A Photo Asset Manager built around the way people actually work

Sometimes the best tool is the one you build around the way people actually work. For GIE, Planet Polaris developed its own Photo Asset Manager: a lightweight, in-house solution to make a growing image library easier to search, organise, share and reuse.

Instead of introducing another complex platform, we built exactly what was needed around the existing photo archive.

What it does

• Search by filename, category or folder.
• Browse existing folders and subfolders, and preview images directly in the library.
• Add and manage categories, and select multiple images at once.
• Create persistent project collections without duplicating the original files.
• Share project folders with other users.
• Download selections or complete projects as ZIP files.
• Manage users and access rights.

The original images stay in their existing server structure. Project folders are virtual selections, so one image can be used across multiple projects without unnecessary copies.

Why build it in-house?

Because not every workflow needs a large Digital Asset Management platform. Building it ourselves means we keep the interface simple, host it where we want, retain control over the data and, most importantly, adapt the tool to the people using it rather than the other way around.

A custom tool can remove a surprising amount of everyday friction. Tell us about yours.