Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

I see this question so many times: My answer is I don't :
I use the K.I.S.S method:
1: Make a folder /subject/date/location on the desktop (My System is an iMac, worked the same on Windows)
2: Insert CF/ SD card into reader, open files and drag into desktop Folder.
3: Remove card and reformat in camera,( After checking to be sure the files transferred)
Images are now on the computer!
4:View images in Bridge or Adobe Camera RAW, Edit and save in same folder.
5:When finished editing and posting, drag folder into three external HD's, Nothing is saved on my C: drive.
When I need to find an image I turn on the external drives locate my image/s, do whatever and turn drives off.
This has been working for me for 20+ years, I have never lost photos due to a glitch or hitting a wrong key
When I change computers All my files are still where I left them.
Now I am not saying this is the only way. I know its not good for Professional Photographers or businesses.
But It is simple!!!

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I simply use Explorer to copy from the card to the desired folder.
Easy-peasy.

(After Carbonite and I back them up, I delete them from the card, put the card back in the camera, ready to go again.{No re-formatting in camera})

wapiti Loc: round rock, texas

Lightroom Classic

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Why?

pendennis

I use the appropriate USB/camera cable, and use Win10/11 to transfer. Camera bodies are powered up, and I get a pop-up that scans the photos for "new" content. Pre-copying, I create the appropriate folders in "Pictures", change to them. I then use the shift key to tag all the images I want copied.

I shoot RAW and JPEG, and create a folder (YYYY-MM-DD) for each format for that copy job. My workflow calls for uploading the images to the appropriate date, under the appropriate camera (D810, D850, Z5, Z7, etc).

When completed, I go to the appropriate folder, sort by type, and move to sub-folders RAW or JPEG as appropriate. When finished for the day, my computer backs up automatically to iDrive. I repeat the same process for my desktop.

I also maintain an Excel spreadsheet for each camera, and use the folder date to maintain a brief summary of those days' photos.

I also edit from the RAW files only, saving the resulting images as subject-titled JPEG's. I also create a "Lo Rez" JPEG copy for uploading.

It sounds a bit complicated, but it works for me.

tcthome Loc: NJ

Same. Open 2 explorer windows. Open the card files so all the image #'s show. In the other explorer window, create new folder with the date taken (& just started to add name like location or subject added to date), click top file, shift click last file, copy/paste to an external drive under a main folder named originals. Here I cull with Faststone Image Viewer & eventually might copy to LR.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Not so much complicated as involved.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

When I use Windows I use Downloader Pro. I started using it a long time ago and find it useful. I can set up a template and use it to (1) change my file names to something meaningful; (2) store the files in a folder with the same meaningful name.

Long after I worked DP into my workflow I found that LR can change the name of the file when it downloads from the card. However, LR has two limitations that make DP more useful to me: (1) LR requires input to specify the new name and separate input to specify the target folder. DP uses one text string for both, so only one entry is needed. (2) My DP template uses the date and time in the file name. DP can read the time (from the EXIF data) to 0.01 second, so it is useful for separating burst shots. LR can read the time only to 1.0 second granularity, so DP has the advantage here.

When I use my new MacBook, which does not support Downloader Pro, I wrote my own intake program to simulate what I do with DP. Otherwise, LR will work, but with the above mentioned limitations.

I should also note that I believe there is a definite advantage to using meaningful file names over the old 8.3 format from last millennium. LR doesn't care what the file name is since you can add keywords to assist in searches, but my family does not use LR so they wouldn't have a clue how to find a photo after I'm gone. Having meaningful file names gives them a chance and having a folder-based organization also helps.

I suspect they would only be interested in family photos, but I can't be sure, so I use the same system for all my photos.

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

Simple, Frank. Much like what I do.

DWU2 Loc: Phoenix Arizona area

I follow your steps 1 thru 3. Then, I import the photos into Lightroom Classic.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

I remove the card when the images are transferred but I don't reformat (in camera) until after all the images have been through the edit process (at least the first cut) and originals and edits are all backed up. Then I reformat.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

None of my family uses LR either (or any other brand or even a cataloger), including my wife.
That's why my images are filed in folders by subject... Places, family names, kid's names,
No one in my family would ever search by date/camera/file type/...
and I also use keywords in the metadata.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Bingo Ken
Most people who responded didn't get my point.

The POINT is you DON"T NEED to use a program to transfer your files to the computer!!! what you do after transfering has nothing to do with the question ask!

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

True. You can do it manually by your method.

If you want to change the file names to something useful, manual methods are cumbersome, particularly if you have a lot of image files. If you use a good DAM or if you use a folder organization with meaningful folder names, manual methods will work fine. But it will be YOUR organization, and others may have problems finding things.

There is no right answer. It all depends on your outlook.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

I did say it won't work for everyone!!
I'M the only person that will be searching for anything !!