Prep Work for Your Printed Photo Organizing Session

So You are Ready to Organize Your Printed Images!

If you are like most of my clients over the age of 35 (or with children over 10 years old), you have printed photos, as well as digital images.  Maybe you have printed pictures shoved in drawers, rubbermaid containers under the bed, or boxes in the top of your closet.  Maybe you have inherited old pictures from a parent or family member through death or downsizing.  You’re likely overwhelmed by the thought of going through these photos, but you’ve decided that you must do something to get your pictures organized so you can find and enjoy them again.

It’s important to note that to organize your printed photos you will sort through your pictures more than once.  Before you start, you will need to decide if you will organize your photos by theme or chronologically.  

Chronological vs. Themes

While there is no right or wrong way, it is usually quicker and easier to organize your photos by theme instead of by date, particularly if you are only dealing with your immediate family’s photos.  Over the years we forget exactly when Sam lost his front tooth or what Susie looked like at age 6 versus age 7.  We do, however, take photos of similar events throughout our lives.  Most of us take photos of holidays, birthdays, hobbies/activities, and the places we vacation.  We also tend to search for our pictures with a particular event in mind, not a particular date the photo was taken.  When trying to decide how to sort your photos, ask yourself, “How will I search for this picture later?”  That should help you determine the best way for you to organize your photos.  The only time I recommend organizing chronologically is if you already have your photos grouped by date or you are dealing with old heritage photos, in which case I recommend you organize your photos by decades or generations.

Getting Set Up and Ready to Sort

Now that you have decided to organize your pictures and you’ve determined how you will sort them, here are some steps to take to get ready.

1. Gather all photos into one place.  It’s a good idea to set up a table in an area of your home with good lighting where you can leave your table out for awhile without it being in the way.  Bring all the boxes and bags of lose photos, as well as any photo albums that you want to disassemble.
2. Gather supplies.  You will need Post-it notes, index cards, cotton gloves (to keep oil off the photo), photo safe Stabilo-All pencils for marking the back, a magnifying glass, scissors, a trash bag, possibly a label maker, and a few sorting boxes (empty shoe boxes could be used).

   

   Materials needed before sorting

3. Label index cards and set out on your table.  If you are sorting chronologically you will want to have index cards labeled with decades if dealing with heritage photos.  If you are just dealing with your own immediate family’s photos you can label by one-two year intervals.  For theme sorting, think about how you’d search for a photo and make an index card for all those events.

   

   Theme Based Sorting

   

   Chronological Sorting

Now you are ready to begin!  If at anytime you get stuck, feel free to contact you local Personal Photo Organizer for help!  Next week we will discuss what to do during your initial sorting session.

Teresa Cox

www.photoconciergeservices.com