Workflow advice please?

[MCA8690]

As I find myself shooting more and more these days, using iPhoto as a home base for organizing doesn't really cut it...
So, I'm in the market for some software, and Lightroom 3/Aperture 3 seem to be the competing products for me.

My questions about workflow are pretty generic/subjective, however, and I'm really just looking for some insightful opinion and advice from so many of you who have been around longer! : )

Basically:
What do you find is the most efficient way to keep your photos organized after all of the editing and PP work applied, with respect to the original RAW files?

I'm asking this because I'm trying to get an idea of how others keep their photos relatively organized, once they import the RAW photo, then go to town with labor-intensive Photoshop/etc. work.
Obviously, I want to keep all the RAW files. The question is, how/where do you store these processed files? Is there a way to import them back into Lightroom/Aperture, without having duplicate libraries, like "Wyoming (RAWs)" next to "Wyoming (PP'd)"..?

^^^
If none of this makes sense, here's my frustration:
I just have my iPhoto libraries filled with the RAW images. Once I decide on my best work, and export them (TIFF) for PP work, I save the processed images into a brain-numbing cadre of folders, which are a PITA to search through and quickly access/share my processed work.

After you import IMG_001 as a RAW, and process and save it, where do you keep the new, processed file?
Any advice you'd care to impart before I begin the process of organizing all of my archived work?

thanks
-michael

[xqsme]

Michael,

I use Nikon transfer when transfering from media to the computer. You have an option of transfering the files into two folders - Primary destination and Backup destination at the same time. You can transfer the files in two format at the same time in two seperate folders. eg. primary folder -TIFF and Backup folder - NEF . When the transfer is done you'll have two folders one is tiff and one is NEF. I usually transfer my NEF(RAW) files directly to my external hardrive.

IS this the feature you are looking for?

[MCA8690]

Ben, that pretty much answers my question, thanks : )

I just installed Nikon Transfer (1.5.2) on my Mac (OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.3), and am not seeing the option to have the images transfer as two different formats.

I understand how to transfer them to a Primary folder and Backup folder, but they will only transfer as NEF's, and I can't seem to find a preference tab to select what type of files they are transferred as (i.e., TIFF vs. NEF).

Help anyone?

*thought I'd mention, Transfer says I need an update but whenever I start downloading the update, it goes 90% of the way and then I get this:


I have uninstalled/re-installed Transfer, as well as restarted the computer...?

[xqsme]

Not sure about Mac version. But there should be a check box that says " convert files" when you click on the destination.

[xqsme]

Not sure about Mac version. But there should be a check box that says " convert files" when you click on the destination.