For film photography, in-lab development often includes digitization. The resulting scans can be organized in Lightroom, and the NegativeLabPro plugin offers specialized metadata fields to streamline this process.
With the renewed interest in film photography, a key question arises: how can we effectively organize the growing collection of films in our archive boxes? In this digital era, we have access to numerous tools for organizing, indexing, and retrieving images, whether they are stored locally on our hard drives or shared through email, the internet, or social media platforms.
EXIF
Digital camera files come with useful EXIF and IPTC metadata, including camera type, lens, and exposure settings, making organization with software like Lightroom efficient. Beyond the shot-specific EXIF data, custom keywords further enhance image searches.
In contrast, scanned films and prints lack this inherent metadata, only noting the scanner model. While managing and searching film images in a Lightroom catalog is more convenient than sifting through physical archives, manually creating all film-specific metadata is time-consuming.
NegativeLabPro
The Lightroom NegativeLabPro plug-in (www.negativelabpro.com) provides specialized fields for film photography, encompassing details on shooting, film processing, and scanning. These fields are permanently integrated into your catalog even with a trial version of the plug-in, and they remain active without the need for a serial number.
Film metadata
NegativeLabPro provides a comprehensive set of metadata fields for photography. These fields cover various aspects, including the camera brand and model, lens used, film type, ISO sensitivity, and key settings such as aperture and shutter speed. When using a zoom lens, the focal length should also be recorded. Additionally, users can use the “Gear Notes” section to add any additional comments about the equipment used.
The “Shooting Notes” section is dedicated to specific details about the shot itself.
For digitization methods, metadata indicates whether the scans were completed by an external lab, with a personal scanner, or with a camera. If a camera was used, it’s essential to specify the type of light source and the negative holder employed, along with any other relevant information.
The film development section includes all necessary details —developer type, dilution ratio, development time, and temperature —along with a field for any additional notes.
After installation, the NegativeLabPro plug-in appears in the metadata list.
NegativeLabPro offers a remarkably varied list of metadata options.
Numbering with a scanner
Two specific fields are missing from the metadata overview to make it complete: the film number and the view number, as they appear on the film sleeves in our archives. One option is to rename the file with the film name. We suggest F-Format-YYYY-film number-view number. F stands for film; Format is the film format; YYYY is the year of production, followed by the film and view numbers. We would have F-135-1988-51-23 for a 135-format film from 1988, film number 51, with 23 as the view number. If we photograph the entire film in parallel, like a contact sheet, we will have F-135-1988-51-CS. With 120 film, use code 120; 45 for 4×5 sheet film, etc.
A specific name can be entered in the File Name field, including information such as film format, film number, view, etc., depending on the year the photo was taken.
Numbering with a camera as a scanner
When scanning with a digital device, we recommend keeping the file names assigned to the images. The most common format is YYYYMMDD0001. You could add the name of an entire film or that of a single image. For example, you could have 202503140016-F-135-1988-51-23 for the March 14, 2025, digitization of the 135 format film from 1988, film number 51, with 23 being the shot number. However, manually adding this information can be tedious and lead to input errors. We recommend entering the film number in the Title field at the bottom of the NegativeLabPro metadata or in the default fields provided by Lightroom. You are free to rename your files in batches, automatically adding the title to the file name.
The Title field can be reserved for the specific name of a film photograph, digitized with a camera or scanner.
When films don’t have numbers
Some 120 films, as well as film sheets, lack numbering markings. Like Robert Doisneau or Irving Penn in their day, you can write numbers on the edge of the negative, on the transparent part of the film. Permanent black pigment ink markers that are acid-free and pH neutral, such as Faber-Castell Pitt or Sakura Pigma Micron (available in tip sizes from 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm), are ideal for writing on film or paper.
When films do not have numbers, such as this 8×10” film, writing a number on the edge makes it easier to file.
Discover the photography courses at Spéos
Spéos offers various training courses ranging from simple one-week photography workshops (initiation and advanced level) to 3-year courses. The long courses to become professional photographers allow you not only to master all the photographic techniques and its vocabulary (blurs, hyperfocus, sharpness zone, depth of field, backlighting, focal length, shutter release, autofocus, wide-angle, rule of thirds, etc.), but also all the stages of shooting and image processing.
Visiting the school allows you to discover the premises, the studios and the equipment, and is undoubtedly the best way to familiarize yourself with your future way of working. This is why, in addition to the open days, Spéos offers throughout the year personalized visits by appointment to come and discover the school with a member of the team.
Text and photos: Philippe Bachelier, teacher of Printing techniques at Spéos