Take Control of Your Digital Photos on a Mac

Build a digital workflow to import, tag, rate, and organize your photos!

Why bother taking photos if you can’t find them later? If you want to be able to lay your hands on any given photo in your ever-expanding library, digital photography expert Jeff Carlson has developed a simple system you can use to make your photo collection browsable, searchable, and generally navigable!

Jeff leads off by helping you understand the strengths and weaknesses of the four most popular photo-management applications: iPhoto and Aperture from Apple, and Lightroom and Photoshop Elements from Adobe. Once you’ve picked the app that’s right for you (and there’s a chapter on migrating photos), you’ll learn how to create a custom workflow for importing, evaluating, keywording, and tagging your photos so they are quickly sorted into logical groups. For each of these essential aspects of your workflow, Jeff provides step-by-step instructions for each of the four covered applications. And since it’s all too easy to lose everything if you don’t have backups, Jeff discusses the best way to back up and archive your photos to protect your irreplaceable photographic memories.

In the process of creating your custom digital photo workflow, you’ll find expert advice about each of these photo-management topics:

• Shooting smarter: Make sure your camera is set to the correct time (and time zone), choose a file format, and think about capturing geolocation data while you’re out taking photos.
• Choosing the right app: Learn about the pros and cons of the most popular photo-management applications–iPhoto, Aperture, Lightroom, and Photoshop Elements–and find directions for how to migrate your photos from iPhoto to Aperture or Lightroom, or from Aperture to Lightroom.
• Importing photos: Make your Mac apply keywords and other tags in a batch during import, and make sure you’re storing files in a place that makes sense going forward.
• Judging photos: Get time-tested tips for rating individual photos and learn how to deal with bad photos, whether you want to delete them, hide them, or leave them be.
• Assigning metadata: Once your camera and your computer have assigned as much metadata as possible automatically, you’ll need to do the final bits yourself. Jeff describes how to think about this process, and he gives you specific steps for how to proceed efficiently.
• Putting photos in albums: With your metadata successfully applied, it’s time to enjoy the fruits of your labor! Learn how to set up smart albums to collect and display your photos automatically.
• Planning for the future: Digital photos can’t be damaged by water or tossed accidentally when cleaning house, but at the same time, a hard disk failure could destroy every photo you own. And what about preserving them for your kids? Jeff discusses how you can back up your precious photos and archive them for future generations.

Bonus! Includes a 20% off coupon for SizzlPix!, high-def photographic prints infused onto an aluminum base. These hand-crafted prints are largely free of glare, are waterproof (some are installed in showers and pools), and have an ultra-hard coating that renders them virtually scratch-proof.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Introduction
Chapter 2 Digital Photos Quick Start
Chapter 3 Shoot Smarter
Chapter 4 Choose the Right Photo- management Application
Chapter 5 Import Your Photos
Chapter 6 Judge Your Photos
Chapter 7 Assign Keywords & Other Metadata
Chapter 8 Organize Photos into (Smart) Albums
Chapter 9 Back Up & Archive Photos
Chapter 10 Migrate Photos to a Different App