A couple days ago I wrote about Using Metadata for Photo Organization and the importance of adding IPTC data and Keywords. The current versions of Adobe Bridge and Lightroom simplify the process of adding IPTC data when importing your digital images. Many other photo organizers also support this feature.

Set up IPTC Templates

Both Bridge and Lightroom allow you to fill out a template with Copyright info, your website URL, captions, location data, and more. You can save these templates for future use. The next time you Import images you can call up one of your templates and apply that info to all the images. (If you include the year in your Copyright info be sure to change it at the beginning of the New Year)

Add Keywords Too

You can also add Keywords to all the Imported files. (PS Elements calls them Tags, and you have to add them after the import) Depending on what you’ve shot this may not be practical. If you have photos of birds, waterfalls, and flowers you’re better off assigning Keywords after the import is done. You can select a group of images and assign the same Keyword to them all.

Get in the habit of adding IPTC data and Keywords every time you Import a group of images. You’ll get the satisfaction of knowing it’s done and you’ll be able to easily find photos next month or next year.