How do you organize files?

[Xenedis]

I would love to hear how other people organize their personal/business photography files

I've explained my approach (with an accompanying screen capture) here:

http://www.ausphotography.net.au/for...42&postcount=3

HTH.

[elGrando]

Thanks mwphoto for the great thread and to everyone for ideas. I didnt realise I had a problem until I read everyone elses responce and figured out my system sucks. Even though mine is seperated into years etc somehow I have photos of one of the kids born in 2005 in the 2003 folder. I know im not good at birthdays but didnt realise I was that off. After ricks ideas im not even bothering to sort them, Ill start again.
CHEERS

[phild]

I have one folder "images" under that I have subfolders, when I transfer the images from the camera I simply rename the flash card folder to year-month-day fromat e.g. 2010-6-10, I then create a subfolder called RAW and seperate the raw images.
That way I have all my images in chronological order and shooting session and I can usually find anything reasonably quickly by thinking of the rough date that I took the image.

It's not the best way but it works for me.

[dbax]

well its been a while since this first post, I know have mine in year and month, not perfect by any means but I can now find recent things easily, find a system and get into the habit, simple.....I wish I'd learnt it years ago

[Xenedis]

well its been a while since this first post, I know have mine in year and month, not perfect by any means but I can now find recent things easily, find a system and get into the habit, simple.....I wish I'd learnt it years ago

For me, filing by month isn't meaningful, as I won't remember when I shot, say Mona Vale, whereas I will remember that it was Mona Vale I shot.

The subject or name of the shoot is generally more important then when I shot it.

[bigdazzler]

For me, filing by month isn't meaningful, as I won't remember when I shot, say Mona Vale, whereas I will remember that it was Mona Vale I shot.

The subject or name of the shoot is generally more important then when I shot it.

me too Johnno ... Lightroom Images > Studio_Shoot_30-10-2010 > files.

Although I do have a custom file name set up which includes year>month>(custom text)>seq file#

Works well for me.

[annainoz]

I asked about a filing system elsewhere and was told to do it in PSE so started doing that but then hubby said just use Windows .. so tagged the photos that way. At least then if hubby is looking for particular photos he can search using a tag word and will find them on the server .. where as if it's just in PSE or Lightroom, you have to have that particular program right or wrong ?

[bigdazzler]

I asked about a filing system elsewhere and was told to do it in PSE so started doing that but then hubby said just use Windows .. so tagged the photos that way. At least then if hubby is looking for particular photos he can search using a tag word and will find them on the server .. where as if it's just in PSE or Lightroom, you have to have that particular program right or wrong ?

I only ever access my pictures through Lightroom so thats not an issue for me. If I do want to find the location of the file on the HD, you can right click the image in LR and click "Show In Finder", it will then pop up in a finder dialog box (on a mac of course) and points to the file.

[annainoz]

I only ever access my pictures through Lightroom so thats not an issue for me. If I do want to find the location of the file on the HD, you can right click the image in LR and click "Show In Finder", it will then pop up in a finder dialog box (on a mac of course) and points to the file.

We have all the laptops in the house networked as well as the two servers so that's why it's handy to do it the way I have started (and gotten lazy and slacked off tagging) lol.

[Xebadir]

My archive revolves around lightroom but is built with contingencies:
Single File for Photos into which LR uploads..and then places in subfolders according to:
->2010
->Month
->Date/Type of Photography
My flow process is flag/unflag for initial...then 1/3/5 rating...then metadata with specific keywords...process as tiff in either LR for speedy or CS5, once done, web jpg if required, placed into archive. Duplicated to spare storage device. Basically if I ever had a lightroom failure I wouldnt be boned with my archive system...yes it would be less efficient, but at least they wouldnt be lost to the world.
Previous years are stored on a desktop drive, and everything is backed up in another state for paranoia deterrance...which arises when you do stupid things like PhDs.

Edit: Forgot to mention I went through all my old archives and ensured they conformed to this structure.

[chrisprendergast]

I organize by months then subfolders of the events, but for photography assignments I use a few folders : raw, work in progress,final edits, proofs, jpgs, email