Organizing, Storing and Finding Photo Files

I keep the .tiff files and the small .jpg files in descriptive folders (i.e. nature, still life, portrait). The print files are kept in a folder called "print files."

At the end of each month I move all of the files on my hard drive to an external storage device. Until recently, I had been using CD-Rs. However, when I bought the Rebel, I found that I was using 6-8 CD-Rs for a single month. I now use DVD-Rs and can fit the unaltered files on one DVD and the altered files on another. I make two copies of each DVD. One I keep in my zippered CD storage notebook. The other I keep at the bank in a safe deposit box. It is always a good idea to keep a copy of your photos separate from all other copies in case of a catastrophic event such as a fire.

The last step in my organization of photo files is one of the best features of the Digital Image Library program I use. I can catalogue my DVDs without moving the files from the DVD to my computer. This allows me to preview the files, find the one I'm looking for, and pull it off the DVD when I need it. I mark all of my DVDs with the name indicator Digital Image Library uses to catalogue that DVD.

Digital Image Library is not the only program, which catalogues files in this manner. Adobe Photo Album and ACDSee will do the same thing.  There are other programs as well.

I know that it might seem like a lot of work to keep photo files organized in this manner, but I find it is worth it if it means that later I can find my photos for clients. My paranoia also means that if my computer crashes I will loose at worst 1 month's worth of altered files. The files on the X-drive can always be worked on and brought back to the state the photos were in when my computer crashed.

Remember, too, that this is my workflow. Yours may be different based on your set-up. My best recommendation to you is to find a workflow that works for you and stick with it.

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