4 Types of Photos That You Need to Delete Right Now
Remove these not-so-great images to make way for more, and better, memories
Raise your hand if you’re guilty of keeping thousands of photos on your phone that you know you’ll realistically never use or look back on. Is your hand up? If not, your self-discipline is unrivaled. But I believe the more likely case is that you have thousands of photos to sift through. The truth is we live in a world where a billion new photos are taken every day. With so many photos taken by the human race, chances are a few of us — if not most of us — are hoarding pictures on our phones, computers and cloud storage accounts. The ones we love end up on social media, but the rest may not be worth keeping.
Through the process of trashing these pictures, you will feel a weight lifted. I can promise you this from my own experience — purging unnecessary photos from my archives allows me to more effectively organize my family’s memories. Not sure where to start? Let’s begin with a list of photos that need to be obliterated from your digital albums now and forever after.
Through the process of trashing these pictures, you will feel a weight lifted. I can promise you this from my own experience — purging unnecessary photos from my archives allows me to more effectively organize my family’s memories. Not sure where to start? Let’s begin with a list of photos that need to be obliterated from your digital albums now and forever after.
2. Not-so-perfect shots. I have a few duplicate photos on my phone.… OK, I have a lot of duplicates. Who could blame me when I have 64 gigabytes of memory available to get just the right snapshot? The right photo of brunch? 20 snaps. Just the right photo of my grandkids? 50 snaps. And we all know that when we ask a stranger to take a picture for us, we literally never actually mean just one photo. I want the whole burst of photos — the whole “hold the shutter button down for 10 seconds, and voilà! One hundred photos to choose from.” I want options. Which leaves me with even more unnecessary clutter.
So trust me when I say that I get it. We all strive for perfection in our photos, especially when it comes to social media. Post one and delete the duplicates now! Including the 1,000 pictures of your dog, cat or guinea pig doing absolutely nothing. They are cute, but I promise you need only one.
So trust me when I say that I get it. We all strive for perfection in our photos, especially when it comes to social media. Post one and delete the duplicates now! Including the 1,000 pictures of your dog, cat or guinea pig doing absolutely nothing. They are cute, but I promise you need only one.
3. Unphotogenic moments. Some photos are less flattering than others. Especially when they are blurry, the angle is weird, the flash creates the dreaded red eye or people are blinking. Are you really going to scrapbook that somewhat blurry photo where no one is looking, or if they are, the flash has turned them into a demon incarnate? No. Do not scrapbook those unflattering pictures. These photos are not how your memories deserve to be remembered. Delete these photos now!
4. Shutter mistakes. Have you ever been shocked by your own face when you are taking a photo and suddenly realize the camera is turned on you? Or have you ever been digging frantically in your purse, aka the “black hole,” to find your phone before it stops ringing only to find it too late, fumble and then end up with a few photos of the ceiling? I should not have to tell you this, but delete these accidental photos now! Preferably right when they happen.
It may seem overwhelming to begin the process of discarding extra photos, but have no fear! The waiting room at the dentist, the line at the grocery store or before bedtime are perfect for dedicating five minutes to this task.
The photos of your family gatherings, soccer games and graduations may forever be lost in the hoard of photos you’ll never actually use or share. Your story matters, and the fewer photos you have to work with, the better the stage for your story to play out on.
More
Great Home Project: How to Organize Your Digital Photos
You Can Do It: 6 Steps to Organizing Your Loose Photos
The photos of your family gatherings, soccer games and graduations may forever be lost in the hoard of photos you’ll never actually use or share. Your story matters, and the fewer photos you have to work with, the better the stage for your story to play out on.
More
Great Home Project: How to Organize Your Digital Photos
You Can Do It: 6 Steps to Organizing Your Loose Photos
I know, I can hear you saying, “But I was going to try and make that meal” or “I really am going to remember to buy those shoes when they go on sale.” No. You won’t. If you don’t use these ideas within a month, toss them or find somewhere else to save them.