Proxy Workflows for 4K+ Footage: On-Set or Post-Ingest Integration?

Hey everyone,

I'm Sarah Chen, a DP, and I'm looking for some real-world advice regarding proxy workflows. I'm regularly shooting projects with high-resolution cameras like the ALEXA 35 or ALEXA Mini LF, often at 4K or 4.5K resolutions, and the file sizes are, as you all know, substantial. My editing teams typically work with proxies, which is great for fluidity in post.

My question is about the most efficient way to integrate this into the pipeline. I've tried having DITs generate proxies on-set using a dedicated station, which can sometimes slow down our ingest process slightly, especially with a busy schedule and multiple cards coming off a shoot day. Other times, we've offloaded full-res files and then let post houses generate proxies as a separate step.

What are your go-to strategies for proxy generation and management with 4K+ footage? Do you favor on-set generation with dedicated DIT gear, or do you find post-ingest generation to be more practical without impacting the shoot? I’m looking to optimize this for future projects to maximize efficiency for everyone involved.