How to Organize and Manage Pictures: Part 5
How are you doing? Have you had a chance to create some folders for your photo storage?
I know that many of us feel like we're so far behind when it comes to organizing our pictures. If that's the case for you, my best advice is to start small. Begin with today’s pictures, then plan for tomorrow. For your older photos, create a "2018 Keepers" folder. Work through one small chunk at a time, either from your SD cards or overloaded hard drive. Export or copy the keepers into that folder, delete the rest, and keep going until the entire year is done. Then move on to the next year. The key to tackling a mountain of photos is to take it one bite at a time. Remember the saying: "The only way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time."
But today, let's talk about printing!
What Good Are Your Pictures if They Just Sit Around on Your Hard Drive?
Photos are meant to be enjoyed, not stuck in a digital prison forever. It's like holding on to the negatives from 1995 without ever printing them. No one is enjoying your beautifully organized folders if they just sit there in your computer, unseen. It's time to change that!
Here’s how I print and preserve my memories. You might think this is overkill, and that’s okay. Do what works for you, but I’ve found a system that I love. Think about how you like to look at your pictures. Do you love holding a stack of prints and flipping through them, old-school style? Do you enjoy turning the pages of a photo album or photo book? Find what works for you!
Photo Boxes
I use FreePrints to get my pictures printed. Every month, when I get my 80 free prints, I select the best pictures of my kids, any family moments, and even include some of my husband and me. I know many of us avoid printing photos of ourselves, but trust me, one day, your kids will treasure those photos. I print two copies of each if I think the kids would want their own.
Once they arrive, I sort them into two stacks, one for each of my kids (Ben and Rocco). I use little dividers to separate the photos by year. I also write a note on the back of each photo, usually the people in the picture, their age, and a special memory, so my kids know the stories behind the photos.
I’ve only started doing this after losing my dad, but I feel like it’s something that’s important to preserve. The photos go into a box that I’ll pass down to them when they leave the house. It’s something simple, but I know they will appreciate it one day.
Chatbooks
At the end of each year, I create a Chatbook with my very favorite photos of the boys—whether they’re alone, together, with family, or other special moments. I order two copies each year—one for each of them—and give them as a Christmas gift. The boys absolutely love flipping through them throughout the year.
You could also create a “Favorites” folder in your 2019 folder, and as you upload pictures throughout the year, add the best ones to that folder. By the end of the year, the hardest part is done!
Fancy Albums
Every now and then, when I have a big family photo shoot, I go all out and order a really fancy album. These albums are for the really special memories. I order them from professional photographers' vendors, so if you have any pictures that fall into this category, let me know. I can help you with that!
Next time, I’ll have a checklist for you to keep you organized throughout the year. Get printing and enjoy those memories!