Managing Photographs on PC

DiscoKandy

DiscoKandy

DiscoKandy

Associate
Joined
20 Oct 2002
Posts
901
Location
Surrey
Hi,

Over the years I've taken a lot of photos and its getting to the point where managing, sorting and organising them on my PC is becoming awkward. At the moment im just using Vista to create my own folders and sort pictures myself. What im looking for is a peice of software that will help me to sort through my pictures and find better ways of storing/cataloging them, e.g I use iTunes for music, what do you use for pictures ?

Any suggestions guys ? prefably free software.

Thanks
 
Last edited:
Personally, I use Lightroom which is great however not free. Picasa sounds like it might do what you want, although I've not tried it yet.
 
Picasa is very good, sorts by album name or date and ties in nicely with online features like uploading, blogging, printing, etc. I don't use the editing side of it as I prefer Photoshop but it does have some useful (albeit basic) features.
 
I'm also thinking about using a piece of software like this, so if you don't mind DiscoKandy, I'll pipe up with a couple of questions as well!

I store all of my photos on a server using Windows Home Server OS. I have my photos folder mapped as a network drive, so it feels no different to having a separate physical hard drive in my PC in terms of accessing my photos. However, does anyone know if this type of software will see things in the same way? I would assume so, but don't really want to put all my trust in an assumption ;)

Also, is it possible to back up the database (or similar system) to maintain the library information following reinstallation of the OS?

TIA :)
 
It'll worked with a network drive no problem, no need to backup the database as long as you backup the actual photos (use synctoy or something similar)
 
I usually just manage my photos on my own.

Year > Month > Date

I should probably use Lightroom to do it for me, but all it requires me to do is make a folder with the date and drag and drop from my camera.

My canon came with some photo management software too, but its junk in comparison to others.
 
I manage my own folder structure e.g. \\2008\08 - 03 March - Event name here\photos in here, then use ACDsee and Lightroom on top of those to add rankings, editing etc. Over the years i'm sure software will come and go but my own folder structure will remain intact :)

folderstructureti2.jpg
 
Last edited:
Sharkie - I use a similar system. I get fed up in work when people use crap naming covenings such as 011008 for 1st Oct 2008. In a list this will be next to 1st November 2008 and 1st December 2008, not 2nd Oct 2008. Winds me up :)

My structure:

2008
200801
200802
200803
20080301 Bristol Zoo
20080302 Home Portraits
20080303 Penarth sunsets

The description just gives me a clue as to what the set is.

I've also started putting in a sub folder called JPEG for all the raw pics for that particular day that I've finished playing with.

EDIT - aha the indents didn't work lol.
 
Last edited:
Namistai said:
I'm also thinking about using a piece of software like this, so if you don't mind DiscoKandy, I'll pipe up with a couple of questions as well!

I store all of my photos on a server using Windows Home Server OS. I have my photos folder mapped as a network drive, so it feels no different to having a separate physical hard drive in my PC in terms of accessing my photos. However, does anyone know if this type of software will see things in the same way? I would assume so, but don't really want to put all my trust in an assumption ;)

Also, is it possible to back up the database (or similar system) to maintain the library information following reinstallation of the OS?

TIA :)
Click to expand...


lightroom will allow you to use files that are on a remote network drive, but will not allow you to put your 'catalog' on the remote network drive (i.e the metadata and your postprocessing)

It specfically checks for and stops you putting it on the network drive. There is a hack though, if say, your network work drive x, run this at the command prompt

Code: 
subst q: x:\

This will make another version of the mapping which lightroom is no longer able to identify as a mapped drive.



As for the OP I use lightroom and picasa, I much prefer picasa as something to view photos in and apply light post processing, its also a hell of a lot faster, but It's postprocessing abilities don't live up.

It looks from your post that its the management of them that is your main requirement so i think picasa is the way to go
 
picasa is free and very very good at what it does.

Also the new version 3 allows some simple but decent quick changes in terms of cropping/lighting etc etc of your photos.

Excellent piece of software for easy viewing of photos.
 
I do this---Make a new folder, name it, 2008-12-11 Wetlands (where you are on day).
i then transfer my RAWS to it..I then use Lightroom to view n disscard what I don't want. When I have finished with them I then use ACDSEE Pro 2 to Look at them all..
The program is your choice..
 
For my 'keepers' I create folders per subject, so for example:

wildlife - birds - herons (then break it down to various sub species if needed)

For generic shots and holiday shots I keep them in the folders from the original memory card but just rename them e.g. Florida Nov 08 or Bushy Park Nov 08 etc. I dno't bother with the exact date as I don't really need to know that, if I want some images from Bushy Park I'll just search the folder for all the images I took in Nov 2008. the EXIF in the shots will let me get more specific for posting etc. f I broke it down to folders with exact dates for every shoot there would be a mountain of folders to organise and I couldnt be bothered with that lol

Quick and easy and I know where everything is.
 
I highly recommend iMatch. I have been using it for a few years now and despite its "not very nice" user interface (which is being worked on by the developer) its got more functionality than you can dream about..

Check it out.
 
Sh4rkie said:
I manage my own folder structure e.g. \\2008\08 - 03 March - Event name here\photos in here, then use ACDsee and Lightroom on top of those to add rankings, editing etc. Over the years i'm sure software will come and go but my own folder structure will remain intact :)
Click to expand...

Could you come and organise my photos? Pleeeeeeeeease? :(
 
Lightroom for me! stored by date, and tagged with relevent key works for places events etc etc
 
Is the canon software supplied with a camera naff then?

Just loaded up Adobe Bridge and looks good for organising/tagging/filtering photos
 
Last edited:
I really should look into some sort of software, suprising how many photos you take. I've only been using the camera for about 4 weeks and already hit 570 :/
 
Insert CF card into reader
Import those files into Working Files > Raw Files > DVD_XXX > Peter's Birthday 17/09/08
Then open Bridge
Import those images from that newly created folder
Batch rename all the files from IMG_xxx to Stuart_YYMMDD_unique number
Import those into Lightroom
Keyword.
Give a 1 star rating to roughly 10% of the shoot.
Give a 2 star rating to roughly 10% of those 1 star ratings.
Give a 3 star rating to roughly 10% of those 2 star ratings.
Edit those in Lightroom - exposure, crop the usual
Export those to Working Files > Derivative Files > DVD_xxx > Peter's Birthday 17/09/08 convert them to Tiff and rename Stuart_YYMMDD_unquie numberMaster
Reimport those into LR and give them a colour code of Yellow.

Every month I then more those images in the Working Files Folders to Archive. Its the same workflow just the Tiff files get a green colour in LR.

Each of the DVD_xxx folders is just under 4Gb and is designed to be able to be burnt onto DVD. The xxx for example is 001,002 etc.

1 Star ratings - Those images that I think are good enough to show the client
2 Star ratings - The best of that particular shoot
3 Star ratings - The best of the best and therefore are portfolio material.

I have around 11250 images of which 500 images made the 1 start grade, I have 4, 3 star ratings. I know that it doesn't conform to the 10% rule I set myself but I have been brutal with ratings

The whole system is known as a DAM.

It's simple, fast and efficient.

Blackvault
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom