THE IMPORTANCE OF WORKFLOW

I'm like most photographers out there. We tend to think more about just shooting, and getting the images and less about the the process to getting to the final finished photograph. And even less about the safety of our files along the way. Let's face it, we just expect our expensive equipment to work properly.
Most of the times (thankfully) it does, however like anything mechanical and mad-made, it's never a matter of 'if' but rather 'when' something will fail.

Well know photographer Chase Jarvis, recently posted a well constructed and thorough video detailing the workflow of his shoots, from the moment the image is capture in-camera to the final processed and delivered images to the client. I know this has probably been re-blogged a couple hundred times, but for those who haven't seen it, it's very interesting and worth a watch.



now for the average photographer, what Chase has there is obviously a bit of overkill and out of reach from a cost perspective. (I know memory is cheap, but I can't imaging how much his server set-up and all those HD's add up too)

The point here is that the security and back-up of your RAW data is extremely important. I am guilty myself of trusting that my computer will just work the next day, and that my images are pretty safe on my HD until I get around to doing a back-up copy. And luckily, I haven't had an issue yet where I have lost files. (touch wood)
The reality is, your workflow NEEDs to be carefully thought out. And you need to make sure you back-up your RAW data in at least 2 places or you are at risk of losing those images forever.

I know I'm going to be taking a closer look at my own workflow/backup procedure and evaluating if I'm taking the proper precautions with my data.

Here's some thoughts and suggestions on ways to make sure you images stay safe

• Use Smaller Memory Cards - in a day when cards are relatively cheap and offer up large amounts of storage.. it's much safer to use multiple smaller sized cards when doing a shoot, instead of one big card. At least if something happens, you still have some images safe on another card.

• Buy trusted brand name memory cards and back-up HDs - as tempting as it is to get those ebay knock-off specials, it's simply not worth the risk. Spend a bit more money for some peace of mind.

• Make it a habit of backing up your images as soon as your download them from the camera. Try to make sure it's on a separate HD or even to a DVD if possible. Store them somewhere safe.

• Keep a back-up copy off-site - This may not be possible for everyone, but keep another copy of everything on a seperate HD at a friends house, a safety deposit box, or even just in your car. In the horrible case of a fire or theft, you will have copies that are safe.

• Think before you shoot - the digital age has programmed us to think the number of photos we take doesn't matter, but let's face it. How many out of focus or badly composed images are sitting on your HD, that you will most likely never open again taking up valuable HD space? Sometimes we can avoid this right at the beginning, before we even hit the shutter. Don't miss the moment, but try to edit what you shoot before you shoot it.

• Find a naming and filing method that works for you. Being organized with your files is the best way to make backing up easier and automatic. Plus finding a particular fie later on will be much easier. Use tags, dates, and file names that make sense to you.

These are just a few suggestions that I have. If anyone has any to add, please feel free to post them in the comments!