Reply To: Best Way to Date Scanned Photos Using Metadata

Forums Digital Photo Organizing Best Way to Date Scanned Photos Using Metadata Reply To: Best Way to Date Scanned Photos Using Metadata

#16148
Meg Macintyre
Participant

    Kim,

    I use and recommend a hybrid system as follows:

    • I ALWAYS change the capture date, even if an exact date is not known.
    • Known dates – I enter the date known.
    • Year only known or estimated – YYYY-01-01 and the keyword ‘year’.
    • Decade only known or estimated – YYY0-01-01 and the keyword ‘decade’.

    If a year is known or estimated but there are clues that allows you to date more precisely, I make a judgement based on that – such as using the date YYYY-07-01 when people are on a beach, or YYYY-04-01 for Easter photos. There are many ways you can estimate, including with clothing (sweaters vs. bathing suits) or what flowers are blooming in a garden, etc.

    My clients know that a date such as YYYY-01-01 does not necessarily mean that the photo was taken on that day. For year and decade only photos, I rename the files differently also. Example: ‘YYYY-01-01 year Macintyre (001).jpg’ or ‘YYYY-01-01 decade Macintyre (001).jpg’

    I hope that help!