Good reminder! Discipline is key in organizing, no matter the tools you use.
I have changed my approach in cataloging my photos over the years. And if you're using different programs it's not always possible to transfer the same method everywhere (Lightroom has a "pick" flag, Capture One doesn't). I never really bothered with tagging, it looks handy but I just never found a system that works well in terms of what tag names to use (and how detailed it needs to get).
Simply sorting the files in folders by year and within these folders based on a yymmdd-[short description] format. Backup these folder to a NAS and from there to an external HDD. (not forgetting to backup the catalog files of the photo editors as well)
In general I use a star-rating to cull photos and maybe a color-tag for some easy recognition of certain photo's. But critically, after I say "it's done" in the photo editor (LR, C1, PhotoLab whatever), I export a high-res (tiff) file and store this in a separate folder location. Then I use digiKam (https://www.digikam.org) to catalog just these files. Because in the end, every photo that leaves my computer has to come from digiKam (I use this tool as well to make low-res jpgs etc - I don't want those copies to dilute my main catalog).
For me that has worked well so far, but YMMV - there are dozens of ways how to do this. But again: discipline is key in organizing.
After getting stuck in Apple Photos system a decade ago (where I never felt confident about that the files had maintained integrity) I switched to just dumping everything in a year based folders. I do have a diary so I know more or less when things happen, but it is an interesting dilemma.
Now that I've re read properly, i will maker one comment, a slight bit off topic. I extend my file system to my organization of Catalogs. In Lightroom, anyway, the efficiency of performance declined the more images a catalog holds. I have something like 20 total catalogs, broken down by category and year. My travel pics are not in the same catalog as my portraits or my street photography, etc. in January of each year I start new catalogs fresh. "2024-Travel" etc. and throughout the year I'm continually reassessing my photos with a star system, and eventually the 4's and 5's get converted to jpgs and stored in my NAS device. This way i keep Lightroom running efficiently, I always have access to my full history of photos via the raw files, and i have quicker access to the ones I'm more certain to want to access for various reasons. Maybe too much with for most, but I found that this also keeps my memory of when I took certain photos intact, with the breakdown of catalogs by years.
Great in theory, difficult to execute. Takes diligence and a keen understanding of organization. I have a picture of an alley. There is a human in it. It's created in long exposure and with intentional camera movement. It's night. In Boston. So many key words that overlap the image with others. And as the years go on, this key words change. Your system changes. The keywords you use today were not in effect in 2018 and vice versa. Some DAMS are better than others, but don't be fooled by the shiny objects. Invest in the time to classify and categorize your images before you spend a dollar on a tech fix. Only then will you have a Chance of being able to locate the decade(s) old image you swear is somewhere in that black box called a hard drive.
I am so sorry. (Exit stage left with Brain between my knees!) I somehow missed your point. "Whatever package you use the most important elements of photo management are names, tags, and discipline." I'm embarrassed that i read your advocacy of DAMS and missed your essential point. 🙏🏼 Weird how poorly I read your piece. I did have a bit of wine. But regardless, Apologies.
Good reminder! Discipline is key in organizing, no matter the tools you use.
I have changed my approach in cataloging my photos over the years. And if you're using different programs it's not always possible to transfer the same method everywhere (Lightroom has a "pick" flag, Capture One doesn't). I never really bothered with tagging, it looks handy but I just never found a system that works well in terms of what tag names to use (and how detailed it needs to get).
Simply sorting the files in folders by year and within these folders based on a yymmdd-[short description] format. Backup these folder to a NAS and from there to an external HDD. (not forgetting to backup the catalog files of the photo editors as well)
In general I use a star-rating to cull photos and maybe a color-tag for some easy recognition of certain photo's. But critically, after I say "it's done" in the photo editor (LR, C1, PhotoLab whatever), I export a high-res (tiff) file and store this in a separate folder location. Then I use digiKam (https://www.digikam.org) to catalog just these files. Because in the end, every photo that leaves my computer has to come from digiKam (I use this tool as well to make low-res jpgs etc - I don't want those copies to dilute my main catalog).
For me that has worked well so far, but YMMV - there are dozens of ways how to do this. But again: discipline is key in organizing.
After getting stuck in Apple Photos system a decade ago (where I never felt confident about that the files had maintained integrity) I switched to just dumping everything in a year based folders. I do have a diary so I know more or less when things happen, but it is an interesting dilemma.
I hope you've got a few copies of your diary!
Now that I've re read properly, i will maker one comment, a slight bit off topic. I extend my file system to my organization of Catalogs. In Lightroom, anyway, the efficiency of performance declined the more images a catalog holds. I have something like 20 total catalogs, broken down by category and year. My travel pics are not in the same catalog as my portraits or my street photography, etc. in January of each year I start new catalogs fresh. "2024-Travel" etc. and throughout the year I'm continually reassessing my photos with a star system, and eventually the 4's and 5's get converted to jpgs and stored in my NAS device. This way i keep Lightroom running efficiently, I always have access to my full history of photos via the raw files, and i have quicker access to the ones I'm more certain to want to access for various reasons. Maybe too much with for most, but I found that this also keeps my memory of when I took certain photos intact, with the breakdown of catalogs by years.
Great in theory, difficult to execute. Takes diligence and a keen understanding of organization. I have a picture of an alley. There is a human in it. It's created in long exposure and with intentional camera movement. It's night. In Boston. So many key words that overlap the image with others. And as the years go on, this key words change. Your system changes. The keywords you use today were not in effect in 2018 and vice versa. Some DAMS are better than others, but don't be fooled by the shiny objects. Invest in the time to classify and categorize your images before you spend a dollar on a tech fix. Only then will you have a Chance of being able to locate the decade(s) old image you swear is somewhere in that black box called a hard drive.
Yes, that's pretty much what I'm saying (but I didn't advocate 'shiny objects' or 'tech fixes'.)
I am so sorry. (Exit stage left with Brain between my knees!) I somehow missed your point. "Whatever package you use the most important elements of photo management are names, tags, and discipline." I'm embarrassed that i read your advocacy of DAMS and missed your essential point. 🙏🏼 Weird how poorly I read your piece. I did have a bit of wine. But regardless, Apologies.
No problem Mark. It happens to us all. It must have been a good vintage!
This was particularly bad. And now that i am starting to remember, it was more than just wine.
Friends don't let friends drink-and-Substack!