Photo Storage Setup

What We'll Learn

  1. Introduction to the Photo Handling Process
  2. Preparing folders to use this process
  3. Setting up Picasa to use these folders 

Photo Handling Process

To take great photos, you need to take lots of pictures.   This also introduces a challenge;  how to manage all these photos?

Thankfully, there is a simple process you can setup to easily keep yourself organized.  Here is the main concept:
  • Create a clear separation for new pictures (to be reviewed) and good pictures (have been reviewed)

The picture below is an overview of the photo handling process:




Setting Up Folders

It's very helpful to setup two main folders on your computer to help manage this process.  We suggest creating them under the My Pictures  folder, and naming them as follows:

  1. Review - Import all your new pictures here.  You leave them here until you have time to review them.
  2. Library- This contains all your good (reviewed) folders.   Once you have had a chance to delete and review your new photos, you move them into your library and organize them for easy future use.
We will be using Picasa throughout these tutorials.  If you have not already done so, please work through the Introducing Picasa tutorials first.
 

Exercise 1 - Create Folders

Use the following steps to setup photo handling folders on your computer:

  1. From the Start Menu - select Pictures (or My Pictures in Windows XP)
  2. Click New Folder from the menu to create a new folder
  3. Name the folder Review
  4. Click New Folder to create an additional folder
  5. Name the folder Library

Exercise 2 - Setting Up Import Folder in Picasa

We want to setup Picasa so that it automatically uses the Review folder when we import new pictures.  Here's how:

  1. In Picasa, click Tools > Options 
  2. Select the General tab.
  3. In the 'Save Imported Pictures In' section, click the Browse button.
  4. Select the small arrow beside My Pictures if the subfolders are not visible (see diagram)
  5. Choose Review (see diagram)
  6. Click OK
  7. Click OK again.

Next