Most footage organisation advice starts after the shoot. That is already too late. The cheapest possible moment to organise footage is while you are filming it, when you still know what each clip is.
Log as you shoot
Record which card and which filename corresponds to each shot on your list, at the time. It takes a few seconds per shot and removes the entire first phase of the edit, where you scrub through clips trying to identify them.
A folder structure that works
- PROJECT_NAME/ — one folder per project, dated
- 01_FOOTAGE/ — by card, exactly as it came off the camera
- 02_AUDIO/ — separate recorder files
- 03_GRAPHICS/ — logos, titles, stills
- 04_MUSIC/ — licensed tracks and the licence itself
- 05_PROJECT/ — editor project files
- 06_EXPORTS/ — every delivered version
- SHOTLIST.pdf — the plan, kept with the footage
Naming
Never rename original camera files. Keep them exactly as recorded so the card and the file always agree, and do your naming at the bin or clip level inside the editor instead.
Backups
- 01Copy from card to working drive.
- 02Copy from working drive to a second, separate drive.
- 03Verify both copies open before you format anything.
- 04Only then format the card.