Why RAW File Management Matters
RAW files are large. A modern full-frame camera produces RAW files between 25 and 80 MB each. A busy photographer can generate hundreds of gigabytes per month. Without a systematic approach to storage, naming, and organisation, a library of RAW files quickly becomes unnavigable — and losing or accidentally deleting originals is a professional catastrophe.
Folder Structure
Choose a folder hierarchy before your first shoot and stick to it. A consistent structure means you can find any shoot without software assistance. A recommended structure:
- YYYY/YYYY-MM-DD_ClientName_ShootType/
- Within each shoot folder: RAW_Originals/, Selects/, Exports/
The RAW_Originals folder holds the complete unedited card download. The Selects folder holds the output of your culling step (or symlinks to originals). The Exports folder holds final JPEGs and TIFFs for delivery.
File Naming
Camera default naming (IMG_0001.CR3, DSC_2345.NEF) is fragile — numbers reset and collide across shoots. Rename your files at import using a scheme that embeds the date and shoot identifier:
YYYYMMDD_ClientName_001.CR3
Most DAM tools and even imagic's Import step support automatic rename on import.
The 3-2-1 Backup Rule
The professional standard for backup:
- 3 copies of every file
- 2 different storage media types
- 1 offsite copy
In practice: working drive (SSD), local backup drive (spinning HDD), and cloud backup (Backblaze, Amazon S3, or similar). Never delete your RAW originals from the backup chain until you have confirmed the client has accepted delivery and the job is fully closed.
Culling as Part of File Management
Culling is not just a workflow step — it is part of file management. Running your shoot through imagic before archiving means your long-term archive contains only your selected best work, not thousands of burst frames and reject duplicates consuming storage indefinitely.
imagic's five-step workflow (Import, Analyse, Review, Cull, Export) produces a clean Selects folder that represents your archival set. The rejects can be held temporarily in a separate folder and deleted after a review period, significantly reducing long-term storage costs.
Metadata and Keywords
Embed consistent metadata in your RAW files at import: copyright information, photographer name, contact details. For searchability, add location and keyword tags for major shoots. Embedded metadata travels with the file even if you change software, unlike proprietary catalogue sidecar files.
Long-Term Archiving
For long-term archiving, DNG is worth considering for files you want to be readable in 20 years. DNG is an open format maintained by Adobe with published specifications. imagic supports DNG natively for both import and export.
Review your archive storage annually. Hard drives have a typical reliable lifespan of three to five years. Migrate data to new drives before failures occur, not after.