My File Management System

[dmcantrell]

I rename all my files to YYYYMMDD_<index> (in Bridge).

For example, DSC_2345.NEF becomes 20110624_2345.NEF. In this way I can always tell by the file name what date it was shot. It also makes sorting easier (for me). If I process the file, it becomes 20110624_2345_c1_800.jpg meaning "year/month/date"_"index"_"color/bw""edit attempt"_"long-edge pixels".

Therefore, 20110624_2345_c1_800.jpg is image #2345 from 06/24/2011, processed in color, first attempt, saved at 800px longest dimension.

[ggeen]

^^ I do something similar. In my pictures folder I name a directory by year. Within that year, I create a directory index by date and project name. Example:

/Pictures/2011/20110704fireworks

Since I have two camera bodies, one set of files are named GG2_index.NEF for my D200 body and GG7_index.NEF for the D700 body.

Due to bad system admin practices, I lost most of my 2009 photos and implemented backups at several checkpoints. During the download process from the data card, a backup is automatically made in a separate location. I edit and score my source files and then create an archive at that point before converting anything to jpg for printing.

[Flores]

Will point out a non obvious benifit to organizeing via the file system : OS overhead will slow you down horribly once you pass a certain number of 'things' in a directory, esp with windows or mac OS... The system will try to generate a thumbnail and cache some details when you view the folder, which sucks if you have more than a few hundred images. Also, both major OS attempt to index everything on your system to speed up searches. More overhead. Yes, you can turn that off, but...

Breaking things into dirs helps keep all of that sane. File size is no factor with the directory number of files/ objects can cripple you.