Digital workflow

With the ever growing number of digital shootout, photos taken by each of us becoming staggering. So after a few years there will be so many photos that it will become difficult to find out a specific photo.

To keep things simple I follow a scaled down version of professional workflow suitable for my need. I'm going to share the same with you all.

Steps

1. Naming files & folder

I usually shoot photos in jpeg+RAW format. At the end of the day or event I download all the images to my PC. JEPG (Large & fine) files are for quick review and general purpose use, while RAW (uncompressed) files are treated as digital negative.

Create folder

• Keep photos in folder created according to the date (e.g. folder name 2011-09-04). One folder per day.
• Mark out the rejected photos & delete them.
• Create another folder inside the same folder for RAW files (e.g. folder name 2011-09-04-NEF).
• Now keep jpeg files in folder 2011-09-04 and move RAW files to folder 2011-09-04-NEF.

Rename files

Batch rename both jpeg and RAW files according to YEAR-MONTH-DAY_SERIAL e.g. 20110904_001. I usually use Photoshop Bridge to do that. So at the end folder structure & file name looks as follows..

** you can add additional information in file name like event or project etc. It will help you to find out particular image later on.


2. Catalog files

This step may not be required for all. But it is very much helpful for most photographers.

Benefit

• Catalog keeps record of all files in a folder structure.
• It keeps a preview (PC takes lots of time to generate thumbnail) & link of original file within itself.
• It can auto update folder.
• I don’t have to regenerate all thumbnails in explorer / finder every time the system is restored.
• You can carry the catalog file to different PC for preview only.
• You can view & find your images very quickly.
• You can add keyword, label, rate you image & more.

**
I use "Microsoft expression media 2" ( now own by PhaseOne - PhaseOne Media Pro). It is a highly regarded software in imaging world. It keeps record of all my photos, movies from various sources.

3. Backup Files

All my digital media are stored in a 1 terabyte Hard drive. And for backup I use an external hard disk with equal capacity. It keeps exact copy of my internal hard disk.
After every shootout make a DVD copy when images are still fresh in your mind & keep in your closet. This is a hard earned lesson. Over the years I have seen files become corrupted in a hard disk. Then I restored images from DVD.


**Tips

1. Instead of cloning one hard disk to another copy the folder/files to backup hard disk. It prevents bad/damaged files being copied.
2. Avoid keeping data in same hard drive where your operating system lives. They are prone to crash. And can cause data loss.
3. Use eSata/USB 3.0 for external backup because they are just as fast as an internal hard disk. USB 2.0 is slow.

4. Image Editing

For editing image I use Photoshop CS5. To import a RAW file my preference is Capture NX2.