Naming a photo so print is identifiable

[BMP - Bob McSwain Photography & Creative Services]

I shoot weddings. I give my bride and groom proof pictures from which they select their enlargements.  The proof are usually printed at Costco.  In the past DSC_1234 would print on the back, and the bride would use that number to tell me they wanted additional copies of "DSC_1234."

After DAM exploration and studying the www.dpbestflow.org website, I've decided to use something like BMyymmddxxxyyy_derivtype.ft (initials, date, job sequence, shot sequence, derivative type and finally the file type.)

Now the problem is that NONE of the places that I have used to print my proofs or prints can print a 23 character string on the back.

Thoughts?

Bob

(This is just recently a problem.  My son works at Walgreens as the photo geek.  I let him print a set of proofs from a wedding, mounted them into an album,  and gave them to the bride. Only after she moved out of state did I realize that there was not an identifiable picture mark on the back.  She had to return to my location, and I actually shot pictures of her picture to identify those that she wanted.)

[Mattia Panciroli]

I think you should simplify your filename structure. Leave only necessary and significant informations.

[peterkrogh]

Bob,
You may want to rename only those image that go out to print, or perhaps shorten the entire name.  Depending on what program you use, perhaps you could get by with just the "filename number".
Peter

[billseymour]

Bob-
I often want to retain an "original file name" somewhere in my metadata, prior to my renaming for DAM cataloging.
I include the "original file name" in my Description field, and then Sync Annotate to the file so that this metadata is added to the image.

So perhaps you could add to your Description field some sort of "client oriented naming" information such as:

"JonesWedding2010" + Walgreen's DSC numbering

This way, you would be able to search on "JonesWedding" *AND* "DSC_1234" in order to identify the image being requested. The possible repetition of "DSC_1234" from the Walgreens numbering (ie, you might have DSC_1234 showing up for the Jones wedding, the Smith wedding, etc) would not present a problem since you would doing the search for both Jones and DSC_1234.

--Bill