Understanding Photo Management Software

Compelling images move people. Marketers and creatives have known this for a long time and rely on strong visuals as a foundational element of brand storytelling. They also rely on dependable, easy-to-access tools, so they can spend more time crafting the story itself and less on a cumbersome process.

If you’ve ever managed digital photos you already know many of the challenges. Like how organizing hundreds or thousands of photos can quickly get out of control. How time-consuming it is to search endlessly for the right photo. Or how risky it can be to use a photo that you may or may not still have permission to use. The bottom line is ⏤ if you want to make your brand story more effective, you can’t afford to compromise on managing your assets. You need a robust photo management software solution.
 

What is photo management software?

Photo management software is a dynamic tool that allows you to organize, search, share, and govern your photo library from a central location. Organizations big and small use photo management software to drive marketing and sales efforts through increased confidence in photo usage, reduced time spent searching for photos, and better control over digital photography assets.

Photo management is a foundational principle of digital asset management (DAM), which expands beyond photo organization to include security, automation, integrations, complex metadata schemes, and more. A DAM system ensures your photo management process can scale as your business and your content grows.
 

Why do you need photo management software?

The benefits of using a DAM platform as your photo management system add up quickly, and so do the pains of not having one. As your business grows, your photo library will only continue to expand. Without a solution in place, frustration can quickly set in. So, when it comes to getting a system in place to manage your files, the sooner the better.

And further, using a DAM system for your photo management solution allows you to:

• Store you photos in a secure, easy-to-access, centralized location
• Organize and locate your files with searchable metadata
• Crop, resize, or convert photos on the fly from a single file
• Streamline your photo editing and approval process by integrating with other software
• Share files with quick and easy-to-use links
• Track metrics like views, downloads, and shares to see how your photos are being used
   

How difficult is deploying photo management software?

Rolling out a new process in your organization will likely cause some growing pains. There is a lot to consider, from adoption to setup to training. So it helps to start with a clear strategy for using and maintaining your system. From there, starting small and iterating as you expand your user base will give you the best chance for adoption and success.

A strong solution will also integrate with the tools your teams use every day. Integrating tools streamlines your workflow and increases adoption rates by keeping your users in the tools they already know and love.
 

Putting it all together

Your ability to tell strong visual stories can make or break your brand experience. Giving your marketing and creative teams the right tools allows them to focus their efforts on what really matters ⏤ effectively communicating your brand. And using a DAM system to power your photo management needs will ensure your photos are secure, shareable, and ready when you need them.

Ready for a complete photo management solution? Digital asset management and Acquia offer the technology, service, and support you need to confidently manage your photos and your brand. Request, watch, or click through a demo of Acquia DAM (Widen) today to see how a DAM system keeps your photos in check, plus so much more.

Note: This article was originally published on Widen.com.