Workflow for Digital Photographers

Getting Started -- Equipment Checklist

1. Camera
2. Lens if DSLR
3. Filters
   
4. Memory Cards -- formatted.  At least one spare.
   
5. Spare Batteries -- one or more spares.
6. Tripod
7. Flash or other lighting equipment
   

Getting Started -- Raw or JPEG or both

Taking Pictures

Digital Photo Storage

1. Your original images from the memory card is your negative. 
   
2. Transfer images from camera to computer
1. How often?  After every shoot or when memory card gets full?
   
2. Make at least two backups of all images.  It is not "If your media fails" but rather "When your media fails"
3. Backup methods -- a combination of methods is possible
   
1. Operating System's  File System
2. Organizer in Photoshop Elements
3. Adobe Lightroom
4. Picasa
   
3. Possible media
1. Computer hard drive.
1. Pros:  Pretty reliable.  Easy to access.
2. Cons:  Will last only as long as your computer.  Limited -- it will fill up sooner than you think.
2. Writable CDs
1. Pros:  Cheap.  Unlimited capacity. 
   
2. Cons:  With modern cameras may take many CDs.  Not as reliable unless you use archival CDs. 
   
3. Writable DVDs. 
   
1. Pros:  Inexpensive.  Unlimited capacity.
2. Not as reliable unless you use archival DVDs.
4. External hard drive.
1. Pros:  Each one has a large capacity, up to 750 Gb.  Pretty reliable.
2. Cons:  More expensive.  A lot of eggs in one basket.

Previewing your Image

1. Slide shows
1. Windows XP
2. The Bridge
3. Lightroom
4. Organizer
   
5. Third party slideshows
2. Browsers
1. The Bridge
2. Lightroom
3. Organizer

Processing your Image

1. What is the purpose of your photos?
1. Snapshots
2. Medium sized prints (8x10, 11x14)
3. Large sized prints (16x20 or larger)
4. Web or E-mail
   
2. Edit your image
3. Save your image
1. File Formats
1. Raw
2. JPEG
3. TIFF
4. PSD
5. DNG
2. Where to save -- same possibilities as saving from memory card.

Who will want your pictures after you are gone?