Workflow with iPhoto and Bridge CS5

Question

Maybe there are better ways to do what I wish to do? But first, an observation: iMovie asks me if I want to import the original files and allows me to store them where ever really.
What I'd like to do:
1 - plug in camera
2 - software identifies still digital images and movie files on the device storage card
3 - automatically (well, once I've prodded some buttons to instruct it what and how to do) puts digital stills in one location and digital movie files in another
4 - work through the original digital stills using Bridge CS5 putting in keywords where I want AND creating, say, a JPG image maximum of 800 by 800 pixels with an appended filename
(Reasoning, I find Bridge CS5 quite neat for images with large filesize and Photoshop and like iPhoto for MobileMe-ness to iPhone but iPhoto seems to prefer a smaller filesize to do things swiftly)
5 - say similarly so for movie files with iMovie allowing me to do exports as it does.
Problem: how to automate it and make it easy-peasy?

Answer 1

You do realize that once you downsize the photos to 800 x 800 you won't be able to retain the larger version for printing or any other use, right? Why not just import into iPhoto, add your keywords there, crop them to the aspect ratio you need and use the results. This will save you tons of extra work and situations for possible loss of files.
Also, as Terence pointed out you can use Photoshop from within iPhoto as the editor of choice:
Using Photoshop (or Photoshop Elements) as Your Editor of Choice in iPhoto.
1 - select Photoshop as your editor of choice in iPhoto's General Preference Section's under the "Edit photo:" menu.
2 - double click on the thumbnail in iPhoto to open it in Photoshop. When you're finished editing click on the Save button. If you immediately get the JPEG Options window make your selection (Baseline standard seems to be the most compatible jpeg format) and click on the OK button. Your done.
3 - however, if you get the navigation window that indicates that PS wants to save it as a PS formatted file. You'll need to either select JPEG from the menu and save (top image) or click on the desktop in the Navigation window (bottom image) and save it to the desktop for importing as a new photo.
This method will let iPhoto know that the photo has been editied and will update the thumbnail file to reflect the edit..
NOTE: With Photoshop Elements 6 the Saving File preferences should be configured: "On First Save: Save Over Current File". Also I suggest the Maximize PSD File Compatabilty be set to Always.
NOTE: If you want to use both iPhoto's editing mode and PS without having to go back and forth to the Preference pane, once you've selected PS as your editor of choice, reset the Preferences back to "Open in main window". That will let you either edit in iPhoto (double click on the thumbnail) or in PS (Control-click on the thumbnail and seledt "Edit in external editor" in the Contextual menu). This way you get the best of both worlds.
2 - double click on the thumbnail in iPhoto to open it in Photoshop. When you're finished editing click on the Save button. If you immediately get the JPEG Options window make your selection (Baseline standard seems to be the most compatible jpeg format) and click on the OK button. Your done.
3 - however, if you get the navigation window that indicates that PS wants to save it as a PS formatted file. You'll need to either select JPEG from the menu and save (top image) or click on the desktop in the Navigation window (bottom image) and save it to the desktop for importing as a new photo.
This method will let iPhoto know that the photo has been editied and will update the thumbnail file to reflect the edit..
OT