Hi, Dave,
My system is:
• Store everything from the camera in a separate directory tree for each camera. In each directory of the tree there can be up to 1000 image files (the division being based on consecutive file numbers). I upload the files with a utility (Downloader Pro) that automatically makes a modification of the filename (so that the file numbers will indicate the camera from which the file came and be numerically unique up to 99,999 file numbers).
For example, this file from the camera:
IMG_7653.jpg
(which is the third time that number was assigned by the camera, perhaps in different directories on the memory card)
will become, in the file system:
F27653.jpg
where "F" indicates the camera and the 2 is applied based on one of various systems of analyzing the directory on the memory card, all done by Downloader Pro (because this is in fact the 25653rd file from this camera, with a few slight wrinkles)
An exception is that if, for example, I shoot 250 test shots of my office wall to find out how the camera shutter release is working (when I don't even need to look at the images), I will not copy them to that directory system, or will delete them right away.
• After a shoot, I review the "incoming" images and decide which ones (at this time) I intend to use to print, post to the forum, have Carla use in her blog, send to the newspaper, or whatever. These "processed" files (in rare cases, the "processing" consists of nothing) are held in directories by the event or project. The processed files are distinguished from the "incoming" files in that they at least have a "-01" after the original filename. In some cases, I will also put a "project or event" prefix in front of the original filename, so I might end up with:
Joe_Sue_wedding_F27653-01.jpg
but I am doing that less now.
But in every case the original file number (original in the sense of as saved in the "incoming" directory system) is embedded in the "processed" filename so I can figger out where that shot came from.
For example, if some day I look at Joe_Sue_wedding_F27653-01.jpg and wonder, "did I take a shot that frames a little to the right so the flower girls will be in it (but didn't choose it for processing it at the time)", I can go into my "incoming" directory system, quickly go to F27653-01.jpg, and then scan forward and back to see if in fact I did take such a shot.
What this does not let me do is find the original shot for something when I didn't process any of them (or can't remember in what context I processed them. "Do I have anyplace a shot of Sharon's friend Sandy?"
In any case, except in the special "multiple test shot" case I mentioned, I never delete any of the files in the "incoming" directory system.
I do not in any way mean to recommend or suggest this system or any part of it for your use.
Best regards,
Doug