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Struggling to sort your files correctly after export? Lightroom’s default settings often place sequence numbers at the end of filenames without leading zeros, which can cause sorting issues. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to create a custom renaming preset that adds a three-digit sequence number at the beginning of each filename—perfect for maintaining order and professionalism when uploading client images or preparing print-ready files for album design.

Why this matters

At Folio, we recommend submitting files that are numbered sequentially with leading zeros at the start of the filename. This helps ensure your files:

• Sort correctly on screen and in folders
• Import in the right order for album design
• Are easy to reference and archive

Lightroom’s default export options often name files something like:

Wedding_Emma_John1.jpg  
Wedding_Emma_John10.jpg  
Wedding_Emma_John2.jpg

Which means files will appear out of order. Instead, you want:

001_Emma_John.jpg  
002_Emma_John.jpg  
003_Emma_John.jpg

Not only does this help with sorting and consistency, but it’s essential when uploading to systems (like ours) that require filenames to follow a logical sequence.

Renaming originals or during export?

When it comes to organising your files with sequence numbers, you have two options:

1. Rename your original files before editing. This is often the best long-term solution. Renaming your RAW files with a three-digit sequence number at the start means the order will stay consistent throughout your workflow—from editing to exporting, and even archiving. It’s especially helpful if you want to maintain clarity when revisiting or reusing files in the future.
2. Rename your files during export. If you’d prefer to keep the original filenames intact, Lightroom lets you create a custom naming format during export. This approach avoids altering your source files, but it can sometimes create confusion down the line if exported files don’t clearly correspond to the originals. It’s a trade-off between flexibility and future-proofing.

Either option works well, it just depends on how you manage your workflow and archive your images. Below, we’ll walk through how to create a custom filename format during export, which many photographers find quick and convenient for prepping client galleries, blog posts, or files to send to us here at Folio Albums.

Our recommendation: Rename your original files

Step-by-Step: How to add a sequence number to your filenames in Lightroom

Renaming your RAW files in Lightroom means the sequence stays consistent throughout your entire workflow. You’ll never wonder which edited file corresponds to which original, and your files will always sort correctly. Plus, when it comes to preparing images for album design or client delivery, they’re already perfectly named.

How to rename original RAW files in Lightroom

1. Select your images

• In the Library module, select the images you want to rename. Typically this will be ALL of the images in that shoot.
• It’s best to do this after culling but before editing, so your workflow stays organised from the start.

2. Open the rename dialogue

• Press F2 or go to Library > Rename Photos.

3. Choose a custom naming format

• In the Rename Photos dialog, set File Naming to Edit… to open the Filename Template Editor.

4. Build your filename template

In the editor:

• Start with Sequence # (001) to ensure numbers have leading zeros.
• Add an underscore _ (instead of a space) to keep filenames web-safe.
• Add Custom Text or enter static text like the client’s name.

Example format:

{Sequence # (001)}_{Custom Text}

This would result in files named like:

001_Bride_Groom.CR3  
002_Bride_Groom.CR3  
003_Bride_Groom.CR3  
...

💡 Pro Tip: Use underscores instead of spaces. Filenames with spaces can cause issues when uploading to websites.

5. Save your preset

Click the dropdown in the editor and choose Save Current Settings as New Preset. Give it a clear name like “RAW_Sequence_001”.

6. Apply the renaming

• Enter your custom text (e.g., Emma_John) if prompted.
• Click OK and Lightroom will rename all selected files accordingly.

Now when you export your images, the files will already be correctly named and you won’t need to make any further changes.

How to rename during export

If you’d rather leave your RAW filenames untouched, you can apply this same format when exporting your edited JPEGs.

1. Select Your Edited Images

• Once you’ve completed editing, select your images in the Library or Develop module.

2. Go to Export

• Choose File > Export, or right-click and select Export.

3. Enable File Renaming

• In the Export dialog, tick Rename To.
• Choose your saved filename preset (or click Edit… to create one using the steps above).

Your exported JPEGs will now use the same structured format without altering the originals.

Final Thought

Getting into the habit of renaming your RAW files at the beginning of your workflow might feel like an extra step, but it pays off in clarity and consistency. If that’s not quite right for your process, Lightroom’s export tools make it just as easy to apply a naming format at the end.