How Do you organize your photos ? help
Mar 28, 2012 07:41:00 #
Mar 28, 2012 07:42:14 #
Date (2012_3_28) plus description (Smith Wedding). Be consistant with the _ or - or it won't index properly. My importer takes care of the date and I rename the folder by adding the description.
For really special shots or folders, I copy - NOT MOVE - some to a distinct folder/album, which I can remove when done with a project without deleting the originals.
For really special shots or folders, I copy - NOT MOVE - some to a distinct folder/album, which I can remove when done with a project without deleting the originals.
Mar 28, 2012 07:48:17 #
steve_stoneblossom
Loc: Rhode Island, USA
My workflow:
1.Transfer from card to external hard drive; label by date and name, add "originals" to name.
2.Import to Lightroom (majority of editing is done in LR). Edit, crop, and keyword.
3.Export 2 versions of each image to XHD- one as large as possible (for high res needs, sub-labeled 'large') one compressed (for email and quicker viewing, sub-labeled "email".)
4.Any images requiring further work in CS5 are saved as a PSD file in "large" folder, should they need re-working.
Most important is to choose a method of naming that you will find easy to search through years from now. I think this is why most will advise you to use a 'date first' system, such as '2012.02.01 Wild Animal Park'. I use the 4 figure year so as not to confuse year and month.
1.Transfer from card to external hard drive; label by date and name, add "originals" to name.
2.Import to Lightroom (majority of editing is done in LR). Edit, crop, and keyword.
3.Export 2 versions of each image to XHD- one as large as possible (for high res needs, sub-labeled 'large') one compressed (for email and quicker viewing, sub-labeled "email".)
4.Any images requiring further work in CS5 are saved as a PSD file in "large" folder, should they need re-working.
Most important is to choose a method of naming that you will find easy to search through years from now. I think this is why most will advise you to use a 'date first' system, such as '2012.02.01 Wild Animal Park'. I use the 4 figure year so as not to confuse year and month.
Mar 28, 2012 07:51:36 #
I have my raw files stored by date, year, month and date. After processing I store in a seperate directory the same way but these are all jpg's.
I am now in the process of filing by a catagory such as wildlife and then a sub such as eagles, great egrets ect.
A lot of work but will make it easier to find in the future. As like MT, everything gets backed up on an external hard drive for safety.
I was going to add notes to the Exif file so I could do a search but I think that would take longer to find a photo. You would hae to do a search and I think it would take forever to do.
Jim D
I am now in the process of filing by a catagory such as wildlife and then a sub such as eagles, great egrets ect.
A lot of work but will make it easier to find in the future. As like MT, everything gets backed up on an external hard drive for safety.
I was going to add notes to the Exif file so I could do a search but I think that would take longer to find a photo. You would hae to do a search and I think it would take forever to do.
Jim D
Mar 28, 2012 07:55:15 #
Dback4430 wrote:
I use aperture 3 , i am trying to find simple organization tree. what do you do ?
I am hoping that maybe I just might, if things work out OK, make an attempt to see if perhaps, with any luck I can use my new LR4 to organize them. Maybe.
What I have been doing for years is creating folders for specific topics: Cars, Dogs, Winter, etc. Within each folder I have other folders for model of car, breed of dog, year of winter, etc. This is all just for my personal use, and it has worked out fine.
Of course, everything is duplicated on external drives.
As for using LR4 to organize - maybe I might look into giving it a try. Possibly. I'm really not sure.
Mar 28, 2012 08:33:11 #
For me, organizing your pics in folders by topic rather than dates, such as travel, weddings, animals, commercial, etc. works extremely well. Then make subfolders (travel: new orleans 2010, spain 2009, texas 2012). You are much more likely to recall a particular photo or photo shoot rather than when something was shot in april, august or november--2008 or 2011. I've used this system for years and found it much easier to recall and locate what I need. Hope it helps.
Mar 28, 2012 08:45:35 #
I try to keep it simple.
On 1 external I copy from card into folder 3_27_12_zoo this I keep intact just in case.
Other external copy files same folder name date and name open this in bridge keeping the image # same but have bridge place name of animals or birds or what ever. Trash all but the good ones maked with a 4 or 5. This way bridge can always do a search if I am looking for something.
On 1 external I copy from card into folder 3_27_12_zoo this I keep intact just in case.
Other external copy files same folder name date and name open this in bridge keeping the image # same but have bridge place name of animals or birds or what ever. Trash all but the good ones maked with a 4 or 5. This way bridge can always do a search if I am looking for something.
Mar 28, 2012 08:46:37 #
To reduce volume I have learned to edit myself without mercy. It took me a while, but I learned that my photos are not sacred icons nor national treasures, so I eliminate anything that is redundant or that I am unhappy with, whether it be technical or esthetic. There are, of course, some exceptions. For instance,the pic didn't turn out like I wanted, but there is no way I can go back and do it again.
Mar 28, 2012 09:45:39 #
nikon_jon wrote:
To reduce volume I have learned to edit myself without mercy. It took me a while, but I learned that my photos are not sacred icons nor national treasures, .
Well said. I need to follow this advice.
Mar 28, 2012 09:50:32 #
IPhoto albums or stacks depending on which IPhoto program I am using. Old computer or new computer.
Mar 28, 2012 09:59:15 #
Croce
Loc: Earth
Different things work for different people but I find the popular "Date" category worthless and prefer to catalog by subject and sub headings.
It is easier to reorganize later if you choose to do so. Much easier than reorganizing dates.
I do not use a special program to do it. Just use windows normal file structure and Bridge.
It is easier to reorganize later if you choose to do so. Much easier than reorganizing dates.
I do not use a special program to do it. Just use windows normal file structure and Bridge.
Mar 28, 2012 10:23:09 #
I also had LOTS of files to organize. I found date only to be difficult to remember WHEN I went somewhere!
I have folders like: Birds, Buterflies, Flowers, Lighthouses, etc., etc. Then within those folders I will file by date and location (ex. in my flowers folder: 2012-03-09 NY Botanical Garden; 2010-06-04 Elizabeth Park; etc.)
For "big" vacations, I list separately - VACATION 2011 - Smoky Mountains; VACATION 2011 - Florida, then use subfolders for each day within that.
It's what works for me! You will need to decide what is best for you depending on how you shoot. Enjoy!
I have folders like: Birds, Buterflies, Flowers, Lighthouses, etc., etc. Then within those folders I will file by date and location (ex. in my flowers folder: 2012-03-09 NY Botanical Garden; 2010-06-04 Elizabeth Park; etc.)
For "big" vacations, I list separately - VACATION 2011 - Smoky Mountains; VACATION 2011 - Florida, then use subfolders for each day within that.
It's what works for me! You will need to decide what is best for you depending on how you shoot. Enjoy!
Mar 28, 2012 10:31:11 #
Croce wrote:
Different things work for different people but I find the popular "Date" category worthless and prefer to catalog by subject and sub headings.
It is easier to reorganize later if you choose to do so. Much easier than reorganizing dates.
I do not use a special program to do it. Just use windows normal file structure and Bridge.
It is easier to reorganize later if you choose to do so. Much easier than reorganizing dates.
I do not use a special program to do it. Just use windows normal file structure and Bridge.
The only reason I save my raw files by date is so I can go back and fix things if I want. When I look at a jpg under a file catagory, a "finished" photo, I can get the date shot and retrieve the raw if I want to.
Jim D
Mar 28, 2012 11:09:22 #
Regardless of your method of organizing it is important to do any reorganzing from within your application (I refer specifically to Lightroom or PSE. I am not familiar with others.) That way the database links in your catalog remain connected.
Mar 28, 2012 11:22:56 #
Dback4430 wrote:
I use aperture 3 , i am trying to find simple organization tree. what do you do ?
Aperture 3 is an excellent program to organize your photo's. You can set up folders and albums by subject, assign key words to find certain subjects, assign ratings and call them back. You need to pick up a manual on Aperture 3 and read it. This is best way to organize and to be able to retrieve your work.
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