Workflow - File Names

Covey

Moving on with my workflow project and many thanks for all the assistance so far.

What do people do with file names?

Do you keep the original in camera names? Is there any advantage/disadvantage in this? What happens for instance after shot 9999?

Do you re-name and if so why? Any tips for naming conventions.

Bearing in mind I will compehensively tag each file, so I shouldn't need file names to find files, I hope.

Thanks again.

T.

Paulw

If you're breaking down by year/month/event then the actual filename is not all that important.

I keep in in-camera filename. I've had duplicate filename (two camera bodies), so then separate by camera (eg e:\2008\01\horses\40d and e:\2008\01\horses\20d )

After your camera goes to 9999, it goes back to 0000, and you start again. That shouldn't cause a problem for your workflow/structure.

rymus

I leave original filenames intact. Only change them when exporting because to suit filing & tracking system of who I do most of my work for.

Hugh_C

I keep the original filename but add a prefix of year-month-day which looks like:

2007-06-23_DSC_0395.NEF

Then I store them all in month folders - 12 of 'em per year (no!)

HUghC

nilhg

Renaming files is IMHO an import/export thing. I import RAW files into LR with the original file names, which lets me check that all the files are there, in the correct sequence, ect. When I export jpegs to the web or for printing or to give to friends then I rename depending on the needs of the job.

Imported RAW files should not really need to be renamed I think, better to concentrate on tagging with relevant keywords.

jlang

I leave the sequential numbers from the camera, and file them in directories by date.