Have you lost some photos or videos with duplicate names thinking that they're the same file but come to find out that they're not after you deleted them? Have you taken thousands of photos and don't know where to begin organizing them? Are you really just not sure how to organize your photos? With all these devices that we have nowadays to take photos it can become quite tricky.
After staying an entire month in Japan, I'm sad to say that I have indeed lost some video files due to duplicate file names and thinking that they're the same file. I ended up deleting those files when I was in the process of uploading them to my computer and now they're gone forever. That said, I know how awful it feels when you've deleted a memory from your camera on accident. And if you travel a lot, then you know that your photos and videos are probably the best souvenirs you could bring back from your trip. So today, I'm gonna show you some tips on how to prevent this from happening so you don't lose those precious memories forever.
After staying an entire month in Japan, I'm sad to say that I have indeed lost some video files due to duplicate file names and thinking that they're the same file. I ended up deleting those files when I was in the process of uploading them to my computer and now they're gone forever. That said, I know how awful it feels when you've deleted a memory from your camera on accident. And if you travel a lot, then you know that your photos and videos are probably the best souvenirs you could bring back from your trip. So today, I'm gonna show you some tips on how to prevent this from happening so you don't lose those precious memories forever.
Step #1: Stay On Top of Managing Your Photos/Videos:
After each day is over, empty all of your files from your memory card onto your computer. I find that it's best to get them all organized while it's still fresh in your mind. Yeah, I get that you'll probably be really tired after all that walking around and sight seeing, but believe me, it will be worth the little extra effort so you don't have to think later on where you were after the trip is over .
I also recommend not cramming every single file into one folder. This is part of what lead to my despair of deleting memories that were not duplicate files. Instead, create a folder for each camera (if you're bringing more than one), then inside that folder, create another folder starting with Day One. If you want, you can also add the date to your folder. For example: Day One - 3.3.16. Also, if you want, you can add extra folders inside each day and label the location of where the photos/videos were taken. Remember to organize each location in order. I would recommend doing this same process for your video files as well.
I also recommend not cramming every single file into one folder. This is part of what lead to my despair of deleting memories that were not duplicate files. Instead, create a folder for each camera (if you're bringing more than one), then inside that folder, create another folder starting with Day One. If you want, you can also add the date to your folder. For example: Day One - 3.3.16. Also, if you want, you can add extra folders inside each day and label the location of where the photos/videos were taken. Remember to organize each location in order. I would recommend doing this same process for your video files as well.
By the end of your trip, it should look something like this:
If you don't remember the general location of where your photos were taken, there are GPS trackers for your camera that marks where your photo was taken. Even with the GPS tracker, I would still organize them in a folder with as much detail as you can.
Step #2: If You Have More Than One Camera With You, Don't Keep Switching SD Cards For Your Cameras:
Doing this may lead to duplicate file names. Make sure each camera has their own card and don't switch them. Once they're in that camera, they should stay with that camera because when cameras take photos, they all have their own file names numbered in order. So when when you switch cards, the camera will think it's a new card and it will start numbering from the beginning or from where it last left off in that card.
Step 3: Keep Original Files in Their Own Folder:
For example, I keep all the original files in the folder I copied them to, then I create a second folder inside the folder that the originals are placed and save the edited copies there. The reason I do this is because once I've edited a picture, the original time that the photo was taken will be modified. So I keep the original photo so I know when that photo was taken. Also, you never know when you want to go back and re-edit an original photo.
Step #4: Delete any duplicates, blurry, over exposed, etc photos:
Deleting photos is something I normally dislike doing. However, if you simply can't make out what the photo is, just delete it on your camera. If you delete the picture on your camera, it won't mess up the photo number order. Plus, there's no point in keeping a photo you can't figure out what it is. It's just taking up digital space wherever it's being stored. Make sure to delete any photos that have no chance of fixing up in Photoshop, Lightroom, or whatever program you use to edit your pictures.
Step #5: Back Up Your Photos:
After following Steps 1-2, it'd be a wise idea to copy all of your photos to your main computer once you've arrived home from your trip. If you want to be extra sure that your photos will never be gone, upload them to an online service and/or to an external hard drive. You can also save them on a CD and for your videos, you can put them on a DVD-R. It's always a good idea to have a hard copy made of your memories. You never know what could happen to them.
Google Drive is a great way to save your photos. It's free and you can upload as many photos as you want. You can also create as many accounts on google as you want. Just make sure you write down your email and password somewhere so you don't forget.
Flickr is another way to back up your pictures. People from around the world can share, favorite, and comment on your photos. Flickr also shows the date your photo was taken and what settings you used to take each photo.
Smugmug is apparently what the pros use. You get unlimited uploads and you can display the photos on a website. The only drawback is that it's not free. It's $5 a month bill for a basic plan. It's not bad but why pay for a service when there are free ones available? Personally, I don't use Smugmug. I use Google Drive and Flickr to back up my pictures.
And that's pretty much it! These steps can also be used for wherever you are in the world. Whether you're at home, at an activity in your home town, a friend's house, etc. After traveling and being a photographer for some time, I hope to apply these steps for my future travels and I hope you all will too. Hope this helps to whoever is reading this!
Step #2: If You Have More Than One Camera With You, Don't Keep Switching SD Cards For Your Cameras:
Doing this may lead to duplicate file names. Make sure each camera has their own card and don't switch them. Once they're in that camera, they should stay with that camera because when cameras take photos, they all have their own file names numbered in order. So when when you switch cards, the camera will think it's a new card and it will start numbering from the beginning or from where it last left off in that card.
Step 3: Keep Original Files in Their Own Folder:
For example, I keep all the original files in the folder I copied them to, then I create a second folder inside the folder that the originals are placed and save the edited copies there. The reason I do this is because once I've edited a picture, the original time that the photo was taken will be modified. So I keep the original photo so I know when that photo was taken. Also, you never know when you want to go back and re-edit an original photo.
Step #4: Delete any duplicates, blurry, over exposed, etc photos:
Deleting photos is something I normally dislike doing. However, if you simply can't make out what the photo is, just delete it on your camera. If you delete the picture on your camera, it won't mess up the photo number order. Plus, there's no point in keeping a photo you can't figure out what it is. It's just taking up digital space wherever it's being stored. Make sure to delete any photos that have no chance of fixing up in Photoshop, Lightroom, or whatever program you use to edit your pictures.
Step #5: Back Up Your Photos:
After following Steps 1-2, it'd be a wise idea to copy all of your photos to your main computer once you've arrived home from your trip. If you want to be extra sure that your photos will never be gone, upload them to an online service and/or to an external hard drive. You can also save them on a CD and for your videos, you can put them on a DVD-R. It's always a good idea to have a hard copy made of your memories. You never know what could happen to them.
Google Drive is a great way to save your photos. It's free and you can upload as many photos as you want. You can also create as many accounts on google as you want. Just make sure you write down your email and password somewhere so you don't forget.
Flickr is another way to back up your pictures. People from around the world can share, favorite, and comment on your photos. Flickr also shows the date your photo was taken and what settings you used to take each photo.
Smugmug is apparently what the pros use. You get unlimited uploads and you can display the photos on a website. The only drawback is that it's not free. It's $5 a month bill for a basic plan. It's not bad but why pay for a service when there are free ones available? Personally, I don't use Smugmug. I use Google Drive and Flickr to back up my pictures.
And that's pretty much it! These steps can also be used for wherever you are in the world. Whether you're at home, at an activity in your home town, a friend's house, etc. After traveling and being a photographer for some time, I hope to apply these steps for my future travels and I hope you all will too. Hope this helps to whoever is reading this!
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