When I use Lightroom Classic, and I’m organizing photos for a project of some sort, I always go to Target Collections. And every time I use them I realize what a great little feature it is when you need to gather photos from across different folders in your Lightroom Catalog. Hopefully this quick tip gives a good reason to try them out. Enjoy!
PS: For those of you wondering, yes… I still do use Lightroom (not Classic). But following my own advice, my Lightroom Classic work over the years is still very useful and I still have a lot of old collections and organizing there. They’re older photos, so I don’t have the need to go to a lot. But…sometimes I do have to go back in for something and that’s where this tip comes in.
Written Recap Below
What It Involves: Collections (But Smarter)
We all know collections are a great way to group photos in Lightroom Classic. But there’s a lesser-known feature called a Target Collection, and that’s where the magic happens.
Here’s how it works:
- Go to the Collections panel and hit the + icon.
- Select Create Collection.
- Give it a name (e.g., Matt’s New Project).
- Check the box for “Set as Target Collection” and click Create.
Once you’ve done that, you’ll see a little plus sign (+) next to the collection name. That’s your visual cue that this is now the target collection.
Why It Matters: The “B” Shortcut
The benefit of a target collection is this: you can add any photo to it just by pressing the B key on your keyboard. No dragging and dropping. No clicking around. Just “B” and done.
Here’s how I use it:
- I start browsing through folders.
- When I see a photo I want to include in the project, I press B.
- Lightroom instantly adds that photo to the target collection.
- I move on and repeat.
You don’t even have to open the photo — just click on the thumbnail and press B. That’s it.
And here’s the best part: this works across your entire catalog. No matter what folder you’re in, the “B” key sends the photo to the same collection. It’s fast and seamless.
Viewing and Using the Collection
To view what you’ve gathered, just click on the target collection in the Collections panel. And since collections follow you throughout Lightroom’s modules — unlike folders — you’ll have quick access to these photos whether you’re in the Book, Slideshow, or Print modules.
This makes it incredibly easy to build out projects without constantly jumping between folders.
When You’re Done
Target collections aren’t permanent. You can turn one off by right-clicking on the collection and unchecking Set as Target Collection. The plus sign disappears, and pressing B won’t add photos anymore.
Need to switch? Just set a different collection as the new target. Easy.
Bonus: What Was I Working On?
If you’re wondering what project I was gathering all those photos for… it was a new mini-course all about the Landscape Masking Tools in Lightroom and Camera Raw.
These tools let you break your photo into sky, mountains, water, ground, and more—so you can create powerful masks faster than ever. Honestly, it’s one of the biggest improvements to Lightroom’s workflow in years.
The course is short, affordable, and includes both education and presets, so whether you want to learn the “why” or just speed up your editing, there’s something in it for you. You can check it out here.
Final Thoughts
Target Collections are one of those small Lightroom Classic tips that fly under the radar—but they’re incredibly useful when working on a project. They make photo gathering faster, simpler, and way less frustrating.
So next time you’re prepping for a slideshow, photo book, or even just organizing for fun, give it a try. That little B key might just become your new favorite shortcut.
I love teaching and photography... In that order. I feel that enjoying photography, and photo editing can get WAY too complicated. So my personal mission (and favorite thing to do), is to create education that simplifies the process of taking great photos, and how to edit them to get the results you’ve always wanted.
I have used target collections and agree it is great for project work. My question is, with your newer work in Lightroom, how do you deal with projects there?
Hi David. I just apply a color label and it does the same thing for me. Allows me to quickly find them when I need them.
I gather this is Not available in Lightroom? I am trying to migrate there as i only have my phone for knapp Trip of 4 months.
No it’s only in LR Classic.
Thanks Matt. It is certainly a timesaver when putting together a slideshow from previous travel shoots.
Thanks for the “target” tip. I’ve seen the notation when creating collections but have never looked into it.
I’m retired and like to travel, mostly in guided tours. There are usually about 15 people in the group, everybody using their cell phone cameras except for me. I have an Olympus OM-1 body with several lenses and I get decent images. By the end of the trip I’m being asked to share my photos which I gladly do. Here’s my workflow.
The photos are downloaded into my HD, organized as, say, OM-1/2025/Morocco/Date. I create a Morocco collection set with each day a smart collection within the set. The smart collections have 2 criteria – day of capture and the green color. I go through each day of the downloaded images, giving the ones I want to share the color green. Once I develop the photos I want to share, I export that smart collection to another location on my HD and create an album in Google Photos. Then I send a link to the album to a WhatsUp group that was already created for the trip and includes all my co-travelers.
Sometimes we visit 2 different locations in one day; I create then 2 smart collections that share the same date but have different colors. Colors is a random choice, ratings for example work just as well.
Even better, you can set the “Spray Can” to add to the Target Collection, in the grid mode. That way you don’t even have to highlight the image.
Thanks
Care, then with the letter B if you have a target collection! I didn’t know about this keyboard shortcut, and for ages I was wondering why images were appearing at random in Collections I’d inadvertently set as Target.
I would purchase a course that teaches to use Lr masks in Photoshop
Hi James. That feature is not possible. LR masks cannot be used in Photoshop. Thanks.
Great tip. I did ponder why bother with this given the ability to tag the photos with keywords and then use the keyword search to get them. Then it dawned on me, what if you are collecting a bunch of photos of different things to make a book or calendar etc. That was the lightbulb moment. Yes ,tag the photos with keywords and if you see one that might suit a project the add it to the collection using the B key. Thanks for the tip.
Another helpful Target Collection shortcut
Cmd (Ctl)-B:
toggles from your current Folder (or Collection) to the Target Collection, and back again to show you the last Folder (or Collection) where you were working.
WOW this will really help me when I make my vacation to PEI collection later this fall. Thanks for the tip Matt.
Matt, RE: Target Collections Video – you ought to add the info that pressing “B” a second time while clicking on a photo in a target collection removes the photo from the collection. Perhaps not obvious to those who are not familiar with target collections, but very useful.
great tip
Perfect timing for me and so functional. Thanks for the tip.
Great tip for me to produce photo books.
Thanks Matt
Interesting tip. Within this webinar you mentioned a LrC feature that I haven’t seen you use or create a course for—slideshow. Perhaps you could put together something, or if you have it someplace, please point me to it. Thanks!
Great tip,Matt. It will come in handy for me as I always have some project on the go. Thanks.
Can only one Collection be a target at any one time, or can another Collection be assigned a letter other than B so that, as you come across other images, they can be added to any a different Collection
Hi. Just the Target Collection… or the Quick Collection feature will default to B if there’s no Target Collection.
Hi Matt,
Two other things about Target Collections: First, there is a little circle in the upper right corner of every thumbnail that can be clicked to put the photo into the Target Collection. This is what I have been using for years, instead of the keyboard shortcut B, which I didn’t know about and is probably easier. Second, right clicking on a photo has one section for “Show in Explorer,” “Go to Folder in Library” (useful if you are viewing the photo in a Collection) or “Go to Collection” (useful if you are viewing the photo in a folder). This feature gives you rapid movement between the Collection and the Folders the photos are in. I use this all the time when I select master files for a project, then convert the master file photos to JPEGs for viewing or proof copies for printing (substituting the JPEGs or proof copies for the master files in the Collection).
Helpful demo of something newer LrC users might not know. Big timesaver!
For small projects, I often take lazy approach — use the Quick Collection rather than creating a new personal collection.
Jack made a good point about “B” being a toggle.
Great tip which I have been using for some time. What confuses me at times is when I want to create subfolders within Collections. That’s for another lesson.
Hi. You can’t create subfolders in collections. But you can do a Collection set which is close to the same thing.
FYI – I watch your tip videos on full screen – thay’s why I suggest putting some thing in the video.
-Jim
Hi Matt – couple of comments / recomendations.
– is it “V” or “B” ??? consider flashing the letter on the screen a couple of times when using it. . . .☺
Might also at least mention the name of the new mini course – better yet – flash it on the screen for a few seconds.
It’s B as in Bravo
Great tip, Matt … I create special collections all the time, but never used the target trick. Thanks for sharing.
Same here.
This is fantastic! Thanks for sharing.
Holy Cow! what a time saver! 🙂
You can make it even easier by using the “Spray Can” to add to the Target Collection.
Hi, Matt —
I have a somewhat different use for target collections than projects. I have weekly or biweekly meetings with friends in my photo club. I’ve been using target collections for years to add the photos I want to discuss in those meetings. It’s way more convenient than dragging/dropping them into the collections for the groups. The only little issue is having to change the target collection. If LrC supported a few target collections with different shortcuts, I’d use that feature.
Such a useful tip as I’m in the middle of gathering images for a photo book. Thanks
Be aware that B toggles so if you like that better than this just tap B on this and that. If you want to see what is the target collection just tap B twice on any photo and watch for the target collection name. Probably my most used key shortcut.
Same here for so many years
Enjoyed this tip.
You can also “drag & drop” the photo into a collection without it being a target collection…
Welcome to my world! Be aware that B toggles so if you decide you want that one instead of this one simply tap B on this one and it is out. And is you need to see what collection is the target just select any photo tap B, look and tap B again t.o remove.
I use it for calendars. You do want to be observant – if you press B on a photo that is in the target collection (i.e. you don’t notice the circle icon) it takes it out of the collection (fortunately it tells you).
Cool to learn what comee of these vague options actually mean…does this work as one target collection at a time?
Perfect. Thank you I could use this all the time!
Thanks, had no idea you could do this. Makes working thru collections easier.
B for ‘bullseye’ as in a bullseye in a target. 🙂
Along with the keyboard shortcut, a “target” comes up in each thumbnail when you point at it. Clicking on that adds to the target collection
Matt, Since the beginning of the year I’ve switched over to LR from LR classic. Is there also a similar feature in LR, even though catalogues are then albums? Thanks
Hi Ian. There is no feature similar.
Is there a way to use keyboard shortcuts to create a second “quick collection” or add photos to a second collection using a keyboard shortcut?
Nope.
Comes in handy when culling ! Great tip. Thanks Matt
Great tip, Matt. I’ve been using it for awhile. Where did I learn it? Probably from you some time ago. In LR desktop, I believe, there is a similar shortcut using the letter T to add to an album. Am I correct? Hope all is well with you and your family. Neal
Hi Matt:
I agree that this is a very handy keyboard shortcut, and I use it all the time. Is there an equivalent in the world of Lightroom CC?
Thanks!
Nope.
Ahh, good info, but target collections is one I’ve actually have used for years! But keep these tips coming. I’ve followed you for years and recently purchased your Landscape course. Great tips, great teaching!
This seems no better than Quick Collection and the little circle in the upper right hand corner of grid images. Is there an advantage?
Making the photos in a Quick Collection permanent is easy as they can all be quickly added to a permanent collection.