Wednesday, July 8, 2009

PHOTO MANAGEMENT

Yeaaahhh! Summer is here and whether you are going on a vacation or a staycation, cameras will be clicking! When the chillier months arrive (yes, I am trying to feel the cool of fall amidst this July heat!), you will want to snuggle up with friends and family to enjoy the warmth of summer past, right? And, of course, the best way is to flip through your beautifully crafted photo album…but where to begin? Don’t let the guilt of all the photos in shoe boxes and on CD’s and stored on you computer way you down. The first thing you need to do is make a decision-how do you want to categorize your photos?

Of all organizing projects, this is one with the most options-chronologically, child or person, holidays/special occasions-to list just a few. Chronological can be the easiest but separating by child or person allows you to pass that album on to them. Once that is decided, begin by sorting the photos into piles on a large flat surface. Be sure to label. In between periods of sorting, do not leave the photos out where the piles can get mixed up again, store the photos with the labels in a box or container that will not only protect them but also keep them sorted. You should schedule time on a regular basis to keep the momentum going. You might even consider creating a system where you easily access small quantities of the photos to be organized and add them to the sorted ones. This would allow you to do a little at a time. This is about setting yourself up for success. Enlisting help is not a bad idea but I must offer a word of caution-stay focused on the sorting process and don’t get caught up in reminiscing and telling stories. There will be time for that when the project is complete.

Once the sorting process is complete but before putting them in a photo album, search on line for companies that will scan your photos and send them back to you thus keeping a protected copy aside from your scrapbook or photo album. This is especially good if you live in an environment where a natural disaster could strike.

Evaluate your options for albums. Consider where you will keep them. Most people like to keep them on book shelves where the largest of albums may not fit. Luckily, there are scrapbook stores, direct marketing consultants, and craft stores that can educate you about your options. Most importantly, enjoy the process and have fun! As long as you moving forward on the project, don’t let the size and scale of it discourage you.

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