July 24, 2008
Organizing Photographs
What would life be without the memories and reminders that photographs bring? Many of us wouldn't think about going on a trip or to a family function or a friend's birthday party without bringing along a camera. And, since most cellphones have a camera function and can be pressed into service should the need arise, it's even easier now to snap those precious pictures!
While the memories and reminders are a blessing, what to do with all those photos once you have them can feel like a curse. Whether they're prints from film, digital cameras or cellphones, photographs can quickly become overwhelming "clutter". Organizing them will get rid of the clutter, reconnect you with memories and experiences and give you access. If you've got containers of photos under the bed, on shelves in the closets, in half-filled albums, bureau drawers, or mini-storage (!), or in the basement, attic or garage, here are some tips to help you organize and care for them. After all, being able to enjoy your pictures is the point, isn't it?
TIP #1 - GATHER THEM UP: If you tend to have random, loose photographs floating around the house, define one place for collecting them all and then make sure to always put them there.
TIP #2 - STORE THEM PROPERLY: Store photographs in a dry place in a sealed container away from light. To prevent water damage, do not them store on the floor.
TIP #3 - USE ACID-FREE MATERIALS: All storage materials - boxes, albums, paper, sheet protectors, etc. - should be acid-free to prevent damage to precious photos.
TIP #4 - CURATE YOUR COLLECTION: If you're like most people, the odds are your collection includes some less than perfect pictures. If a photo is dull, out-of focus, over- or under-exposed, toss it. If no one recognizes any of the people in the photo, toss it. The first step in the organizing process is to weed, weed, weed.
TIP #5 - REWARD HELPING HANDS: Invite your loved ones to help you sort and weed your photos then reward them by letting them choose the ones they'd like to have.
TIP #6 - SPREAD THE WEALTH: If you've got duplicate photos, pass them along to the people featured in them or to people who would simply enjoy having them. Otherwise, toss them.
TIP #7 - GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: Photos can be hard to part with, but it will be easier if you keep in mind that tossing a picture doesn't mean losing or forgetting the related memory, person or experience depicted in it.
TIP #8 - CREATE PHOTO ALBUMS: If you've got the time, energy, patience and inclination to get your photos in albums, it's a great way of organizing and being able to access them when you feel like taking a walk down memory lane. If you don't want to invest in fancy or costly albums, consider using a regular binder, heavyweight acid-free sheet protectors, acid-free card stock, and clear photo corners. WARNING: Do not use albums with adhesive pages. They can damage and discolor photos.
TIP #9 - BE REALISTIC: Be honest with yourself, if you'd love to get your pictures in albums or use them for scrap-booking projects, but you never seem to get around to it, choose a means of storage that's simpler and more realistic for you. Clean up the clutter by putting your pictures in acid-free, archival photo boxes with dividers so you can separate photos by date or category.
TIP #10 - LABEL, LABEL, LABEL: Use permanent ink pens like fine point Sharpies to label photographs with full names, date, location and event. This is the best way to avoid anyone ever wondering about the who, what, when or where of the picture. Be sure to label your photos on the bottom edge and stay clear of any important parts of the photographs, like faces.
TIP #11 - IF ALL ELSE FAILS: If you don't have time to label pictures as they come in, make sure to create section tabs in your archival storage boxes for each year and place the pictures one behind the other in chronological order.
TIP #12 - CUT THE CLUTTER AT ITS SOURCE: Limit the number of printed photos you allow into your life. A small but highly effective step is to eliminate double prints of pictures, even if doubles are relatively inexpensive. Do this and you'll be cutting your photo clutter in half!
TIP #13 - GO DIGITAL: If you don't already have a digital camera, consider buying one. Most of them take very good quality photos and give you the option - a major plus - of deleting pictures you don't like. Print out only those photos truly worth the time and expense and keep the rest stored on your computer, memory card or disc. Organize them the same way you would organize print photos by labeling the folders or discs containing them with full names, date, location and event.
TIP #14 - SCAN TO DIGITAL: If you really want to streamline things, consider scanning all of your photos and only keeping physical copies of those photos you absolutely can't bear to part with. Keep in mind though that you can always print out a photo should you care to in the future. If you don't have a scanner or want to do it yourself, there are photo-scanning companies that will do it for you, i.e., ScanDigital.
TIP #15 - OLDIES, BUT GOODIES: If you've got old photographs that are fading, crumbling or frail, two good ways of preserving them are scanning or photocopying. A good local resource for scanning and restoring old photos is Preserve Your Past. You can call them at (212) 598-5847 or visit their website.
TIP #16 - DIGITAL PHOTO FRAMES: A digital photo frame is a picture frame that displays digital photos without the need to print them or use a computer. Most digital photo frames display the photos as a slideshow and usually with an adjustable time interval. For more information, Google "digital photo frames".
TIP #17 - THE PERFECT GIFT: Give a thoughtful, personal gift to friends or family members by selecting a few special photos you know they would like and putting them in a regular or digital photo frame or a small album.
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MILLER ORGANIZING. All rights reserved.
14 Stuyvesant Oval
NYC, NY 10009