Are you fed up with endless clicking through Lightroom menus? It’s time to work smarter, not harder. By embracing a few powerful shortcuts, you can speed up your editing process and free up more time for what truly matters—capturing and creating stunning images. In this post, I'll share the essential Lightroom shortcuts every photographer needs to know to streamline your workflow and edit like a pro.
Before diving into these shortcuts, let’s take a moment to understand how Lightroom is set up. Check out my guide, "How All the Lightroom Settings Work: A Complete Guide for Photographers," where I break down every setting in an easy-to-follow way. Understanding how each tool functions will give you the confidence to use shortcuts effectively and take your editing skills to the next level.
Table of Contents
What is a Lightroom Shortcut?
Lightroom shortcuts are simple keyboard commands that let you perform common tasks quickly—no more wasting time clicking through endless menus. These shortcuts allow you to adjust sliders, switch between modules, or apply presets with just a few keystrokes. Whether you’re enhancing your photos, organizing your library, or exporting your final edits, mastering Lightroom shortcuts will save you time and streamline your workflow.
How to Customize Shortcuts in Lightroom
While Lightroom doesn’t allow full customization of shortcuts directly within the app, you can adjust some functions through the Preferences menu. If you’re eager to learn the most useful Lightroom shortcuts to boost your workflow, keep reading—I’ve got you covered with all the essential tips!
My Top 5 Favorite Lightroom Shortcuts
Here are my top five must-know shortcuts for a faster, more efficient editing process:
D - Enter Develop Mode
Press D to enter the develop mode in Lightroom.
B - Add to Quick Collection
Press B to add the selected photos to your quick collection in Lightroom.
R - Crop
Press R to enter crop mode in Lightroom.
Y - Before and After
Press Y to compare your raw image to the edited version.
TAB - Hide Panels
Press the TAB key to hide the Lightroom editing panels and get a better look at your photo.
The Lightroom Virtual Copy Shortcut
This shortcut deserves its own section because it’s truly a game changer in Lightroom editing. Ever wanted to create two versions of the same photo? For example, turning your image into a black and white version? This shortcut makes it effortless!
CMD + ' (apostrophe) (MAC)
CTRL + ' (apostrophe) (WIN)
Even More Lightroom Shortcuts to Boost Your Editing Speed
G - Enter library grid mode.
See all the imported photos in grid format.
SHIFT + R - Reference mode.
Compare photos in your Lightroom catalog to ensure consistency throughout your images.
L - Lights out mode.
This feature will hide the busy interface in Lightroom by isolating your image making it easier for viewing.
J - Show clipping.
F - Enter full screen mode.
V - Convert to black and white.
CMD + E ( MAC ) - Edit in photoshop.
CTRL + E ( WIN ) - Edit in photoshop.
Q - Spot removal.
M - Add a mask.
P - Mark as flagged.
With these extra shortcuts in your toolkit, you can navigate your Lightroom workflow even faster. From quickly switching to grid mode to comparing images in reference mode and toggling full-screen views, every keystroke is designed to save you time and keep your creative momentum going. Give these shortcuts a try, and enjoy a smoother, more efficient editing experience that lets you focus on what you love—bringing your photos to life.
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Want to connect with fellow creatives, share your edits, and get more tips on using Lightroom? Join our Jaide & Jett Presets Facebook group! It’s a great space to ask questions, get feedback, and be inspired by other photographers and editors. Whether you’re just starting or a seasoned pro, you’ll find a supportive community ready to help you grow and elevate your editing game. I’d love to see you there and share your amazing work with us!
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