Streamlining My Street Photography Workflow
What’s popping, people? It’s Dante here on Broad Street, thinking about culling photos, street photography, and why I import my photos every day. In the past, working with RAW files made my process extremely slow—importing required a ton of time, and it just wasn’t efficient. Now, by photographing with small JPEG files, I can import directly to my iPad Pro using the Photos app built into iOS. The result? Lightning speed. I can import a thousand photos in a minute, tops.
Staying Organized and On Top of My Archive
Photographing every single day means you’re going to accumulate a lot of photos, especially when you always have a camera in hand or in your pocket. If I were to spend a month filling up my SD cards without importing, I’d be facing a massive backlog—a true headache that would probably require an entire day just to sift through and make selections.
“By importing each and every day and making quick, detached selections, I avoid the overwhelming task of sifting through hundreds of thousands of photos later.”
This approach keeps me detached from individual results and lets me stay more connected to the process. I believe it’s wise to wait a year—or even two—before making serious selections. For me, that time is coming up soon, in November 2024, when I’ll be ready to sort through and choose my best photos from the past two years.
Daily Backup Routine
After importing to my iPad, I back up my photos each day to Google Photos. This setup gives me immediate access to my images across all my devices—my iPhone, iPad, or iMac—so I can review and edit anytime, anywhere. Staying on top of my photos keeps the workflow quick, easy, and painless.
A Routine with the Wanamaker Organ
Every day at 5:30, I head inside the Wanamaker Building at Macy’s to listen to the organ. This routine not only allows me to enjoy some beautiful music but also provides a set time to cull through my work. I know that each day, I can come here, sit down, and sort through my photos while listening to music. This practice helps me stay disciplined and gives me a reason to shoot a little longer each day. By the time I get home to eat and sleep, my photos are already imported, organized, and backed up.
Final Thoughts
By keeping my workflow efficient and organized, I can focus more on shooting and less on the tedious aspects of managing my archive. For me, this quick, daily routine ensures I stay on top of my photos and stay fully engaged with my photography practice.
“Just keep it simple, stay on top of your photos, and streamline your workflow to make it quick and easy.”
So if you’re looking to up your photography game, consider switching to a faster, more efficient workflow. You’ll be able to shoot more, worry less, and stay focused on creating!