Image Labeling Systems

[imaginationvault]

Hi, This is my first post would like to say Hello first off.

I was wondering if anyone had any systems they had developed for labeling images. For the primary name of the image I use where it was taken and the date, seems to be OK but if their is a better way I would like to know. My question is aimed at post production and editing. Some images I have snapped I edit 2 or 3 times in different ways and this is where it gets confusing having several different edits of the same photo named 1,2,3 and so on.

It's not a major issue but a big enough one to drive me to write here

Any software suggestions too for filing would be very welcome.

Thank you in advance for any assistance.

Ian

[JFSanders]

There are a few software solutions to your problem and one book that I always recommend to people who have a professional need to keep track of their images in the various formats. These are in no particular order and I do not find one to be better than the others, it truly comes down to what is most easily used by you the end user.

Software:

1. Photo mechanic
2. Adobe bridge
3. Lightroom 3
4. Capture NX2

Book:

1. The DAM Book

Jim

[Rentham]

I've separated my file naming convention from the cataloging of my images. Previously I had used a date-description naming convention but there were two problems. The date really didn't tell me anything. I have no idea whatsoever what images I shot on, say, May 21st of last year. And the descriptions where starting repeat. Entering the info manually was also a pain in the ass.

I have Lightroom set up to convert my images to .dng on import and rename them in the following convention:
initials_date_job number_image sequence

So a file name might look like this:
abc_20110723_11050_0001.dng

That would tell you:

1. Who shot it - Initials ABC
2. The date it was taken - July 23, 2011
3. The job number - 50th shoot in 2011
4. The image - The first image from that shoot

The primary benefit of that system is the name is always unique and I don't have to ever mess with it after it's set up. I then using Lightroom's Collections system to catalog and find my images.

I have four main categories: commercial, editorial, portraits, weddings. Each job gets a collection set in the appropriate category. Within each job collection I create folders for the client gallery, the client picks, and my personal favorites (for the blog and such). The structure for a particular job may look like this:

• Commercial
• Editorial
• Portraits
• Weddings
  • Yolanda
    • Client Gallery
    • Client Picks
    • Favorites

I also extensively keyword my images (in batch) and enter as much metadata as I can. That way I can easily find weddings shot in july 2011 with the keyword blue.

[Pinellas Guy]

Originally Posted by Rentham

I have Lightroom set up to convert my images to .dng on import and rename them in the following convention:
initials_date_job number_image sequence

So a file name might look like this:
abc_20110723_11050_0001.dng

That would tell you:

1. Who shot it - Initials ABC
2. The date it was taken - July 23, 2011
3. The job number - 50th shoot in 2011
4. The image - The first image from that shoot

The primary benefit of that system is the name is always unique and I don't have to ever mess with it after it's set up. I then using Lightroom's Collections system to catalog and find my images.

I have four main categories: commercial, editorial, portraits, weddings. Each job gets a collection set in the appropriate category. Within each job collection I create folders for the client gallery, the client picks, and my personal favorites (for the blog and such). The structure for a particular job may look like this:

• Commercial
• Editorial
• Portraits
• Weddings
  • Yolanda
    • Client Gallery
    • Client Picks
    • Favorites

I also extensively keyword my images (in batch) and enter as much metadata as I can. That way I can easily find weddings shot in july 2011 with the keyword blue.

That's how you do it. Ugg.workflow

[imaginationvault]

Dear All,

Thank you so much for your in-depth answers, they have helped me a lot.

To JFSanders, great advice I downloaded a trail version of adobe bridge and got on really well with it, I have now bough a license for the software.

To Rentham, I am now using your system of labeling and it works great, I was unable to figure out the dng file, but I figured out a way to change all the names with automator, seems to be doing the trick.

Once again thank you for taking the time,

Ian