Naming scheme
Describe the subject once, then use counters for uniqueness and order
A pattern such as product-name-front-001 is easier to scan than IMG_4827 or a long string of repeated keywords. Use lowercase and hyphens for web assets when that fits the publishing system, and retain meaningful distinctions such as angle, color, location, or language. Avoid stuffing every possible query into the filename.
Sequence
Sort the source list before assigning numbers
Counters preserve the order shown in the preview, so confirm that portraits, event photos, slides, or product angles are arranged correctly first. Choose enough number padding for the batch size: 001 through 120 sorts more predictably than 1 through 120 in many file browsers. Use a stable date format such as year-month-day when chronological sorting matters.
Safety
Sanitize invalid characters and prevent duplicates without losing meaning
Operating systems, ZIP tools, CMS platforms, and URLs handle punctuation differently. Sanitization and collapsed spaces reduce compatibility problems. Duplicate prevention matters when two source names resolve to the same new pattern. Review extensions separately from base names so an uppercase or lowercase rule does not accidentally misrepresent the actual file format.