after you do a shoot...

[qsfarmer]

Do you keep all of your shots archived or only the ones youve edited? I can't decide if I should keep all 800 shots or just the 30 that I liked the best and edited... ???

 

[BuS_RiDeR]

I keep them all... you never know .

 

[RauschPhotography]

Keep them all archived on my external hard drive, as well as burned to a DVD (edits included). Generally only keep edits on my computer's hard drive.

 

[sean7488]

put all photos on my laptop for storage and only keep the good ones on my desktop

 

[Trever1t]

keep all the RAW files, backup on external drives and burned to DVD.

 

[Overread36]

I tend to hold onto my shots as well - at the very least in RAW format and also back them up as well. If it comes to deleting I feel that its best done a good deal of time away from the shooting event (most of us are hypercritical of things at that stage so more like to delete than to see a shots potential worth).

I'd say if you're working for clients that you'll also have to weigh in the value of the event - a portrait session you can (eventually) dump photos (bad ones) if you need to (though I'd say just increase your storage capacity) whilst if its something more one off (eg a wedding) I'd even hang onto the poor copies (because weddings tend to pull in a lot of distant relatives and sometimes your duff shot is the only shot of Great Aunt Agather that the family can get access to)

 

[DxAxN]

for me this is a hobby... so I dont see the point in keeping every pic.

 

[JeffieLove]

I keep the ones that are not OBVIOUSLY horrible. Missed focus: delete. Generally just looks like crap: Delete. I guess that basically sums it up.

 

[Davor]

I go through them and keep the ones the look the best, i discard any crummy ones, or where the colors are off and so on. So i go from like 500 - 100 -150 usually

 

[xjoewhitex]

I delete the bad and edit the good, and make a folder for all of them re-sized so I can quickly upload photos on the web when needed. But I always have the option to go back to the full size encase I need to correct something.

 

[adversus]

I color code mine when I dump my SD cards:

Red - Unprocessed RAW
Yellow - Maybe Keepers
Blue - Processed, Keepers
Purple - Source for HDR or other composites

Anything that's blatantly off is deleted as I sort, that's generally mis-keyed shutters, 100% out of focus, etc. I keep 90%.

I have a library for each year, which is broken out into shooting dates (which are all keyworded and tagged).

 

[MegR]

Do you keep all of your shots archived or only the ones youve edited? I can't decide if I should keep all 800 shots or just the 30 that I liked the best and edited... ???

Keep them ALL. My wedding photographer ruined all of my wedding pics. Her editing was just horrible, did almost all blackand white images. When I asked if I can get a few in color or if I can have a few of the editing mistakes corrected she said " I deleted all originals - that is the industry standard." I was PO'd (still am). You never know how a client will take to your images (or editing I should say) and you will want to be able to correct or offer something else if need me. If you have no images then you wont be able to do that.

M

 

[Rosshole]

I have plenty of storage space... so i keep them all for now.

 

[sleist]

My process:

Transfer RAW images from camera to dated folder using Transfer NX2 - Exif edited automatically with copyright.
Review RAW images in View NX2, delete crap, and adjust exposure and WB where needed on remaining files.
Export RAW files to TIF.
Create RAW folder within the same dated folder and transfer RAW images to RAW folder.
Edit TIFs in various apps depending on need and save as renamed TIF or JPG.
Any shots going to printer are placed in "printer" folder within same dated folder.
Anything for web are resized and saved as JPG in "web" folder within same dated folder.

Entire directory is backed up to 2nd HD and external drive 1-3 tmes per week depending on activity.

 

[spacefuzz]

memory is cheap. I keep them all and organize them in lightroom.