Where do you keep your photos? This simple question will have a much more complicated answer. Multiple micro SD-cards, memory sticks, cloud services, your new laptop, and an old PC – the list can go on and on. And the worst of it is the amount of time you spend to find the necessary image. If you think something’s gotta give and need a system, these tips can help you create one. You’ll also find some software advice here – because it plays the ultimate part in organizing the archive.
Tip #1. Set the date and time on your camera correctly
The wrong date set on your camera causes chaos in your photo collection and makes sorting pictures harder. If you’ve been putting that off for far too long, it will take you much time to organize them. There will be fewer difficulties if you take pictures with your phone. But always check the date on your camera before shooting – just in case.
Tip #2. Find photo managing software
A convenient photo viewer plays a crucial role in systematizing your archives. But what to choose? The default apps may not have the functions you need, like the one on Windows. So if you’re not completely satisfied with it, there are plenty of alternatives. However, the Photos app on Mac OS is equipped with all the necessary tools and may be of great help.
Tip #3. Create a system of sorting
Once you’ve decided on the photo manager, you need to think of a system to sort your pictures. Most of the tools can automatically organize files by date or geolocation. Other applications enable you to batch-rename your files, detect people, and add personal tags. A quick tip: create a system of naming your photos too. For example, include the date and place in the file name.
Tip #4. Delete unnecessary photos
While some photos may be worth using and editing, others take up your storage space. Really bad shots, duplicates, and other unwanted images should be deleted right off the bat. There are really few cases when you need ten slightly different copies of the same picture. Photo viewers can help identify similar photos and help you choose the best image of the series.
Tip #5. Separate edited and unedited pictures
There are several ways to deal with this. First, you can create subfolders for edited pictures in each folder. Second, you can make a separate folder just for photos you’ve enhanced. And finally, you can use photo managers to sort such images. For example, iCloud Photos lets you hide or show modified pics, so you don’t need to create extra albums or folders.
Tip #6. Create backup copies
Putting all your eggs in one basket never works. If your smartphone or computer breaks, you will lose everything at once. That’s why it’s important to create backup copies of your archive and keep it in another place. This is where cloud services come in handy, one of the most famous is Google Photo. You can store up to 15Gb of data for free and buy extra space if you need it.
Tip #7. Update your collection regularly
If you take photos almost every day, sooner or later, they will use up all of the space in your phone or memory card. Make a rule to regularly upload all the photos to your computer and sort them out. It doesn’t have to be often – once a month is enough. However, if you are a professional photographer, it’s better to organize pictures after every photo shoot. If you use different devices to take and store photos, you can use Dropbox to always have access to them, regardless of the platform.
Maintaining a routine of organizing photos will help you keep them in order. It also makes it faster to find the right image and saves you a lot of disk space. Hopefully, these tips will be effective for you and bring some kind of system to your photo collection.
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