Renaming files - Do you or don't you?

[canoli]

I've been reluctant to rename my raw files. I realize the original file name is stored in the Raw Data in File Info (in Adobe) forever, so maybe I'm being silly.


I guess I worry that, since I take so many photos of the same thing - the GWB, the Hudson River, street scenes around Manhattan - I worry that all my file names will look the same.


I import shoots into directories that are named by date and a one or two-word description. - year-month-day-descriptor - so I can see Hudson River images from March 2008 very easily.


It's been working so far, but every book I read tells me to import and rename. No author ever recommends keeping the original file name.


What is your scheme when it comes to importing / renaming / organizing your photos?


Thanks Everyone, for any thoughts you'd like to share.

[Jarhead5811]

I tried to rename them appropriatly, even with the date in the file name but found it took too long. Now, I just keep the file name from the camera. I plan to tag them with the appropriate data of who's in the picture and location but haven't even started.

[Sean Setters]

Here's how I organize my images--First, I create a folder named for the day of the shoot with a short description following that. For example:


2009-08-01 Amy Engagement


By putting the year first, the folders are organized according to when they were taken. After creating the folders, I create subfolders like RAW, PS (photoshopped), COLOR, BEST, etc.


It's not a perfect system, but as long as I can remember a roundabout time I took the shots, then the original isn't hard to find.

[Bob]

<span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;"]
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"]<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"]You have to think how you will find a specific image without two photos having the same name.<o:p></o:p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"]<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"]I rename each file with names of key persons, things, places, dates and the last 4 digits of the raw file.<o:p></o:p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"]<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"]i.e. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"]Jill Mammoth Hot Springs Yellowstone WY 1121 8-2-09.<o:p></o:p>[/b]
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"]<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"]With this form of file naming I can search for people or things or places or dates, while have multi photos of exactly the same image.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"] You can also move images in to a mixed date folder if you desire, (For example, a two week vacation of Yellowstone).<o:p></o:p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"]<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"]After you collect tens of thousands of images you can find the subset you are looking for quickly while having a notation of what the image is. 20 years later you will need the notation.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"]<o:p></o:p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"]

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"]

[Rodger]

My (imperfect) way of organization is this:


Since I keep a picture a day blog, I find it easy to make a folder for every day. I.e. [7-09-09]


Recently I started being able to do actual shoots for "clients". When that is the case, I dispose of the folder named by date method and use the subject's name. Then I'll put sub folders in after that. [Chris CD Cover] --&gt; [test shots], [check 3 (not used)], etc.


The only renaming of files I do is after I edit a file. I will tag [edit1] on the end. [IMG_3453edit1.jpg]. If I need a print size specific shot, I will do [IMG_3453edit1 8x10].


This seems to work for me right now. although finding certain files from long ago can be a pain sometimes.

[Ehcalum]

I'm always naming/renaming files. I use Breeze Browser and Downloader Pro. My format is generally: shoot id number or shoot name-MMDDYY-frame number-camera name.


1049-013009-0132-AGC.jpg.

[Chuck Lee]

<span style="font-size: 12pt; color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"]

<p class="MsoNormal"]<span style="font-size: 12pt; color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"]You have to think how you will find a specific image without two photos having the same name.









Bob, I'm sure I have at least 4-5 sets of images with the same name. But...............


I organize similar to Sean. My wife organizes her photos the same way. We own and operatethree cameras.


When I donwload my images from my CF card I create a folder Date-Subject and copy the files into that folder. If there are images from more than one shoot then I create how many ever folders I need. My syntax is like this: 080309-ForumPhotos.


Once the Raws are moved from the card to the hardrive I process with Silkypix and develop to jpeg. I delete any useless raws before exiting Silkypix. The jpeg quality I develop with is based on my workflow. If the images are low ISO and clean I'll apply a USM during development and save a 90% quality jpeg.I'm done with those. If the photos are High ISO (800 and up) I usually develop at 100%,batch noise reduction with Neat Image save@100%, then batch sharpen with Irfanview save@90%. Anything that needs special attention gets saved at 100% no sharp and post processed with CS3.


Once development with SilkyPix is done Icopy that folder and all raw datato a backup drive leaving only the jpgs on my main drive. That folder gets moved into a annual folder in the Photo directory. i.e. Photo/2009/080309-ForumPhotos


I use Picasa 3 as my browser and can quickly find anything based on when it was shot. Sometimes, I have to use my eyes to find what I'm looking for because I don't remember the exact date I took it. Never-the-less, it doesn't take very long to find it. the pickier I become as a photographer the more streamline my image gallery becomes. I also try to reduce the size of those images that will never be printed.


I've never had an issue with recurring file names. IfI want to rework a photo fromraw that was taken a year agoI have no problemmatching it.


I started organizing our images like this in 2004 and it has worked extremely well.

[canoli]

Thank you guys! Good suggestions, interesting how many different schemes, just in the 5 or 6 responses.


No one has said "always rename your files" so I guess I'll keep my current system - directories by date and description [year_month_day_description] and then files with keywords. The only hard part is disciplining myself to enter the keywords.


I really wish Bridge had a histogram display...I like ACR for converting RAW files but I hate having to open it every time just to see a histogram. I like DxPro even better but I'm not sure it supports the sidecar files from Bridge (I think that's where all the meta data resides, in those sidecar files).


Thanks again!

[Ehcalum]

BreezeBrowser is really good bang for buck, and moreso if bundled with DL Pro. has histograms, proofing, webpage generation, watermarking and good naming/sorting capability. Also shows focus points on the image, and all the exif data you could wish for.

[piiooo]

Here's how I organize my images--First, I create a folder named for the day of the shoot with a short description following that. For example:


2009-08-01 Amy Engagement


By putting the year first, the folders are organized according to when they were taken.



That is EXACTLY what I do. I have no problem finding stuff I need.


After I copy the files into my folder I group them by file type and separate jpegs, raws, photoshops etc. I don't change file names unless I have multiple files of the same type and name.

[SupraSonic]

I do after post production

[ShutterbugJohan]

I used to. Don't have time anymore. :-)

[lculpin]

No clue why I've never thought to put the date in front before, I'm off to rename a whole wackload of folders right now... :P


I usually make two subfolders for each shoot/day/location/whatever, one called Originals and the other Output, and once I've gone through and marked my keepers and made any basic tweaks or adjustments I'll get Lightroom to do a rename for me into the Output folder. I NEVER rename my originals though... one of the ways I know it's the original ;)

[Dumien]

I don't rename the RAWs, nor do I rename the JPGs, except for the DPP automatic thing that changes the name from IMG_ to DPP_ ... I keep both RAWs and JPGs in the same folder, named with the date I took the pictures...


If it's not the usual stuff (me going around taking pictures) I put an underscore and add one or two words of description...


it's worked so far...


oh, and everything is back-upped on a 1TB Maxtor USB (AC powered) external hard drive...which automatically backups everything every other day =)


Andy

[Mark Elberson]

<span style="font-size: 9pt; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana;"]I have the <span style="font-family: Verdana;"]EOS Utility setup to automatically create a folder in this format "yyyy-mm-dd" when I upload from my camera. I like this because it enables me to sort by date. Like Sean I also then add a brief description such as "2009-08-04 <st1:place w:st="on"]<st1:placename w:st="on"]Brandywine</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on"]Park</st1:placetype></st1:place>". I then create a sub-folder named "RAW" where I dump all of the RAW files that I actually want to keep. I rename my RAW files with a time stamp (done in DPP) with this format "yyyy-mm-dd_hh-mm-ss". I like to do this so that I can also sort my images by the time they were taken. When I convert to jpeg I retain the same name as the RAW file.<o:p></o:p>


<span style="font-size: 9pt; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana;"]I also use Picasa for viewing my jpeg files once I have processed the RAWs.

[Sean Setters]

<span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana; color: #000000;"]


<span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana; color: #000000;"]I also use Picasa for viewing my jpeg files once I have processed the RAWs.
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I was wanting an alternative for viewing RAW files on my netbook and tried Picasa. However, Picasa would do an auto-correction when viewing the files (which was completely counter-productive). It would lighten darker images, and darken lighter ones. I could find no way to turn off this feature. It made the program completely useless for me as I couldn't judge exposure using different settings.

[Mark Elberson]

I was wanting an alternative for viewing RAW files on my netbook and tried Picasa. However, Picasa would do an auto-correction when viewing the files (which was completely counter-productive). It would lighten darker images, and darken lighter ones. I could find no way to turn off this feature. It made the program completely useless for me as I couldn't judge exposure using different settings.
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I only use Picasa for viewing jpeg files. I turned off the capablility for viewing RAW files in the preferences. I did this because it would show duplicate images since I keep both a RAW file and a jpeg. I didn't realize that it automatically "corrected" the RAW image for viewing though. I guess it's good that I turned viewing RAW files off! I use DPP for viewing RAW files.

[Chuck Lee]

I was wanting an alternative for viewing RAW files on my netbook and tried Picasa. However, Picasa would do an auto-correction when viewing the files


I'm with Mark E. I turn off *.raw as one of the supported file types in Picasa and use Silkypix.


Interestingly enough, "Irfanview Thumbnails" acts as a raw viewer (one con is that it doesn't auto rotate)


Also, Picasa can sometimes be used with pretty good results: see here ("/forums/t/1667.aspx?PageIndex=2)


Obviously, DPP and Adobe Bridge can be used in the same way.


But man, I've got to hand it to Google, Picasa is a nice viewer/organizer/editor. The new filtered black and whitetool in Picasa3 is very well done.

[lculpin]

Picasa has grown into something that's actually pretty darned powerful considering where it started and what it's intended use is... oh, and the fact that it's free :|


I was actually really happy when it finally came over to Mac, I don't really use it very often but it does have a couple cool features.

[Maleko]

Majority of my RW file sget deleted once I'm happy with my final output. Some Raws like for events, weddings etc I do store!
They just take up WAY to much space for the amount of photos you end up taking, so unless there important, they go.


All my files get stored like this:


Year &gt; Event Name &gt; File Name With date picture taken


e.g.


2009 &gt; Spain &gt; 160409_163457


If I have 2 visits to the same place in one year:


2009 &gt; Spain &gt; April &gt; 160409_163457
2009 &gt; Spain &gt; June &gt; 210609_112132

(yes those dates are non US format, which doesnt ever matter unless the photos go across 2 seperate months - thats us british for you! lol)


Each year you then start a new folder etc, makes it easier for me to find photos then.
Also, you will never have duplicate file names - except in the event of a series of high speed photo burst, then you have a (1), (2) at the end of each file, so still works!
I don't use any photo viewing software (like Picasa for Live Photo Gallery), I prefer to view them by folder, I know what and where I'm lookign for it then.

Renaming files (including raw and .xmp files) is really really easy with Adobe Bridge.