Database Storage?

[dc3843]

Hello all, new here, and really like what I'm seeing. My employer currently has about 2 TB worth of images stored on her servers right now. The problem is, when she goes to add an image to a book or wants a certain group of images, I'm going through 1000's of pictures finding what she needs. So I'm looking to implement a server based catalogue or filing system or database program that can handle all this and make my job a little easier. The cost isnt too important, so long as its good, and if we move servers we're able to take the program to the new one. Anyone have any suggestions on a good program to use? Thanks.

[Kalrog]

Your best bet is probably to go with something like lightroom or digiKam or aperture etc. Then you will not actually store the images in the DB, but you can store all sorts of metadata there and find what you need that way. Storing images actually in the DB is not a good idea (coming from a DBA).

[TXhummer2]

Lightroom, Picasa, DigiKam, Aperture, PicaJet, ULead all use their own indexing system without creating containers to keep the photos in.

1. Lock down where the originals will be kept.
2. Use any of the above to create indexes/catalogs using the most keywords. This is time consuming.
3. Try PicaJet free to see if it will speed up the process. Try the others free to see if they fit her need better.

Others

[dc3843]

Excellent! Thank you both very much! I'll start researching these

[LanceHaynie]

Originally Posted by Kalrog

Storing images actually in the DB is not a good idea (coming from a DBA).

+1, Lightroom is the best option IMHO

[stephenpinn]

You might want to look at Expressions Media 2 (available through Medium Format Camera Systems and Raw Converter Software). It is designed expressly for digital asset management on server platforms

[J Eddington]

Ok, question, how are any of those programs going to help him? Won't he still have to dig through 1,000 of images?

[contributor_M]

Originally Posted by J Eddington

Ok, question, how are any of those programs going to help him? Won't he still have to dig through 1,000 of images?

If he's using lightroom, the tough part would be setting everything up (not so much importing images, but adding all the metadata).

Afterwards, he would just have to enter in some key words and according to how he categorizes everything, pictures with said keywords would display.

[picman]

Get this book The DAM Book: Digital Asset Management for Photographers to give your self some background.
Also check out the forum on the site.

[stephenpinn]

Originally Posted by J Eddington

Ok, question, how are any of those programs going to help him? Won't he still have to dig through 1,000 of images?

A lot will depend on the product chosen. I like Media Expressoin because 1) it is server based and designed for multiple access. It will also allow some semblance of organization based on the existing EXIF data, allowing some basic sorting and organization. The they will be required to add Tags to help define the granularity they want in being able to locate images in the future.

The directory management ond organization of this product is quite unique, really worth taking a look at, some good video on youtube about it as well

[Gambit]

Originally Posted by picman

Get this book The DAM Book: Digital Asset Management for Photographers to give your self some background.
Also check out the forum on the site.

Hey, that looks like a great book! Thanks for the link.

[dc3843]

Thanks everyone for the choices! i'm working up some choices for her now, I'm thinking she'll like either lightroom or Expression Media, mainly cause it can be accessed across a network by multiple people. I'll keep you all posted on what we go with! Thanks.

[texxter]

Originally Posted by picman

Get this book The DAM Book: Digital Asset Management for Photographers to give your self some background.
Also check out the forum on the site.

+1 - metadata is critical.

[Bruce M. Morris]

Lightroom is NOT server compatible!! We found that out after we purchased it for work here. To verify this I even have asked no less than Scott Kelby, who confirmed that it is not set up for server usage.

[picman]

I haven't tried it and don't know how or if it works, but this was in David Ziser's blog awhile back:
Digital ProTalk: Technique Tuesday: Lightroom Jailbreak - Running Lightroom 3 On A Network