File Organization

Considering I have so many different copies of images from the web version, watermarked, original. original raw, printable size, what is the best way to organize all this. I started out organizing by the shoot date but then I end up with all these subfolders, plus I have the leftover files from shoots that didnt produce any PP images. Any organizational ideas. Ive been at this about 2 and a half years so I have quite a few images that are just taking up space but I need a new system of oraganization first

I would keep all your original RAWs and the full size edited jpeg.

Everything else can be deleted, you can quickly go back and re-size, watermark in very little time.

You can even delete the jpeg if there wasn't any heavy editing on the image. Basically if it can be reproduced from the RAW quickly and easily why store it.

On the other hand as was stated in your other thread on a similar subject, storage is cheap.

Stop creating duplicates of images, learn and use Adobe Lightroom and create virtual copies, develop your professional workflow using the industry standard tool.

In my opinion, LR does nothing but clutter up my hard drives from past experience. I prefer to import files manually with this process. I've never been so organized with my workflow, period.

SETUP: External HD #1 - ONLY RAW photo storeage

EX.

(folder) 2012 RAW Archive
-year_month_day
-Event Name
-ALL (all raws go here)
-SELECTS (all selected images go here)

External #2 - LIVEWORK (all files that have been edited)

(folder) 2012 Archive
-year_month_day
-Event Name
-SELECTS (direct RAW copy of selected images, just incase.)
-EDITS
-WEB
-PRINT (if needed/resized)


I decided to move to this file system after I lost about 90% of my work from poor file management. Partially my fault, partially LR's fault. This has saved my ass once, and I plan on keeping this structure for the rest of my career. Even though it takes a few more steps to acheive, it is the only safe way I know. After you're done organizing, you can setup a LR CAT to view the images in the following hard drives, and begin the editing process there.

If your using LR, and managing your files independently in multiple folders, your not really using LR.

Go and watch this the LR series by Julieanne Kost: http://tv.adobe.com/ev​angelist/julieanne-kost/

Or, the SLR Lounge series: http://www.slrlounge.c​om …rials/lightroom​-tutorials


Learn how to manage your files in LR, you can still keep the folder structure, but there is no need to create multiple copies of each image for different out puts.

ben_r_ wrote in post #15493172
Stop creating duplicates of images, learn and use Adobe Lightroom and create virtual copies, develop your professional workflow using the industry standard tool.

^^ This ^^

There's very little reason to keep multiple versions of an image. Store your master in LR and use snapshots/virtual copies when necessary.

I am really just getting back into LR, didnt know it had file managment capabilities. I had been using Bridge until recently and now Im wanting to fo back and organize the files. Makes sense, ill check out that link thanks alot

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