Selecting Selects ... how do you do it?

[KirbyKrieger]

Hi,

Any suggestions on a rigorous system of tracking photos as they move through the progression from upload to final development?  I've experimented w. LR3b and Ap3, and a comprehensive ambiguity-free system eludes me.  Mostly, I'm trying to group similar photos to chose the best one of that shot, then selecting which ones to develop, then tracking which are developed, which need more attention, and which are still undeveloped.  Cropped versions (for my work I make a few details of some shots) add to the complexity.  Just as a rough outline, I'm trying to effect this:
[blockquote].Shoot
.Upload
.Group into "Shoots" (I'm using "shoot" to mean a bunch of thematically linked photos taken during one photography session).
.Apply keywords to photos.  Mark keyworded shots (or, preferably, Shoots) as "keywording done".
.Apply keywords and or captions to Shoots (I find this very helpful for maintaining order and finding what I'm looking for.)
.Within a group, make sub-groups of multiple shots of the same thing (e.g.: bracketed shots, or very minor variations of the same thing -- any set of photos from which I know I will be interested in only one).
.Mark the best shot within each of the sub-groups.  This requires seeing the photos side by side by side by side.
.From the "best of the sub-groups" and the the other shots in the Session select the ones to be developed.
.Indicate which ones have been developed, are being developed (didn't have time to finish), or are developed.  Additionally, mark some shots for a different development (and then track that development).
.Select among the developed shots the ones to print or otherwise promote.
.Keep a dynamic portfolio of selected developed photographs.[/blockquote]

My goal is to be able to open Lr3b or Ap3 at any time and be able to get some work done, either keywording un-keyworded shots, developing shots marked for development, or picking among shots those for the next stage in my workflow.  I'm adept at keywording.  The "only one of these" requirement of color tags always trips me up.  I like using flags of some sort (I have used keywords for this) to create ad-hoc groups.  I would like to keep track of my reactions to photos, separate from my overall rating (I need two ranges of ratings: shots I like personally, and shots I'm interested in pursuing professionally).  I also have collections of other people's artwork, separate from my own shots (I think I will sequester these in separate libraries so I can effectively rate them without having to exclude them from my work).  I need a speedy, leak-proof system of annotating my photos.

I am open to any workflow tips and suggestions, and am genuinely interested in how others are using the current tools to stay on top of their image collections.

Thanks!

[neile]

You might try downloading and watching "The Luminous Landscape Guide to Asset Management", from http://www.luminous-landscape.com/videos/wamp.shtml. Sounds like what you are after and what that video tutorial covers is pretty similar.

Neil

[Sigi]

Hello Kirby,

I agree with Neil, this video is a big help. In addition I highly recommend a book from Peter Krogh called "The DAM book". You can also have a look at his website: http://www.thedambook.com/

Siegfried

[JRSmit]

Hi,

Any suggestions on a rigorous system of tracking photos as they move through the progression from upload to final development?  I've experimented w. LR3b and Ap3, and a comprehensive ambiguity-free system eludes me.  Mostly, I'm trying to group similar photos to chose the best one of that shot, then selecting which ones to develop, then tracking which are developed, which need more attention, and which are still undeveloped.  Cropped versions (for my work I make a few details of some shots) add to the complexity.  Just as a rough outline, I'm trying to effect this:
[blockquote].Shoot
.Upload
.Group into "Shoots" (I'm using "shoot" to mean a bunch of thematically linked photos taken during one photography session).
.Apply keywords to photos.  Mark keyworded shots (or, preferably, Shoots) as "keywording done".
.Apply keywords and or captions to Shoots (I find this very helpful for maintaining order and finding what I'm looking for.)
.Within a group, make sub-groups of multiple shots of the same thing (e.g.: bracketed shots, or very minor variations of the same thing -- any set of photos from which I know I will be interested in only one).
.Mark the best shot within each of the sub-groups.  This requires seeing the photos side by side by side by side.
.From the "best of the sub-groups" and the the other shots in the Session select the ones to be developed.
.Indicate which ones have been developed, are being developed (didn't have time to finish), or are developed.  Additionally, mark some shots for a different development (and then track that development).
.Select among the developed shots the ones to print or otherwise promote.
.Keep a dynamic portfolio of selected developed photographs.[/blockquote]

My goal is to be able to open Lr3b or Ap3 at any time and be able to get some work done, either keywording un-keyworded shots, developing shots marked for development, or picking among shots those for the next stage in my workflow.  I'm adept at keywording.  The "only one of these" requirement of color tags always trips me up.  I like using flags of some sort (I have used keywords for this) to create ad-hoc groups.  I would like to keep track of my reactions to photos, separate from my overall rating (I need two ranges of ratings: shots I like personally, and shots I'm interested in pursuing professionally).  I also have collections of other people's artwork, separate from my own shots (I think I will sequester these in separate libraries so I can effectively rate them without having to exclude them from my work).  I need a speedy, leak-proof system of annotating my photos.

I am open to any workflow tips and suggestions, and am genuinely interested in how others are using the current tools to stay on top of their image collections.

Thanks!

Kirby,

Check this paper: http://www.fromklicktokick.com/Content/Fro...-v10-Letter.pdf
From what i read in your way of working, i am sure you it provides some good food for thought to you.
It is a write-up of my way of working, and after listening to several photog's all more or less struggling with
a controlled workflow, i decided to put it on the web.

[KirbyKrieger]

Kirby,

Check this paper: http://www.fromklicktokick.com/Content/Fro...-v10-Letter.pdf
From what i read in your way of working, i am sure you it provides some good food for thought to you.
It is a write-up of my way of working, and after listening to several photog's all more or less struggling with
a controlled workflow, i decided to put it on the web.

Jan,

Thanks for the paper and the link.  Eagerly opening it now.  I have moved all my images to Aperture 3 because I preferred its DAM to Lightroom 3b1's, but I have much to learn and apply, and just glancing at the ToC is exciting.  I am seeking to answer the question you address:

"I noticed that like me, many photographers in the Netherlands and abroad, amateurs or pro's alike, are starting to realise they have a problem, but are struggling to get started and to persevere with a solution. The need boils down to:
•   What is an effective, efficient and simple image management strategy that provides control, and how to follow this through?
•   What to do with the already existing large amount of images?"

Exactly.

Kirby.

[RichardLechner]

You might try downloading and watching "The Luminous Landscape Guide to Asset Management", from http://www.luminous-landscape.com/videos/wamp.shtml. Sounds like what you are after and what that video tutorial covers is pretty similar.

Neil

+1 good advice...

[RichardLechner]

Hello Kirby,

I agree with Neil, this video is a big help. In addition I highly recommend a book from Peter Krogh called "The DAM book". You can also have a look at his website: http://www.thedambook.com/

Siegfried

+1 also good advice...