Photo software

I'm looking for something that will perform the following functions:

1. Import from my camera, scanner or a folder

2. Allow me to set a batch naming protocol

3. Allow me to perform a batch resize

4. Allow tagging

5. Let me export to cd or dvd

After playing around today, I used HP Photosmart to import and tag. Then I used Vista to rename them, and Fotoresizer to save smaller versions of them. Is there anything out there that does a good job at all of that? Doesn't have to be free either.

There are so many programs out there, some that are great at archiving, some that simply resize or edit. Anyone out there using something that they can recommend? I have loads of photos I need to scan and I want to settle on a good program before I get started. Not mention all the digital images I've amassed since getting my first digital camera back in 2000.

Which operating system are you running? 

If you're running Mac OSX (or any version thereof), you should be perfectly fine with iPhoto, which in my experience comes preinstalled with iLife on every new Mac purchase, but it can also be purchased through Apple at a somewhat reasonable price. I really love this program because it makes archiving and organizing extremely simple, and also has all necessary basic editing tools. 

If you're running a version of Windows, then I would stick with Microsoft Photo Editor (which is bundled up with any Microsoft Office package predating Office 2003) or Microsoft Picture Manager, which is bundled with Office 2003 and 2007. I haven't had as much experience with this, but from helping my mom edit photos on her PC, I can tell you it's a solid program with good editing tools. Both of these programs are also available from Microsoft as a free download, presumably if you're able to enter in a valid OS serial number. 

On either operating system, another good choice would be Google's Picasa. It's a free download from Google, and I'm pretty sure it also covers everything you've asked for.

If you've got real money to burn, the obvious place to turn is to Adobe Photoshop Elements or Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo. They go far beyond the basic editing that these other programs do, but if you're looking to pla around a bit and do some in-depth editing, it's probably what you'll want. 

I know this has turned into a bit of a long post, but I hope this helps! :)

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm running Vista right now. I keep going back to Picasa because everytime I google the features I want, I get links to Picasa. But when I check out the site, it doesn't really spell out the tools it has. I am not so interested in editing photos, but streamlining my import and organization process.

I did try the MS photo editor and will go back and check for features. I was impressed with a suggestion for Adobe Lightbox, but even though I'm not averse to paying for software, $300 was a littly pricey. They have a free trial version, but I'm trying to whittle the field down a little before I start installing and testing.

The ideal solution would be software that would automatically start when I plug my camera in, then according to settings that I program in advance, move the photos to an appropriate folder on my computer, with a name formatted according to a template, then resized copies at the same time. Then, that folder would open so I could do some tagging and deletions and narrative. The last tool would allow me to create a presentation with text and titles and music if I need to, but that I can do with any number of programs I already have and isn't critical to the organizing and archiving that I really want/need to do.

Again, thanks for the suggestions. I think I might be inclined to at least make Picasa one of the programs I download and try.

Adobe Lightroom is an excellent program as far as fulfilling what you're looking for in managing a large volume of photos all at one time. However, I do believe that you could achieve the same overall effect using Adobe Photoshop Elements ($140 from Adobe, probably could be found cheaper elsewhere) or Picasa. 

...Now that I'm really looking around, though, I've found a program called Photoscape, which is available as a free download and explicitly names all of the batch-editing/organizing utilities you want in its feature section. I'd definitely give that a try, it looks extremely promising.