Mastering your digital workflow: Import and Backup
In this industry, we struggle on a daily basis to maintain a fail-safe digital workflow. This is a crucial point in your business, and you need to consider a few of these guidelines when storing your images.
Whether or not you shoot weddings, you are collecting thousands of images that need to be accessible and stored long-term. First, how are you getting these images onto your computer? Are you using any software at all, or just dragging and dropping images from your card reader to a folder on the desktop? If you do import with software, is there a primary and secondary option for backup? If you are thinking that backup is for after you import and edit, you have to reconsider that as a viable option. If you are thinking about these things but haven’t put in place a practical workflow, this article will give you the tools to do so.
Let’s start with your memory cards.
So you are sitting at your desk with a pile of SD or CF cards and wondering what to do. For Mac users, if you have been using iPhoto to import your images and want to continue working in the photography business without data errors, you need to make a change. Stop using this Apple default software, and get serious about your workflow. Starting with hardware, I suggest getting a multibay card reader like the Lexar Professional Workflow HR1, which is for USB 3.0 connection, or wait for the HR2, which has Thunderbolt 2. The key to a successful multicard import is the software you are running.
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