It is possible that a single main or master catalog will be sufficient for your workflow needs. However, grouping files into a few separate catalogs creates a higher level of organization. The main downside is that you can’t search across them. Here are some examples in which to organize your catalogs:
- Organize by project
You can dedicate a Catalog to each of your projects or clients for easy and quick reference. This is also a good method for supporting short-term deadlines and goals. - Organize by chronology
You can create an additional set of Catalogs based on the date and time. This is a good monthly habit that will help you to build a searchable archive as you go. - Organize by subject
Any logical subjects that are not likely to overlap are a good way to divide your media into multiple Catalogs. For example, you can store your images by high-level subjects that describe the types of your photo assignments, such as travel, fashion, portraits, and so on. - Organize by process/task
At times, there are clearly definable states for files in a workflow. Separating items by their state or task can help direct users to a media item at a specific stage in the workflow. For example, photographers might create one Catalog each for client selections or edited images.