ORGANIZATION!

[Playonpics.com]

Alright so i've been doing photography for a while, but one thing i found i'm far from organized.
That being said. I find most of my current stuff is on my laptop that rarely sees the internet or anything else that way i can't get virus. Mind you the issue i have is i can't always edit on the laptop. (Nicer editing on a Desktop)

So to my question:
How do i organize myself in a way that i can find stuff quickly. And more so, so its easier just to edit a file and away i go.
I have for PC gear is
XPS Desktop 500 gigs of storage, and a Wireless USB stick.
Laptop 120 gigs.
and 2 750 gigs externals.

My question is there a program to make more efficient use out of this storage i have?
or a way to link theses 2 computers up to make eiditing new stuff on the desktop from the notebook easier.

Anythoughts.
Right now i use the file folder way. not really the best.

[René Damkot]

For getting organised: Start of reading chapter one here: Click.

Then have a look at this page, comparing different cataloguing software: Click.

The most recommended software would probably be Lightroom, since it's a Raw converter with integrated DAM functionality. Might not be the best out there for DAM, but it's getting better...

I use iView and LR.

[adam8080]

I use Lightroom and have images in separate folders, unique file names, and use relevant keywords.

[jrm27]

interesting article. This guy seems to push the DNG format over RAW pretty hard. Thoughts?

[MaxxuM]

Originally Posted by jrm27

interesting article. This guy seems to push the DNG format over RAW pretty hard. Thoughts?

I convert everything to DNG eventually mainly because it saves me a lot of room since DNG's are smaller than RAW files and it is highly supported by the top image software companies (not likely to be dropped).

[René Damkot]

I use iView, so can write IPTC into the CR2 file.
I import the selected images into LR, then edit, then export, then convert to DNG.

Both CR2 and DNG get backed up (redundancy as well as preserving the ability to use DPP)

[canonnoob]

Heres a quote from what I said in another post here:

Originally Posted by canonnoob

I will usually keep the raw files and the PSD files in a different folder, but keep the Jpegs in the same folder for the shoot... my storage kinda is like this...



External harddrive menu > Photos > Unfinished or Finished > Put into catagories (such as Client shoots, landscapes, sports Etc) > Familys name or whatever the shoot was for > Folders for : Jpeg and Raw/PSD (raw and psd in the same folder)



So a good example of this would be:



EHD menu > Photos > MSU Sports > MSU Basketball > Mens > MSU VS AK (Akansas)- (Jpegs will most likely be right in this folder) > PSD/RAW folder





I hope this kinda helps.. as for deleting.. I usually get rid of shots that wont make the cut either way... ones that I know I wont process or ones that I know just arent good enough to make it to my website..

[jrm27]

Wow, this is all a lot to wrap my head around! I am just know beginning to try and figure out a digital workflow and asset management. so throwing DNG conversion into the equation and what that means makes my head spin! It's probably much simpler than I am imagining.

[Greg_C]

I use IMatch as my Image Management software.
My workflow here Most of my editing is done in CS3 but I also use Lightroom to do bulk stuff. I don't use LR for DAM, IMatch suits me better.


I store my photos on my Laptop and on my Windows Home Server.

[Playonpics.com]

I'm wondering if i could make a home server with an older computer i have or use my XPS computer as a main hub that my 2 externals would be plugged into.
I REFUSE to buy anything from HP... horrible company. While i have thought about the idea of a home server, i guess i'll have ot research it more.