How can I add product IDs to field photos from a DSLR workflow?
Asked 10/25/2013
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We need to photograph many products on location and keep each image tied to the correct product ID. Ideally the ID would be added as metadata or reflected in the filename. In a studio we could tether to a computer and have someone enter data as we shoot, but this needs to work outdoors with a more portable setup, preferably using a DSLR or other professional camera. What practical workflow works best for this?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
12y ago
2 Answers
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Using a DLSR I can think of a few ways, all of them would involve some kind of scripting or post-process though. Essentially you need to know what product was in front of the camera and when. Depending on how often you'll need to do it will determine what level of automation you can/should bring to bear.
The most low-tech solution would be to take a leaf out of the videographers book and shoot a whiteboard or chalkboard with the details of each product before you shoot it. Then when you go through in post using bridge or similar the title frames will be obvious for manual renaming or tagging.
Alternatively you could log when each product is shot using a tablet/laptop like matching up a GPS log. As long as you sync the times up it would be relatively simple for someone with the appropriate skills to write an app/script to do that for you.
Or there is the eye-fi option mentioned by AJ. Again, that can be automated fairly easily to automatically add a tag/rename files as they appear.
Originally by user14028. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user14028
12y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
A practical field workflow is usually less about entering data in-camera and more about matching images to product IDs during capture or immediately after.
Common options:
- Shoot an ID frame first: Photograph a whiteboard/chalkboard or printed label with the product ID before each product. This is simple, reliable, and makes later renaming/tagging easy.
- Keep a synced shot log: Record product IDs and times on a tablet or laptop, making sure the camera clock is accurate. You can then match images to the log in post.
- Use wireless transfer: A DSLR with built-in Wi‑Fi, a wireless transmitter, or a Wi‑Fi SD card can send images to a laptop/tablet/phone, where someone can add metadata or rename files on the spot.
If you want to stay with a “pro” camera, a DSLR or mirrorless body with wireless transfer support is the most flexible approach. Entering custom metadata directly on the camera is generally less efficient than using a companion device or a simple ID-frame method.
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