Workflow (from camera forward)

[RAitch]

First off, I don't mean post processing workflow. I don't want to discuss that here.

What I mean is, what do you do with your files and how do you manage them?

CURRENTLY WHAT I DO:
- I plug my camera in and copy all the files into My Documents. I have a year folder and then sub folders under that for days that pictures were taken.
- I leave these files alone so I have un-altered copies available
- If I want to upload to the web or email, I take a copy to C:\temp or something, load in Photoshop, fix it, resize it, then upload/send it.

WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?
- I end up with unorganized folders based on the date the picture was taken. I jump from taking family pictures to abstract to test photos all in the same day/shoot
- When I go to show off some pictures, I have to wade through hundreds of pictures. Most of the pictures are duplicate shots at different settings, slightly soft or just plain bad.

HOW TO FIX?
- So how do you manage your photos?
- How do you separate your RAW/unchanged photos from the ones you want to keep for sharing etc?
- What programs do you use?

I just downloaded Picasa2 which looks cool... but I can't see how to manage them correctly. It seems like too much work to organize, and you end up moving your originals to a different folder and everything starts going to heck!

[robertwgross]

Once my RAW files are copied through the card reader to "Canon Incoming Unconverted" directory, I can run a RAW converter to produce TIF files. In the conversion, I do some naming, typically with the month and the subject or place. It might look like this:
JanXYZPark9876.TIF

Once that "incoming" directory has 700MB or more, and they have been converted, then I burn a CDR from them and erase them from the hard disk.

So, now I have one huge directory ("Canon Converted") of TIF files. If any are first rate, then I copy them into a staging directory. I assign an index number for commercial ordering purposes. At that point, renaming happens. The file might look like this:
CaliforniaPoppyA001.TIF

Then, from the staging directory, I convert to JPEG and copy them to a marketing directory. The file might look like this:
californiapoppya001. JPG

From the marketing directory, a copy is made to the upload directory of my FTP program. From there, the FTP program can send them to the web host. My FTP program is a little picky, so I try to use all lower case and delete spaces in the file names.

If somebody says that they want to order an 8x10 print from photo index A001, then there is no confusion.

All of my disks and directories are backed up separately.

---Bob Gross---

[chris.bailey]

I now use Extensis Portfolio to catalogue based on keywords but it is probably overkill and takes an age. I keep mine in date order folders much like you and I have yet to find a better way. What you do need is a way of finding things amongst it.

A friend of mine uses a neat solution using the Windows search function. He changes the file name to include keywords so KSK2002_fam_hol.tiff might be a family picture taken on holiday etc. You can then use Windows search to just pick out those elements of the file name. If you only add the abbreviations to the keepers it does work reasonably well.

[RAitch]

Bob, maybe that's what I should do. Sounds better that what I'm doing.
So let me recap....

- Copy the pics from the camera (RAW/JPG) into dated folders
- Perhaps convert the RAW images to DNG for future use
- Create a separate structure to hold the good images
folders like "Cats" / "Baby" / "Vacations" / "Abstract" / "Test Shots" instead of dates
- Copy any good RAW/JPG original shots over to this folder
- Convert any RAW images to TIFF uncompressed for photoshop adjustments in these folders
- Load these images into Photoshop and make necessary adjustments
- Name the file and include the original file number so you can refer to the RAW if required later
- Save PS files to this folder in a smaller size for WEB or slideshows

I guess I was thinking that... I just didn't have it clear in my mind.
I've gone through about 4 digital cameras and I have pictures all messed up. Before I attempted to clean that up, I was hoping there was some software to do it for me. I guess if you want it done right........

I don't have a need to store the files in 3 places. Two is fine. The RAW originals and then smaller shareable files. If there's a need to make a better copy of a particular image, just look up the RAW shot number and reprocess.
Since all the RAW shots will be stored in date folders, it should be easy to backup.

I LIKE IT.
Thanks for helping me get a clear plan in my head. Sometimes I just need to see stuff on paper... or e-paper.

Now I guess I have a lot of work to do!!!