Hoarding files

[animotionphoto]

It's the same old scenario; I get home after a shoot, excitedly insert my SD card and open to view the files for editing. I pretend that when I open it, that all the photos in there are organized, and unworthy pics were deleted, but that's not the case. So, instead of getting to the job at hand, I spend alomst an hour deciding whether to erase pictures from weeks ago, and where to organize some others. I'm pretty good at erasing even decent pictures that I know I won't use. but I still wind up with several lingerers. These lingerers turn into dozens, then hundreds, so far not thousands, but I know it'll get there. I don't want to lose all the photos for fear that I might use them some time in the future. So I hoard them and then create folders to distinguish their origin or niche, but, I have several niches and types, thus creating more and more folders. And some of these folders even get lost. Does enyone have a recipe for organizing this madness? How does one stop hoarding?

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[The_Traveler]

use a cataloging system like Lightroom but hoarding the files is your own specific problem.
Surrounding good to great images with uggggh images just makes it more difficult for your heirs.

[slackercruster]

I feel your pain!

Just recently I had to get going deleting crap. When I have a new folder I make a sub folder in it called keepers. I go through the file a few times put anything that is good in it. But I may be choosier than some of you. A keeper is a pix that is good enuf or close enuf to go into my portfolio. Sure I may keep some crappers for one reason or another. I still have 5 or 6 folders to go through from old pix this spring that did not get this treatment. Will try to do a folder per week...or two?

Good luck!

[tirediron]

NEVER return the card to the camera with anything on it. Get home from a session, import, back-up, catalogue and delete the images from the card, put the card in the camera, format it, and you're ready to go. Lightroom has excellent cataloguing capabilty, as does Aceedesee, and there are LOTS of other options as well.

[KmH]

I spend alomst an hour deciding whether to erase pictures from weeks ago,

Images from weeks ago should not still be on the card. Rate your images. If you have Ps CS2/3/4/5/6 use Bridge to rate and organize your images. But no doubt use some kind of a repeatable system.

Get the DAM Book - The DAM Book: Digital Asset Management for Photographers

[animotionphoto]

All your responses are spot on. My amateurism shows because of my lack use or knowledge of Lightroom. I've heard of it so many times, and it's time now to start using it. I also like the idea of completely emptying the SD card before returning it to the camera.


@KmH...What is "Bridge"?

[KmH]

Bridge is an image browser/organizer that is included with Photoshop. Bridge can interface with most of Adobe's software packages, whereas Lightroom is pretty much limited to only interfacing with Photoshop. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adobe_Bridge

Photoshop also includes Camera Raw - aka Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) - a parametric Raw converter. ACR first appeared in Photoshop 7, so Photoshop CS 6 (Photoshop 13) uses ACR 7.

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4's editing section, known as the Develope module, is essentially the same ACR 7 that Photoshop CS 6 uses. The first release of Lightroom used ACR 3.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adobe_Lightroom

Lightroom's main function is image database management.

New Lightroom users often come onto the forums because they have moved their image files in such a way that Lightroom no longer knows where the files are. That happens because they don't understand the differences between using a browser and using a database manager.

The DAM Book covers the differences between using both Bridge, Lightroom, and some of the enterprise level image database management software.

[animotionphoto]

I've been using Paintshop Pro 4x for editing, and have been very impressed with its functions as well as price. I'm not sure if it has a program similar to "Bridge" as I havent been looking for it. There's a reason most pros use Photoshop and Lightroom. Maybe if I get more complicated projects, I'll consider those other programs.

[Overread]

My general pattern:

1) Get home - take the card out of the camera and slip it into a card reader (its generally faster than the camera). I then copy and paste (not cut and paste) all the photos from the day off the camera into a folder. I also add any additional cards that I used through the day.

2) I then leave the data on the cards themselves, this is then my first backup copy of those photos, until such time as I make a copy of them onto my second harddrive.

3) As and when you want you can then go through the photos on your computer and select those you do or don't want, I typically never bother with this in the camera unless I'm in a situation where I have run out of card space (and honestly if that happens more than once or twice buy another card).

4) I delete and format the cards in camera as a first step when I next pick the camera up to go shooting - this typically means my outings are planned and not fully spur of the moment things; but I always make sure Iv'e space for some shots on whatever card is in the camera (if this means I have to delete photos to clear a card I backup my harddrive copies first and then clear the card).

[12sndsgood]

organisation is important, and something thats good you are thinking about now rather then later. i'm at the later stage and have thousands of photos and folder to go thru to get organized. something I have to do but am still putting off the sooner you do it the better off you will be. trust me.