How do you organize files?

[mwphoto]

I take too many photos, and I am not the most organized person, which makes finding specific photos sometimes difficult.

I have a Master Copy Folder, with folders for each year, and in those sub-folders for each month, then each card download is labeled by date and (usually one word description eg dogs, kids, xmas).

But I take so many photos I really need to adopt something easier...as it is everything from kids, my pets, wildlife, landscape, holidays, christmas, event photography and private shoots are organized the same way.

I need to separate anything that might be business related away from personal/family, although sometimes the two overlap (family holiday landscape photography).

I would love to hear how other people organize their personal/business photography files (without copying full size photos to different folders - I now have 1.4tera hardrive but don't want to use it up too quick)?

Ta!

[ricktas]

I use Lightroom to import my photos so I can tag the metadata as well. But my process is

Folder for YEAR, subfolder for MONTH, folder for topic, I can then easily archive months and years to external drives ( I use 3 backup drives- two on site, one off site). Only current year photos remain on my second internal drive.

So Currently I have:

2009 / January / Cygnet Folk Festival
2009 / January / Buckland Tasmania
2009 / January / xxx & xxx Portraits Engagement

[MarkChap]

I currently use a basic systen

USing CS3 - Bridge - I download (raw) by shot date to a folder called "My Photos",delete the crap and add keywords.

Keepers are then sent to folder by genre / category / subjct.

D:/My Photos/keep/birds - which will very soon have sub folders for different groups of birds - "Birds Of Prey" "Water Birds" etc etc
D:/My Photos/keep/people <- which then has some subfolders "family" "friends"
D:/My Photos/keep/action <- which also then contains sub folders "outrigging" "speedway" <- which then has subfolders for the class of car
You get the idea.

I can open Bridge and search by keyword to find a particular photo be it a particular bird or birds from a particular location or a person etc etc

The key to ANY and ALL systems is discipline - you MUST (I must) add the keywords at the time of download otherwise I will miss a photo when doing the keyword search.

[dbax]

HeHe Michelle I got em everywhere, can never find what I want when I want it, I've tried numerous times to organise and have a number of different systems but none of them tie together.
Find a workflow that suits you early, and stick to it, otherwise you'll finish up like me....... not recommended!

[ricktas]

My suggestion to those that have a disorganised system (which I used to), is start afresh, but do NOT try and catalogue your old stuff. I created an entirely separate section for my old stuff, called the directory "Pre Catalog" and moved all my existing photos into it.

Then I started my new cataloging, and only new photos went into it. Now 4 years on, I have a good system that works for me, and I didn't have to stress about the HUGE job of sorting all the old stuff out.

If you try and catalogue 15,000 existing photos you will give up, so don't bother starting, just start from now, with future photos and catalogue those.

[Kirst]

I did as Rick did. Started fresh I mean. And slowly I am getting around to my older photos but I don't feel stressed about it at all. I know that my photos now are sorted and that's the main thing. I also pick a photo for the folder cover that best depicts what photos are in it. I like the idea of more specific naming though in addition to dating everything.

[Lani]

My suggestion to those that have a disorganised system (which I used to), is start afresh, but do NOT try and catalogue your old stuff. I created an entirely separate section for my old stuff, called the directory "Pre Catalog" and moved all my existing photos into it.

Then I started my new cataloging, and only new photos went into it. Now 4 years on, I have a good system that works for me, and I didn't have to stress about the HUGE job of sorting all the old stuff out.

If you try and catalogue 15,000 existing photos you will give up, so don't bother starting, just start from now, with future photos and catalogue those.

Brilliant idea, Rick... that's what has been putting me off starting, sorting out my current disorganized muddle. ( well I spose a muddle by definition is disorganized. ) They say the best ideas are the simplest!

[JRL Snaps]

I have been thinking about re-organising my system also at some stage. I'm not 'unhappy' with the system I have now but thought I might try something different.

So, in case someone can get some use out of it, this is my system which is saved on my external hard drive:

Year
- Month
- - 01012009 New Years Day (for eg)
- - 12012009 Corolla Shoot
These would contain all the pics downloaded straight off my camera during that day saved in different subject folders.
Then each of the 'subject' folders would contain folders as follows:
- - - LR Edits (containing only edits I've done - exported from LR)
- - - LR Edits Resized (as I use my pics on forums a lot so I always resize any edits I do)
- - - LR Edits Resized and Framed (just my way of saying its watermarked)

Might all seem a little confusing and messy but it has been working for me, but there could be an easier way, I'm on the look out for something that suits me.

My suggestion to those that have a disorganised system (which I used to), is start afresh, but do NOT try and catalogue your old stuff. I created an entirely separate section for my old stuff, called the directory "Pre Catalog" and moved all my existing photos into it.

Then I started my new cataloging, and only new photos went into it. Now 4 years on, I have a good system that works for me, and I didn't have to stress about the HUGE job of sorting all the old stuff out.

If you try and catalogue 15,000 existing photos you will give up, so don't bother starting, just start from now, with future photos and catalogue those.

Oh good, so I don't have to go through all the old stuff... Its okay to leave them as they are!!

[41jas]

My suggestion to those that have a disorganised system (which I used to), is start afresh, but do NOT try and catalogue your old stuff. I created an entirely separate section for my old stuff, called the directory "Pre Catalog" and moved all my existing photos into it.

Then I started my new cataloging, and only new photos went into it. Now 4 years on, I have a good system that works for me, and I didn't have to stress about the HUGE job of sorting all the old stuff out.

If you try and catalogue 15,000 existing photos you will give up, so don't bother starting, just start from now, with future photos and catalogue those.

That's what I was thinking Rick.
I do have sub-folders eg. People...then each name of persons in subs. I find that works and the same with other topics.
I do have heaps of photos I haven't even gone through yet....that puts you behind big time. It's hard keeping up when you take so many photos...lol

[SRR33]

I use Lightroom to import my photos so I can tag the metadata as well. But my process is

Folder for YEAR, subfolder for MONTH, folder for topic, I can then easily archive months and years to external drives ( I use 3 backup drives- two on site, one off site). Only current year photos remain on my second internal drive.

So Currently I have:

2009 / January / Cygnet Folk Festival
2009 / January / Buckland Tasmania
2009 / January / xxx & xxx Portraits Engagement

Exactly what i do

So easy to do!!

[MrJorge]

I detailed my structure just yesterday here ---> http://www.ausphotography.net.au/for...ight=structure

When it comes to "finding photos" though I rarely look through the directory structure. I use Lightroom and let it find them for me. Can't remember the last time I went digging for an actual RAW file. Normally if I want it it's to edit/re-edit/have a look at it and I use Lightroom for all those things.

So while I recommend a structure that is easy to backup etc when it comes to using the files I use Lightroom to keep track of where they are physically and process them with it instead of hunting for them.

[ving]

dewey decimal classification... i am a librarian

[MrJorge]

i am a librarian

That explains a lot!

[Jordan Compte]

what I'm doing is just have a folder on my desktop, make a sub folder for every day I shoot, the shots I choose to upload I'll edit them and then drag both that and the orignal into the sub folder as well as other shots I choose! it's a bit annoying but it works fine, I'm going to purchase an external hard drive soon for tafe etc.

[Calxoddity]

You didn't say whether you're a Mac or PC user. If you're Mac, Aperture is great for organising. In the past 3 months I've taken my ad-hoc structure and have so far keyworded, rated and organised 95% my photos back to 2003.

Similar to Rick's structure I have folders for Year, with individual projects within each year. For anything that's just been imported or hasn't been organised yet, it lives in my Work In Progress folder until keywording and rating has been completed. Then, I move it to it's destination folder/project.

Importantly, if you're going to use keywords, set your taxonomy up properly before you start - arbitrary keywording on the fly could end up in tears a few months down the track... (this applies to any keywording approach, not only Aperture)

Regards,
Calx (who is a process designer)

[ving]

That explains a lot!

and that is supposed to mean what exactly?

[MrJorge]

and that is supposed to mean what exactly?

Nothing, nothing at all.

[mwphoto]

OK thanks everyone. I definitely need a KISS solution Will look into lightroom as well (although I hate learning to use new software...I use CS3 maybe I can just add keywords in there, must have a look).

Being only 15 days into the new year, I will start now, and backtrack last years when I have time (prior to that was non-dslr, so not so much a business priority to sort them out.)

[NatalieM]

I've started using Lightroom 2.2

I basically have this system:

Import and put into date folder
All unedited photos are coded 'yellow'
All completed photos are red
Ones that are good enough to upload are flagged
Keywords applied to everything

[bigdazzler]

Ive just switched to mac and have started using Aperture in referenced mode ( meaning files stay where they are in the mac PICTURES directory and Aperture just basically points to them , I dont import them into Aperture database to avoid duplicating files and therefore saving disk space ..

Still very much new to it but I seem to be making progress,

In Aperture my system is this..

Import RAWs straight from camera into Aperture, structure is;

eg. Library > 2009 > Bella studio shoot 18-01-09 (Project)
> Sydney night shoot 16-01-09 (Project)

Then export adjusted versions to subfolders in the mac PICTURES home folder. Sub folders are;
> 2009 Images
> 2009 Bella studio shoot 18-01-09 ( contains RAWs from camera )
- Edits ( sub folder including all adjusted,cropped,converted versions )
> 2009 Sydney Night shoot 16-01-09
- Edits ( sub folder including all adjusted,cropped,converted versions )


Im trying to get into the habit of adding keywords and ratings to everything

Long way to go till its totally streamlined but its a start ..