How to Downsize a Lifetime of Printed Photos
Do you have stacks of albums or loose photos languishing in drawers and closets? You are not alone. Tackling a large photo collection can be overwhelming and emotionally taxing, so it often lands on the bottom of our perpetual to-do lists. Sometimes a major life event - such as a special occasion, a family illness, or moving to a new home - finally motivates us to get it done. But where to start? At Infinity Photo Solutions, we have over 20 years of experience organizing, curating and preserving photo collections. Here are some of our best photo organizing tips to help you get on the road to an organized, streamlined photo collection.
GATHER all of your loose photos, albums, scrapbooks, memorabilia, slides, home movies, etc. into one place. A large folding table in a spare room works well for this. Check drawers, closets, the basement, under the bed, or anywhere else photos might be hiding.
INVENTORY your collection. Group like items together to get a better scope of the project. Make a list of what you have; for instance: “12 photo albums, 10 shoe boxes of loose photos, 6 envelopes of oversized photos, 3 boxes of parents' photos, 3 trays of slides, 16 video tapes.”
REDUCE the footprint of the collection. Start with albums and frames; this will likely remove much of the bulk in your collection. Consider removing photos from albums that are yellowed or degrading. Also remove photos from frames that you are no longer displaying. Make notes on index cards or write on the back of photos with a stabilo pencil.
SORT your photos using the ABCs of photo organizing:
ORGANIZE your photos chronologically and/or by theme starting with high level groupings, such as “1960s” or “Vacations.” You’ll almost always go through several rounds of sorting and can get more specific later. Sorting chronologically is best if you plan to digitize your photos, as they will more easily merge with your digital photo collection, which is generally sorted by date.
FOCUS on organizing rather than reminiscing. It's fun to revisit stories but try not to go too far down memory lane that you get derailed from your organizing goal. Use the 5-second rule to help you stay on track: give each photo only 5 seconds of your time before moving on to the next one.
SELECT the best photos for scanning. These are typically your A, B, and S photos: your favorites and photos that complement the best photos and/or tell a story.
SCAN your printed photos to create digital copies for sharing with family and preserving for future generations.
STORE the printed photos you want to keep in archival storage boxes for safekeeping. Your prints are the original source and can be considered a backup.
ENJOY your photos! Now that your photos are organized and scanned, there are so many fun things you can do with them! Photo books, slideshows, digital photo frames, photo gifts – these are just a few ways you and your family can enjoy the photos that were previously hidden away for all those years!
Still feeling overwhelmed or don’t have the time or bandwidth to turn your photo chaos into an organized, meaningful collection? Let our experienced photo organizers do it for you. It is our joy and privilege to help you get your photos organized, preserved, and back into your life!
We’ll help you:
Gain control over your entire photo collection
Select the best photos for your family to preserve
Scan your family’s photos, slides, and negatives with state-of-the-art scanning equipment
Convert videotapes, film, and other outdated media to digital files so you can enjoy watching home movies with your family again
Create a Family Share Site and back up your files so your family has access to your newly digitized photos and home movies for generations to come
Design photo books and slideshows to celebrate the special people and memories in your life
Achieve peace of mind that your photos are safe, backed up, and able to be enjoyed!