"Clutter and confusion are failures of design, not attributes of information."
-- Edward R. Tufte
-- Edward R. Tufte
Much of this information is currently under review - just to be sure I am up to speed with current techniques etc.
Photo Files Workflow
Paranoid? Maybe. A while ago, I did an archiving project where I scanned a bunch of photos and other documents from the 1940s. At the time, I realized that the fact that these things were printed, and physical, was the reason I was able to see them and share them. It occurred to me, that short of a fire, or flood (which would potentially destroy electronic data as well), these documents, faded as they were - were survivors. This is not necessarily the case with electronic data these days.
We take pictures, we have them on hard drives, or memory sticks, or phones or on the 'cloud' (we used to call this the internet) and we don't tend to print much.
We used to have photo albums - now they are online. I guess "online" means that they are relatively safe - so long as those companies maintaining the sites are in business, and don't charge an arm and a leg, and aren't hacked etc. This is a relatively safe place to store photos.
I have, at last count, over 60,000 digital images. It isn't something I will likely ever 'upload' to the cloud in my lifetime. I do have images on this website, and I do have a few images on Flickr, but honestly, I don't really trust other media to either stay operational, or stay free.
So - I make backups! You could say I am paranoid about backing up and archiving my photos.
We take pictures, we have them on hard drives, or memory sticks, or phones or on the 'cloud' (we used to call this the internet) and we don't tend to print much.
We used to have photo albums - now they are online. I guess "online" means that they are relatively safe - so long as those companies maintaining the sites are in business, and don't charge an arm and a leg, and aren't hacked etc. This is a relatively safe place to store photos.
I have, at last count, over 60,000 digital images. It isn't something I will likely ever 'upload' to the cloud in my lifetime. I do have images on this website, and I do have a few images on Flickr, but honestly, I don't really trust other media to either stay operational, or stay free.
So - I make backups! You could say I am paranoid about backing up and archiving my photos.
I have, at any one time, no less than two copies of my photos in existence. Below is my workflow for file (or if you like buzzwords - 'digital asset') management.
I shoot - files are in the camera on memory cards. When I get home, I generally download my files onto my desktop computer immediately. I use Adobe Lightroom to import, and the photos are stored according to the capture date. They are stored in "my pictures" folder (I use Windows). I will not erase my camera memory card until I back up the desktop's "Pictures" folder to an external hard drive. This is a drive I only have running for backups. Once in two locations, I will then re-format my memory card.
So, at this point, I have my photos on my computer. I have them on a backup hard drive. Here's where maybe the paranoia sets in. When my photos in my "pictures" folder reach about 20GB or so, I burn a Blu-Ray disk with these Files. Once the files are on Blu-Ray, I will then move the folders (using Lightroom) onto a second high capacity hard drive on my computer. This drive has nothing but photos on it AND… I have an exact copy of this drive which I update every few months. This drive is stored in a fireproof safe.
I shoot - files are in the camera on memory cards. When I get home, I generally download my files onto my desktop computer immediately. I use Adobe Lightroom to import, and the photos are stored according to the capture date. They are stored in "my pictures" folder (I use Windows). I will not erase my camera memory card until I back up the desktop's "Pictures" folder to an external hard drive. This is a drive I only have running for backups. Once in two locations, I will then re-format my memory card.
So, at this point, I have my photos on my computer. I have them on a backup hard drive. Here's where maybe the paranoia sets in. When my photos in my "pictures" folder reach about 20GB or so, I burn a Blu-Ray disk with these Files. Once the files are on Blu-Ray, I will then move the folders (using Lightroom) onto a second high capacity hard drive on my computer. This drive has nothing but photos on it AND… I have an exact copy of this drive which I update every few months. This drive is stored in a fireproof safe.
Doing this keeps my "Pictures" folder space relatively small.
I keep my photos in folders by date and generally add a descriptor to the folder to clue me into what is in each, or what event it was. This makes it much easier to find photos after-the-fact.
I keep my photos in folders by date and generally add a descriptor to the folder to clue me into what is in each, or what event it was. This makes it much easier to find photos after-the-fact.
When I work on photos and tweak them, or have certain ones that I share on line or print, I use Lightroom's feature to create a collection. MY collections are based on topics, or subjects. These basically link me to the relevant files.
So - at any one time, I will have my collection on the desktop drive, on a separate hard drive, kept in a safe location, and likely (every few months or so), also on Blu-Ray disks.
Everyone will have a workflow for their photos that works for them. They are not all like mine, nor do they need to be. BUT… They should be safe. If you have all your files in one location - on your computer, and your drive crashes… nobody will be able to sort through them in 70 or 80 years and imagine what it was like.
So - at any one time, I will have my collection on the desktop drive, on a separate hard drive, kept in a safe location, and likely (every few months or so), also on Blu-Ray disks.
Everyone will have a workflow for their photos that works for them. They are not all like mine, nor do they need to be. BUT… They should be safe. If you have all your files in one location - on your computer, and your drive crashes… nobody will be able to sort through them in 70 or 80 years and imagine what it was like.