Organizing Photos:
Digital and Film

Got photos? Are they organized? Decide which photos you want to organize first: film or digital then follow these steps.

STEP ONE – Develop (film) or Download (digital)

Develop all canisters of film OR download all pictures off the digital camera.

STEP TWO - Edit

Film

Duplicate photos should be given away/deleted! The “give-away” system can be as simple and economical as using envelopes or Ziplock baggies labeled “Grandma” or “School”*. There is no reason to hang onto 30 pictures of your child’s first day of school. In contrast, photos become lavish gifts when presented in a leather photo envelope or inserted into glass bookends. A nice gift for grandparents is to insert a photo into a pre-matted frame and let little ones sign their names on the mat.

Film and Digital

• Get rid of blurry, out of focus photos.
• Do not keep several copies of the exact same subject matter.
• Pick the best and get rid of the rest.

Digital

• Delete all photos you don’t love.
• Remove Red Eye.
• Crop and Rotate.
• Adjust Color.
• Resize.

STEP THREE – Categorize Your Photos

Regardless of which method you prefer, film or digital, it’s best to stick with a logical naming convention: I suggest year first and then subject. For example, digital photos could be grouped like this:

2006 Vacation to Midwest

Illinois

Chicago

Indiana

Michigan

• Detroit
• Traverse City
• Mackinac Island

Wisconsin

2nd option: create a folder for each month (2006_07, 2006_08,). This way your computer does the work for you (putting them in chronological order.)

Film photos could be grouped according to topic like this:

School Pictures – Chris
School Pictures – Cole
Or by season:
2006 – Spring
2006 – Summer
2006 – Fall

Write on the back of each photo with a pigma pen; the ink is acid-free and won't fade. Pigma pens are found at craft stores.

STEP FOUR – Handle With Care

Film

Have a safe place to keep photos; invest in an archival-quality photo box or album—one that is lignin-free and acid-free). These are sold at scrap book stores, craft and hobby shops, or online.

- Store the box in a cool, dry place—not the basement, attic, or garage. Humidity, heat, and light will destroy photos.

-Note: Make copies of ultrasound photos; they are not acid and lignin free.

-Boxes are easier and faster than albums. They offer order without the inconvenience of an album in the event you want to add or subtract photos often.

Digital

Upload your edited photos to an online service like Snapfish, Photobucket, or Shutterfly. Make sure you label these files the same as your folders to avoid confusion when retrieving photos.

SECURITY

Film

If you want to save negatives a box is best. Make sure the box is sturdy and acid-free. Slide the negative sleeve into a “negative envelope” and label it with a pigma pen.

Digital

Back Up! Once you’ve added your photos to a third-party site, it is a wise idea to order prints (if you want them). Last and certainly not least, back up your data! Most online services will let you order a backup CD of your photos or you can back up on your own.

In the words of U.S. lawyer and civil rights activist, Florynce R. Kennedy, “Don’t agonize. Organize.” With the tips above, your photo collections will be looking great in a snap. Now, SMILE and say, “Cheese!”