Better organization for files and computers?

[TimHughes]

Any suggestions for better organization of files and computers?

I'm using a 2009 iMac, 2013 MBP, with NAS and Lacie Rugged external drive and mostly photographs, some video. I upgraded my iMac wtih 12GB RAM, 500GB SSD + 3TB HD and the NAS has 3TB. Basic problem is are that the setup has evolved over the past couple of years with little organization and the iMac and NAS drives are full, so I am trying to put a plan together to clean up the disc of all the photos not needed and that will probably free up 1-2TB, and implement a workflow to maintain everything in a better way. In addition the iMac is painfully slow for video editing and very slow for lightroom in comparison with the MBP.

Right now, all the photos are in a single LR catalog on the iMac, backed up with timemachine to the NAS. When I'm traveling I create new catalogs on the MBP using the Lacie external drive, then import these to the iMac on return. I have not done a good job on deleting rejects and photos not used and this is clogging up the drives and need to work on that.

As the MBP is so much faster I am wondering whether it would be better to get a mini DVI cable so I can use the iMac basically as a screen for the MBP for photo and video editing purposes. I guess that would mean moving the photos somewhere else e.g. the NAS drive, meaning another solution needed for backup.

I'm hoping a solution with what I have is possible, if not investing in some upgrades is possible, I just want to have a clear plan before I start on that.

Suggestions welcome

 

[Oliver Pohlmann]

I faced a similar situation recently. 3TB PC hard drive and 3TB NAS. Both full.

My photos, RAW files, videos and LR catalogs are stored by year, 2010 up to 2017. Firstly I bought an additional 3TB PC hard drive to future proof my PC storage. I then stopped syncing everything prior to 2017 to my NAS (and deleted the files from the NAS) and instead bought an external hard drive to archive all my 2010-2016 files on to. This freed up 2TB on my NAS. It also means I can store this external hard drive off site.

Therefore my PC only backs up current year files to the NAS with all older photos, RAW files, videos and LR catalogs held on the PC and the external drive only.

Each year I will then archive the previous year's files to the external hard drive and stop syncing them to the NAS.

 

[Kodiak Qc]

Any suggestions for better organization of files and computers?

So many of my students have similar problems at the
beginning caused very often by the same nasty habits.

• Worst of all, is the library or catalogue based workflow
  — not only more venerable to file corruption but reaching
  in a very short time to GINORMOUS size!
  I always suggest and recommend to work in a sessions
  based workflow
  
• If one uses a proper converter, there is no need to keep
  RAWs + TIFFs + JPGs on your drive! After conversion
  and publication, my RAWs are kept on your drive — in a
  year based architecture and the JPGs, in high quality, go
  on my iPad in theme folders and used as my portfolio.
  Only RAWs are backed up as JPGs are so easy to publish
  and deleted after they reach their final destination / use.

 

[Chappers]

Until late last year I had a similar set up. To be honest if it wasn't for the increased video work I think I would still be uing the 2009 iMac. ( its a late 2015 now )
You don't say what spec the iMac is. But if it is a late 2009 model with quad processors, then I would say it would be fine. Yes the MacBook pro is faster , usually on output rendering, but nothing I would say you can't live with. Your use of the MBP for "field" work is exactly what I've done for years. If you want to use the iMac screen as a monitor you'll need a mini display cable. This is different from a thunderbolt cable, although it looks the same. I think Belkin still have them but not Apple..

Personally I'd invest time in declogging your drives rather than money in upgrades. You'll probably get a bigger speed boost from that

 

[TimHughes]

I faced a similar situation recently. 3TB PC hard drive and 3TB NAS. Both full.

My photos, RAW files, videos and LR catalogs are stored by year, 2010 up to 2017. Firstly I bought an additional 3TB PC hard drive to future proof my PC storage. I then stopped syncing everything prior to 2017 to my NAS (and deleted the files from the NAS) and instead bought an external hard drive to archive all my 2010-2016 files on to. This freed up 2TB on my NAS. It also means I can store this external hard drive off site.

Therefore my PC only backs up current year files to the NAS with all older photos, RAW files, videos and LR catalogs held on the PC and the external drive only.

Each year I will then archive the previous year's files to the external hard drive and stop syncing them to the NAS.

Thanks Oliver, I'll need to revisit backup approach too.

So many of my students have similar problems at the
beginning caused very often by the same nasty habits.

• Worst of all, is the library or catalogue based workflow
  — not only more venerable to file corruption but reaching
  in a very short time to GINORMOUS size!
  I always suggest and recommend to work in a sessions
  based workflow
• If one uses a proper converter, there is no need to keep
  RAWs + TIFFs + JPGs on your drive! After conversion
  and publication, my RAWs are kept on your drive — in a
  year based architecture and the JPGs, in high quality, go
  on my iPad in theme folders and used as my portfolio.
  Only RAWs are backed up as JPGs are so easy to publish
  and deleted after they reach their final destination / use.

Thanks Kodiak, I am like your students! Thanks for the tips. At the moment I'm using LR but open to change for lower cost or faster alternatives. While I used to enjoy editing I now find it a time-consuming burden and much prefer to get as close as possible straight out of the camera.

Until late last year I had a similar set up. To be honest if it wasn't for the increased video work I think I would still be uing the 2009 iMac. ( its a late 2015 now )
You don't say what spec the iMac is. But if it is a late 2009 model with quad processors, then I would say it would be fine. Yes the MacBook pro is faster , usually on output rendering, but nothing I would say you can't live with. Your use of the MBP for "field" work is exactly what I've done for years. If you want to use the iMac screen as a monitor you'll need a mini display cable. This is different from a thunderbolt cable, although it looks the same. I think Belkin still have them but not Apple..

Personally I'd invest time in declogging your drives rather than money in upgrades. You'll probably get a bigger speed boost from that

Chappers, thanks I agree. I'll invest spare time in September to the declogging and order the cable then take it from there. Btw the apple store sold me the thunderbolt cable promising it would work, but it doesn't.

I'll update this thread in a few weeks to share progress and experience for anyone stumbling on the same problems in the future.