How I organize my Photos

It has occurred to me that we are the last generation to have the unique challenge of managing vast collections of physical photographs. In the late 90’s and early 2000’s people slowly started using their phones as cameras, and now, most people store their memories on their smartphones or computers (as well as post on social media). Before then, we couldn't preview or delete them, and we found ourselves with stacks of photos that are blurry, duplicates, or simply bewildering – "Who is this person, why did I take this picture, and why on earth did I take so many?"

Gather & Sort

The first step  is to gather all your photos together. Then, start to sort into piles by year, or decade, or occasion. For example, I have some very old black and white family photos that are categorized together, regardless of the year. There may be some years that just don’t have a lot, and some that there are so many that you will want to sort them into sub-categories like “birthday party”, or “wedding”. 

While you are sorting, this is the time to toss any photos that are duplicates, blurry or unidentifiable. If you have many photos of the same thing, try to pick one or two of your favorites.

Write on the back of the photo any pertinent information; even if you don’t have an exact date, try to narrow it down to a year or time in your life like “college years”, “the house on Derry Lane”, etc.

Existing Photo Albums and Frames

Unfortunately, the older photo albums, we now know, will eventually ruin the photos. The cardboard pages, the adhesive, and the plastic covering all give off acids that over time, deteriorate the photos' color, leave stains on them, and make it hard to remove them without damage.

If you have photo albums that have been passed down to you, or from pre-digital times, you will need to carefully remove them from the albums before they become damaged.

I will also caution you against storing photos in frames. If you are not displaying a photo, it is best to remove it from the frame. Over time, the photo will sort of “melt” on the glass and start to deteriorate.

Photo book created online with Google Photos.

Storage Solutions

Here's how I personally organize and store my hard copy photos. Over the years, I've managed to pare down my collection significantly. As time passes, what seemed captivating in the past may not be as significant anymore. Many photos have been scanned and transformed into photo books. (Since I store my photos in Google Photos, I use their photo books, but there are many photo book services out there.)

For the remaining physical photos, I use these plastic photo storage boxes. I always label each box with the year or occasion it contains. This simple labeling system makes it a breeze to locate specific photos when needed. Plus, these boxes are stackable, secure, and equipped with handles for easy portability.

To sum it up, the key to successful photo preservation is organization and a dash of sentimentality. So, don't hesitate to embrace the digital age, scan and digitize your most treasured photos, and create beautiful albums to relive those moments. And for the rest, a well-organized, labeled storage system will keep them safe and easily accessible.