Greetings!
Do you have a backlog of photos that need organizing? Is it such an overwhelming task that you have been avoiding it for years?
Many of us delay organizing our photos for this reason or we believe we need to set aside a large chunk of time and organize all our photos at once. But then we may we need to wait until our kids are all in school, or in college or maybe.....when we retire?
I would like to give you some hope and tell you that it is possible to start organizing your photos this fall. Like any organizing project, the key is to break the project down into smaller tasks.
After reading my photo organization tips you will have a plan of attack and I hope you will feel inspired to get started archiving your family history.
My niece, Rachel enjoys photography
 | 1. Tell yourself, from this day forward I will organize my photos. I give you permission to forget about your backlog of photos for now. Start with the photos you take after today or the photos you took in August. Doesn't that feel less overwhelming and even possible?
2. If you have a digital camera, create a computer file folder under "my photos" and date it 2010; the current year. All new downloads will go in that folder. Subdivide the folders into months, quarters or events. For example: 2010 Birthdays or 2010 August - October.
Back up your photos on a regular basis. I store CD's of my photos in a safe deposit box.
3. When or if the photos are printed choose a system to contain your photos. If you truly enjoy scrap booking maybe that's the right system. A photo album is a good solution for less creative types like myself. Or would you be satisfied if they were at least stored in a labeled photo box?
Regardless of which system you choose, I encourage you to write the date, people's names and locations on the back of every photo with an acid free pen. Future generations will want to know who is in the photo.
You have several simple options for organizing your photos within the system you have chosen. Either chronologically or by event (birthdays, holidays, vacations, ect.). Remember to label your albums or photo boxes for easy reference.
Photo boxes typically include tabbed dividers. It's up to you whether you use these tabs to subdivide a box by events or months. If you don't use the tabs then I suggest separating and storing photos in envelopes labeled with the event or month(s).
Now let's move onto organizing your backlog of photos.
1. Gather all your photos and put them in one area or container.
2. Set up a work space with small containers. You will use these containers to sort the photos you decide to keep. Label the containers with a date or event. The work space should be in an area of your home that won't be disturbed and can be left set up until you are finished.
3. Start sorting! It isn't important what photos you begin with just start!! with one envelope or a small stack of photos.
Be ruthless and toss photos that are poor quality, duplicates, that depict a time you would rather forget about, unflattering or those photos you look at and say "who are those people?"
4. Place the photos into albums, photo boxes or scrapbooks.
After a few months of regular sorting and purging you will have your photos in order and your family history preserved.
Won't that feel good? |
