Organize Photos in a Flash
You post them, email them, maybe even print them out. But if your digital and printed photos are all lumped together, it's time to organize
Every gadget these days seems to come with a built-in camera and easy access to photo-sharing sites. But the convenience of technology can sometimes also be a distraction. According to The Association of Professional Photo Organizers, at least 750 million photos were uploaded to Facebook on New Year's Day in 2011. We're so busy posting our images to Facebook, Twitter and Instagram that most of us don't make time to keep the lot organized.
And then there are the hard copies of photos that are in a box (somewhere). Remember when we actually printed photos? No matter the format, getting photos organized probably has a permanent spot on your mental to-do list. Let's go from to-do to to-done.
And then there are the hard copies of photos that are in a box (somewhere). Remember when we actually printed photos? No matter the format, getting photos organized probably has a permanent spot on your mental to-do list. Let's go from to-do to to-done.
Start off organizing the photo format that will give you the biggest peace of mind. For most of us that's hard copies. Professional organizer Christie Gelsomino suggests to sort by theme (kids, pets, holidays, vacations) or by date. You can also use a combination of the two.
After you've sorted all of your images into groups, decide on their destination. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
Photo boxes: Make sure the boxes are large enough for the photos you're storing. The Container Store has some great options to stash your stuff. And whatever you do, don't forget to label.
Albums: I love these binders from Russel + Hazel. All you'll need are inserts for organizing the photos.
Collection cabinet: Serious photo collectors might consider a collection cabinet for photo storage needs.
Quick-start tip: Use what you have on hand to store photos until you find the perfect container — think shoe boxes.
Photo boxes: Make sure the boxes are large enough for the photos you're storing. The Container Store has some great options to stash your stuff. And whatever you do, don't forget to label.
Albums: I love these binders from Russel + Hazel. All you'll need are inserts for organizing the photos.
Collection cabinet: Serious photo collectors might consider a collection cabinet for photo storage needs.
Quick-start tip: Use what you have on hand to store photos until you find the perfect container — think shoe boxes.
For some, tossing photos is easy; for others, it's a cardinal sin. If you have a set of rules to go by, letting go of extraneous pics is a breeze.
Toss out:
• Blurry photos
• Photos where you have to ask yourself, "Who is that?"
• Doubles
Toss out:
• Blurry photos
• Photos where you have to ask yourself, "Who is that?"
• Doubles
You will inevitably have a stack of photos that you'd like to scan for safekeeping. Before you scan, research the best option for storing them digitally.
An external hard drive or flash drive: Create folders that mimic the categories you've already created so that the digital images stay organized.
A cloud service: Once your collection is in the cloud with a service such as iPhoto, Flickr or Shutterfly, you can easily share memories with loved ones near and far.
CDs: These are great for keeping multiple backups and handing over a photo collection to a friend or family member.
An external hard drive or flash drive: Create folders that mimic the categories you've already created so that the digital images stay organized.
A cloud service: Once your collection is in the cloud with a service such as iPhoto, Flickr or Shutterfly, you can easily share memories with loved ones near and far.
CDs: These are great for keeping multiple backups and handing over a photo collection to a friend or family member.
Should you keep the negatives? It depends on if they are the only copies you have of a particular set of photos. Cross-check negatives against your pics. If you have all the photos, you can toss the negatives.
You might also want to scan some of the negatives. Here's a tutorial from Popular Photography that uses your flatbed scanner and a little DIY prowess to tackle this task.
Any negatives that you're keeping should be safely stored in an archival photo box to prevent moisture or heat damage.
You might also want to scan some of the negatives. Here's a tutorial from Popular Photography that uses your flatbed scanner and a little DIY prowess to tackle this task.
Any negatives that you're keeping should be safely stored in an archival photo box to prevent moisture or heat damage.
Once you've organized your photos, you'll have a better idea of what you'd like to display (as everything will be searchable). A wall of your favorite photos displayed salon style is a great way to showcase your collection. Whatever you decide, you can rest easy knowing that your memories are preserved for posterity.