Drive Is Not a DAM

Why folders fail for photos, and how to tidy up for good.

About

A practical guide for people who drown in photo folders

A drive is a drawer. Photos need a filing system.

Plain answers on folder chaos, findability, safe sharing and image management, written for communication and office teams at Dutch organisations.

(yes, we looked at your folder called “Nieuw (2)”)

From desk pile to tidy drawer

1

Name the mess

Count the copies, the places and the unknown rights. You cannot fix what you cannot see.

2

Give every photo a label

Who, what, where, when, and what you may do with it. Search needs words, not folder depth.

3

Share links, not copies

One original, many views. Fewer duplicates, and access you can switch off.

Shared drive, meet the real question

What a shared drive is good at

  • Storing files of any kind
  • Letting a team edit documents together
  • Being already there, and already paid for

What photos also need

  • Search on who, what and where, not folder names
  • Usage rights and consent that travel with the file
  • Sharing with expiry instead of loose copies
  • The right size and format on request

Read the basics of image management →