Q & A

How will a database save me time and money?

Keeping your photos organised and in a single location can save you hours of lost time looking for the images you need. If you multiply this across numerous staff the loss can be substantial. A photo database makes searching for images fast and effortless. You can organise your photos simply into folders such as 'AGM 2007' or 'Fundraiser Sept 2008'. You can also email images directly from your database, it will even resize them for you. This means no more "your attachment is too large to send" messages. Staff will also be able to view images selected by colleagues for a particular job, making workflows and approval processes easy.

How will a database minimise my copyright and consent risks?

When you catalogue a photo this information will be stored with the photo. When your staff select an image they will see straight away who owns the copyright and whether the subject has signed a consent form. You'll no longer be left guessing about this important information or leaving your business open to risk from using an image that you don't have permissons for.

Can a database be customised to match my needs?

Yes you can add as many fields as you like. For example you could add a 'History of Use' field so that all your staff will know where an image has been used before, minimising wasted time selecting an an over used image. You can have 'Name' fields, "City'; 'Copyright'; 'Photographer'; 'Consent Form'; the choice and number is huge.

We're a small company with fewer than 10 staff, is a photo database worth it?

Absolutely, number of staff is not important if photos are important to you. Even with a few staff you can lose hours and hours locating photos, finding the right one or trying to chase up names for a caption. In a small workplace investment in images can be a substantial proportion your marketing budget. With fewer staff you can't afford to be wasting time, having this asset organised will add value to any workplace.

How many staff can access the database and what about staff outside head office?

You can have as many staff accessing your database as needed. Your existing intranet can be utilised for staff outside of your office or you can publish your database to the internet giving access to the entire world.

Will my staff need special training to use a database?

Your staff will need training on how to use the database and importantly how to get the most out of it. However most databases are fairly intuitive and can be customised to meet your needs in terms of keywords and searching. Working Photos can run training sessions with your staff.

How will I maintain my database such as adding new photos?

You have a number of choices here. We can train a key staff member to be responsible for maintaining the database such as adding new images. Or Working Photos will do this for you. You can get us in on a needs basis or schedule regular visits where we can update your database for you.

How do you know which database will suit my needs?

There's a range of database applications available. What will suit you will depend on a number of factors including your budget, how many images you have, how many staff need access and how you work. Working photos will evaluate your work place and make a recommendation on what product is the most suitable for you now and into the future.