How nuts am I for really wanting my directories and filenames just so, no answer truly needed here, but welcome all the same :) 1b) Learning to be comfortable w/ a pre-packaged naming convention supported by Windows Live Photo Gallery or another "easy" DAM would be fine by me. 2) Instead would you suggest that I learn how to be just as fast using LR for these tasks? If so, any top resources you recommend?
Thanks for your help!
PS - Should note that I'm not much of a serious shooter, although I'm hoping to up my volume a bit; however am finding that I use my camera more and more since it's always on me. Might pop for a micro 4/3 which may get me back in the swing of things a bit.