I am going crazy

[ldelacruz]

I have 3 laptops and a desktop and a MAC Book Pro. I don't know why I have all this but I am going to narrow it down to 1 laptop, 1 500 gig external drive and then use an online backup service for the drive. I haven't done my homework on the online backup service but I have so much stuff, I really need to consolidate. I will eventually start using the MAC Book but I can't go out and buy the programs again. I am also going to start deleting pics that aren't up to par so I can save space. My RAW pics range from 14 to 28mb apiece. Below is my workflow:

1. Take the pics
2. Download all RAW files into lightroom. This will now be an external drive.
3. Sort through downloaded RAW files and delete the bad ones.
4. Edit the ones the customer picks and post process them.
5. Save the picks and the RAW files.
6. Delete everything else that is not used.

This sounds good to me on paper but is this the correct way? Is the external hard drive going to slow me down with read/write speed? Does anyone have experience using an online backup service? I know hard drives are cheap but I am trying to get rid of clutter. My local drive has only 50gigs free.

I am organizing everything now into:
1. Clients/2009/
2. Family/2009/
3. Friends/2009
4. Wildlife/2009
5. Sports/2009

Thanks for the help because I am starting to get a plethora of RAW files.

What is your workflow, backup process, what do you save locally, what do you backup and srchive, how do you manage clients, friends, family and misc RAW files? I would love to know your workflow process.

[ElanR]

Originally Posted by ldelacruz

"I was born a poor black child. I remember the days sitting on the porch with my family, singing and dancing down in Mississippi."

Can you name the movie the quote is from?

Steve Martin in "The Jerk." And when that shack of a house burned down, they used the funds he sent them over the years to build a 'bigger' house, a larger version of the same shack..

Btw, you can't go to Houston if you're already in Houston. So to answer your question: don't worry!

[carrbowl]

Sorry...can't answer your question!! But I have a question for you!!! Why do you download your RAW files directly into LR?

I have two external drives...download RAW and JPEG onto both and then just back up the LR and PP work on one drive.

[Cajungaltx]

Workflow:

1.) Shoot

2.) Connect camera - download RAW files to LR to 2 separate locations - using dates for folders. Then I duplicate that folder & files to a separate hard drive (this is my 'oops, the world ended on the other HD backup) I have 4 HD's in my pc - 2 1.5 TB, and 2 300GB's.

3.) Keyword files: Name of client, type of session, location of session (this is a KEY issue - it makes LR WAY more efficient for you to use - )

4.) Go through and rate the images. I delete anything x'd (rejected), 1's and 2's.

5.) I burn a copy of the remaining files to DVD. This is my backup copy in case something major happens. I delete the 2nd HD file after I've done this.

6.) I do 'soft edits' - lots of batch processing. I focus on a few for posting to fb/blog/etc for the 'preview'. These are usually my favorites. These get color coded - "red" for HOT!!!

7.) Meet with client - they select images to print.

8.) Finalize the edits on the images they select - order prints...and burn a copy of the 'final' images. I delete everything else - except the 'reds' from my system. These are the ones I show clients/post to portfolio... etc. I want them available.

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Hope it helps! Let me know if you've got any questions.

Cajungaltx added 1 Minutes and 19 Seconds later...Double Post Merged Below

Originally Posted by carrbowl

Sorry...can't answer your question!! But I have a question for you!!! Why do you download your RAW files directly into LR?

I have two external drives...download RAW and JPEG onto both and then just back up the LR and PP work on one drive.

What would you do other than download your RAW files directly into LR? I think I've read some folks load them into a folder instead... but it's the same difference I guess.

[bondarnes]

First, I shoot RAW and small jpeg simultaneously. The reason will be clear shortly.

1. I have a standalone DVD burner made by Delkin called BurnAway. I don't own any cards larger than 4G so a card will easily fit a DVD. The card goes from the camera to the burner where all files are archived to DVDs. To me this is the same as my developed negatives were when I shot film.

2. The archive DVD is put in one of my computers and the jpeg files are copied to a folder titled camera_jpeg inside a folder titled ClientLastName_SessionNumber. Then the archive DVD is returned to the client folder.

3. The jpeg files are renamed ClientLastName_CameraFileNumber and then resized smaller into another folder titled slideshow inside the client folder.

4. The resized images are edited down for client viewing and tweaked for exposure and color. These images are burned to a CD and given to the sales person handling the client viewing. For a wedding, these files would also be uploaded to our website.

5. After the Viewing/Order session. I put the archive DVD in the computer and copy all RAW files that the client ordered from. These are post processed and opened in PhotoShop for any retouching. These files are saved in a folder named Selections in the Client folder.

6. All folders are also saved to a 1TB external drive and to Carbonite online.

[Robin Binder]

Originally Posted by bondarnes

First, I shoot RAW and small jpeg simultaneously. The reason will be clear shortly.

1. I have a standalone DVD burner made by Delkin called BurnAway. I don't own any cards larger than 4G so a card will easily fit a DVD. The card goes from the camera to the burner where all files are archived to DVDs. To me this is the same as my developed negatives were when I shot film.

2. The archive DVD is put in one of my computers and the jpeg files are copied to a folder titled camera_jpeg inside a folder titled ClientLastName_SessionNumber. Then the archive DVD is returned to the client folder.

3. The jpeg files are renamed ClientLastName_CameraFileNumber and then resized smaller into another folder titled slideshow inside the client folder.

4. The resized images are edited down for client viewing and tweaked for exposure and color. These images are burned to a CD and given to the sales person handling the client viewing. For a wedding, these files would also be uploaded to our website.

5. After the Viewing/Order session. I put the archive DVD in the computer and copy all RAW files that the client ordered from. These are post processed and opened in PhotoShop for any retouching. These files are saved in a folder named Selections in the Client folder.

6. All folders are also saved to a 1TB external drive and to Carbonite online.

Amen; Carbonite online is the only way to go. All my web site are backuped to Carbonite online. Can't beat the cost.

[ldelacruz]

Thanks

[ldelacruz]

Originally Posted by bondarnes

First, I shoot RAW and small jpeg simultaneously. The reason will be clear shortly.

1. I have a standalone DVD burner made by Delkin called BurnAway. I don't own any cards larger than 4G so a card will easily fit a DVD. The card goes from the camera to the burner where all files are archived to DVDs. To me this is the same as my developed negatives were when I shot film.

2. The archive DVD is put in one of my computers and the jpeg files are copied to a folder titled camera_jpeg inside a folder titled ClientLastName_SessionNumber. Then the archive DVD is returned to the client folder.

3. The jpeg files are renamed ClientLastName_CameraFileNumber and then resized smaller into another folder titled slideshow inside the client folder.

4. The resized images are edited down for client viewing and tweaked for exposure and color. These images are burned to a CD and given to the sales person handling the client viewing. For a wedding, these files would also be uploaded to our website.

5. After the Viewing/Order session. I put the archive DVD in the computer and copy all RAW files that the client ordered from. These are post processed and opened in PhotoShop for any retouching. These files are saved in a folder named Selections in the Client folder.

6. All folders are also saved to a 1TB external drive and to Carbonite online.

Don,
That is an idea that I have not thought of. Use the small jpg to pick the images then only download the picked raw files. Thanks.

[tc95]

Lonnie,

Make sure and read all of the fine print with those online back-up places...a few of them state that pictures/video/music become public property or they have the rights to use them with-out your knowledge....

I would never trust a third party for my stuff....I usually keep everything on a network HD system....then back-up to an external HD...

Good

[ldelacruz]

Originally Posted by tc95

Lonnie,

Make sure and read all of the fine print with those online back-up places...a few of them state that pictures/video/music become public property or they have the rights to use them with-out your knowledge....

I would never trust a third party for my stuff....I usually keep everything on a network HD system....then back-up to an external HD...

Good

I have been reading that about Myspace, Google and Facebook. What losers!

[Angelo]

Lonnie, "I was born a poor black child. I remember the days sitting on the porch with my family, singing and dancing down in Mississippi."

Can you name the movie the quote is from?
-------------------------------------------------

Was it "Steve Martin" in the "Jerk"?

[ldelacruz]

Originally Posted by Angelo

Lonnie, "I was born a poor black child. I remember the days sitting on the porch with my family, singing and dancing down in Mississippi."

Can you name the movie the quote is from?
-------------------------------------------------

Was it "Steve Martin" in the "Jerk"?

Yes. You guys are killing me. I thought for sure it would be a hard guess.