elnoralouisa Posted September 18, 2007 Share Posted September 18, 2007 I am still new to this and Senior, and family photography, and am trying to get a system down for computer work, etc. Just noticed last poster saying they were asking for photos after two years. I (of course :) have my photos backed up to CD, but how long do you actually keep them on your computer where they are easily at your fingertips for ordering? Do you have an ordering deadline for weddings or portraits? For DVD's that you provide with music and some of their pics, do you insist they get copies from you within a certain amount of time? (It seems Proshow Gold when you move the files, the DVD stuff is no longer available without some searching..???). Just trying to get organized......... Debbie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elnoralouisa Posted September 18, 2007 Author Share Posted September 18, 2007 Oh, please add to this. What is your usual 'promised' time to get DVD or pics to clients (the initial pics posted on website, etc). I am a 'weekend' photographer, not doing this as a full-time job. Is that just something included in a contract. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captjack Posted September 18, 2007 Share Posted September 18, 2007 I have a dedicated hard-drive for working files. If I think I will have orders from that job folder in the next couple of months I leave the master folder on the working hard-drive. If I don't expect anymore need of the folder in the near future I archive it to CD/DVD and it goes into my files with any and all paperwork/contracts and filed in my file cabinets (just like all of my (negatives/chromes) weddings, portraits, and commercial jobs back to 1975) All weddings are filed by date, portraits & commercial jobs are filed by name. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenPapai Posted September 18, 2007 Share Posted September 18, 2007 You should have two or three external hard drives for multiple backups. DVDs and CD-ROMs are too much of a big PIA to deal with anymore; external HDs are cheap! 400GB and higher and you can hook several up at once with Firewire. No need to throw anything away. There's no better method. Nothing's perfect but if you maintain duplicates of backups you'll be 99.999% fine as long as one of the backups is off site. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michelle_logan2 Posted September 18, 2007 Share Posted September 18, 2007 I back everything up to CD and file them away at home. I work off of a lap top and desk top. I keep events like weddings and other big events for a yr to two years. Other things like TFCD arrangements or smaller gigs I rid myself after 3 or so months. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfidaho Posted September 18, 2007 Share Posted September 18, 2007 I agree with Ken, but I use a program called MirrorFolder to give myself a cheap RAID, so that if one hard drive goes, the data is still there. MirrorFolder can selectively back things up based on file type, so I only back up the RAW and finished JPEGS. I keep data on the hard drive until I give the customer the high resolution digitals. For most of my contracts, that's two years after the event. Then I back up the RAW and JPEG files to double sided DVD (eight gigs per disk), and clear the customer from the hard drive system. The fact that the customer has the high resolution files means I'll probably never hear from them again, but I do save one copy just in case. Later, Paulsky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conraderb Posted September 19, 2007 Share Posted September 19, 2007 debbie - so far, i haven't thrown away any files. I used to backup to DVD, but that's a pain. I use external hard drives (actually, I bought two cases and buy the internal drives - they are usually noticeably cheaper). for $100 you can get 500 gigs!! every time I download a card, a copy goes on my main computer hard drive (my workspace), and a copy goes to each of my backup hard drives. this way, I always have three copies of every file before I delete the memory cards. when I need old files, I load them from my backup drives. when the backup drives are full, I slide them out and put new ones in the case - I shoot about 1500 gigs a year, so I do it about 3 times a year. it is not the cheapest option, but I sleep very well at night knowing that I have two copies of every file - and YES, I once lost an entire drive due to a formatting error, and it was nothing but a bit of an inconvenience to load up the other backup and copy files over again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
savagesax Posted September 19, 2007 Share Posted September 19, 2007 Been using exteral back ups for many years, but also have the new DVD system that holds 250 gbs of data on 1 disk. The dvd disks cost $10 now. They were $13. The exteral drives are 3, 500gb drives, 1 wth RAID, the rest not. This is the first year for the 250gb disks, so far no failures and they are a bit slow, so I run them at night. The externals are always off unless I want to copy weddings over to them. Lately I only use Western Digital, because Maxtar was bought out by Seagate. They seem to crash a lot and start clicking. This means they are fried ad I have to take them apart and fix them, HOURS of work. I don't have an ordering deadline because this past year I actually got 2 reorders from weddings back in the mid and early 90's. If you properly date the DVD's/ negs and use a decent file system you should be able to go right to them. A few years ago a brides husband died in a boating accident, needless to say I didn't charge her and she was so greatful I still had the negs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brane1 Posted September 19, 2007 Share Posted September 19, 2007 conrad 1500 gb per year thet's 1.000.000.000 photos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kio500 Posted September 19, 2007 Share Posted September 19, 2007 "The DAM Book, Digital Asset Management for Photographers" was suggested to me on this site after I had a similar question, and DAM, I don't know what I would've done without it! It's by Peter Krogh and I HIGHLY suggest it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blakeslade Posted September 19, 2007 Share Posted September 19, 2007 In my opinion a couple 250 GB external hard drives (depending on how much volume you are doing) is the best way to store and backup files, that way if you need them two years later just fire up that hard drive and your gold! Good Luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjogo Posted September 19, 2007 Share Posted September 19, 2007 We deliver the RAWs & jpegs in about a week --once the B&G have received them --we erase from our PC system. Keep a DVD for one year--and then toss that, also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimstrutz Posted September 20, 2007 Share Posted September 20, 2007 I keep the files on the computer's internal hard drive for a year. After that they are only on the external hard drives, but I have never deleted any. However, I make no promises that I will keep them at all. I do weddings only as a paying hobby, but I get the images to the couple within a week, usually less. I stay up late to do it though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ned1 Posted September 20, 2007 Share Posted September 20, 2007 I've heard of photographers getting calls for prints as much as 20 years after a wedding. Hate to scare you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
savagesax Posted September 20, 2007 Share Posted September 20, 2007 I second Edward, why throw them away? It's really NOT the money, but it sure is fun or perhaps nostalgic to see people from past weddings and look at how ones work has changed. DVD's and even negs take up very little room in a studio/house. It's hard to beat this new DVD that holds 250gbs of photos. For most people that one year of weddings all in one, two, or 3 dvd's! How much room does that take? I guess we all have our own ways of doing business and who's right or wrong doesn't really matter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjogo Posted September 20, 2007 Share Posted September 20, 2007 I have had those clients call -- 20+ years. We gave them a chance to purchase their negs > sorry if they refused the offer..they are history. That's why we only keep their negs or digital files~ for one year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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