Organizing still photos at DVinfo.net

Tony Hall · January 9th, 2005, 03:40 AM

I just started using Portfolio to organize my still photos. I find it challenging to sort a mixture of snapshots and more thought out pictures into categories. What kind of categories do you use for organizing your pictures?

Ken Tanaka · January 10th, 2005, 12:17 PM

Hello Tony,
So much technical information is harvested from digital images' EXIF data during cataloging that little is left for you to assign, or so it sometimes seems.

Key-wording / key-phrasing is the main user-assignable method for relocating material in Portfolio. (I use iView's MediaPro, a similar cataloging system.) I chose a very simple system based on content. In doing so I considered that there would already be an implicit organizational structure in place; the location of the source images. So I mainly key-worded according to the main subject and then by the setting (ex: day, night, etc.)

Off-topic: If you've not already committed to purchasing Portfolio I recommend that you also look at iView's MediaPro. I was very disappointed by Portfolio for a number of reasons and have been delighted by MediaPro. It's a far superior product in my experience.

Aaron Koolen · January 10th, 2005, 01:23 PM

I've been looking for some photo management software too. I use Windows, and I've found Picasa to be pretty damned good - and it's free. What I like about it, is that it's very slick, and intuitive to use. Check it out at picasa.com (Also available through Google's tools), of course I don't know if you're Windows or not.

I don't think iView MediaPro offers a downloadable demo, which seems to be a slight oversight on their part - please correct me if I'm wrong here.

Aaron

Tony Hall · January 10th, 2005, 01:42 PM

I like Portfolio alot so far. Between keywording and being able to search EXIF info and creating a master keywords list and categorizing your pictures... I don't know how you could be more organized. The only problem that I have is the subjective process of categorizing my photos for organization. Sure, I can keyword them all, but it just doesn't seem right to have a bunch of snapshots mixed in among my more artistic photos.

The hard part is just coming up with the right category structure that makes sense and is easy to navigate. Things like "hmm... should I put my 'tombstones' category under 'achitectural' or 'landscape'" can have me scratching my head for hours.

Ken Tanaka · January 10th, 2005, 01:49 PM

<<<-- Originally posted by Aaron Koolen : I don't think iView MediaPro offers a downloadable demo, which seems to be a slight oversight on their part - please correct me if I'm wrong here.
Aaron -->>>

You stand corrected.

Aaron Koolen · January 10th, 2005, 02:07 PM

Just downloaded portfolio, and I don't like the interface. Most photo catalog interfaces look so old school and clunky. Porfolio is that. Try picasa and you'll see what I mean.

Ken, thanks for that. I was too hasty and didn't read past the first sentence ;) Downloading now.

Aaron

Tony Hall · January 11th, 2005, 08:07 AM

I tried Portfolio first and didn't like it... of course it's a good deal for free.

Emre Safak · January 13th, 2005, 11:09 PM

I adore iMatch.

Brian Kennedy · January 26th, 2005, 11:30 PM

I'm a big fan of IMatch, too. It works great, and the hierarchal categories are very intuitive.

Tony Hall · February 1st, 2005, 02:44 PM

<<<-- Originally posted by Tony Hall : I tried Portfolio first and didn't like it... of course it's a good deal for free. -->>>

Oops, I meant Picassa

January 9th, 2005, 03:40 AM	#1
Tony Hall Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: springfield, OH Posts: 344	Organizing still photos I just started using Portfolio to organize my still photos. I find it challenging to sort a mixture of snapshots and more thought out pictures into categories. What kind of categories do you use for organizing your pictures? __________________ Tony "Good taste is the enemy of creativity" - Picasso Blog: http://www.tonyhall.name

January 10th, 2005, 12:17 PM	#2
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Hello Tony, So much technical information is harvested from digital images' EXIF data during cataloging that little is left for you to assign, or so it sometimes seems. Key-wording / key-phrasing is the main user-assignable method for relocating material in Portfolio. (I use iView's MediaPro, a similar cataloging system.) I chose a very simple system based on content. In doing so I considered that there would already be an implicit organizational structure in place; the location of the source images. So I mainly key-worded according to the main subject and then by the setting (ex: day, night, etc.) Off-topic: If you've not already committed to purchasing Portfolio I recommend that you also look at iView's MediaPro. I was very disappointed by Portfolio for a number of reasons and have been delighted by MediaPro. It's a far superior product in my experience. __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

January 10th, 2005, 01:23 PM	#3
Aaron Koolen Trustee Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 1,727	I've been looking for some photo management software too. I use Windows, and I've found Picasa to be pretty damned good - and it's free. What I like about it, is that it's very slick, and intuitive to use. Check it out at picasa.com (Also available through Google's tools), of course I don't know if you're Windows or not. I don't think iView MediaPro offers a downloadable demo, which seems to be a slight oversight on their part - please correct me if I'm wrong here. Aaron __________________ My Website Meat Free Media

January 10th, 2005, 01:42 PM	#4
Tony Hall Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: springfield, OH Posts: 344	I like Portfolio alot so far. Between keywording and being able to search EXIF info and creating a master keywords list and categorizing your pictures... I don't know how you could be more organized. The only problem that I have is the subjective process of categorizing my photos for organization. Sure, I can keyword them all, but it just doesn't seem right to have a bunch of snapshots mixed in among my more artistic photos. The hard part is just coming up with the right category structure that makes sense and is easy to navigate. Things like "hmm... should I put my 'tombstones' category under 'achitectural' or 'landscape'" can have me scratching my head for hours. __________________ Tony "Good taste is the enemy of creativity" - Picasso Blog: http://www.tonyhall.name

January 10th, 2005, 01:49 PM	#5
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	<<<-- Originally posted by Aaron Koolen : I don't think iView MediaPro offers a downloadable demo, which seems to be a slight oversight on their part - please correct me if I'm wrong here. Aaron -->>> You stand corrected. __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

January 10th, 2005, 02:07 PM	#6
Aaron Koolen Trustee Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 1,727	Just downloaded portfolio, and I don't like the interface. Most photo catalog interfaces look so old school and clunky. Porfolio is that. Try picasa and you'll see what I mean. Ken, thanks for that. I was too hasty and didn't read past the first sentence ;) Downloading now. Aaron __________________ My Website Meat Free Media

January 11th, 2005, 08:07 AM	#7
Tony Hall Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: springfield, OH Posts: 344	I tried Portfolio first and didn't like it... of course it's a good deal for free. __________________ Tony "Good taste is the enemy of creativity" - Picasso Blog: http://www.tonyhall.name

January 13th, 2005, 11:09 PM	#8
Emre Safak Trustee Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brookline, MA Posts: 1,447	I adore iMatch.

January 26th, 2005, 11:30 PM	#9
Brian Kennedy Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Washington DC Posts: 126	I'm a big fan of IMatch, too. It works great, and the hierarchal categories are very intuitive. __________________ Brian Kennedy

February 1st, 2005, 02:44 PM	#10
Tony Hall Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: springfield, OH Posts: 344	<<<-- Originally posted by Tony Hall : I tried Portfolio first and didn't like it... of course it's a good deal for free. -->>> Oops, I meant Picassa __________________ Tony "Good taste is the enemy of creativity" - Picasso Blog: http://www.tonyhall.name