How to organize photos and document your family history
How to organize photos and document your family history
When my first child was born, the creative world exploded with a new craze. Scrapbooking. At the time, a popular company offered people a home business of selling products to highlight family memories.
I was hooked!
The tiny coat closet of our home transformed into a craft “room”, compliments of my husband. He built a desktop, about one arms length across, and half as deep. He even installed a few hooks, and a happy paint color.
Smack dab in the hallway of our little home, naptime offered mama entrance to crafty land. Scrapbooks were adorned cutesy stickers, and photos were cut into shapes. All a bit overkill by today’s styles, but stick with me 🙂
We need to discuss the pros and cons of all the ways to organize your pictures. I’ve done most of them, and have learned what works best…for me. There is no right or wrong way!
The best way is one you’ll enjoy preserving the story of your life, your family, and your home.
Scrapbooking has been around since about the 15th century! There is for SURE a way that will be helpful (and hopefully enjoyable) for your needs!
How to organize digital photos chronologically
With digital photos, you’ll do yourself a HUGE favor to have a system to chronologically organize your pictures. Otherwise, let the gnashing of teeth commence. No need if you are starting from a reasonable stash.
Even if you have like 30 years of photos? Check out companies like Legacybox for help, and this piece by Shotkit could be especially helpful for you.
It can’t be sufficiently emphasized how peaceful this one step can make memory keeping.
When digital cameras became popular, I took a class on how to store my photos. To be honest, it was overwhelming because it was techie. Not my jam. Thankfully, Prince Charming, A.k.A. business-minded husband helped me sit down and create categories.
The same system has worked for me for over 15 years, what a tool it is when I need to find something!
Here is a sample of what it looks like.
Under PICTURES, I create a folder for each QUARTER of the year. For example, 2011 Q3, contains July, August, and September.
If you take a lot of pictures, consider a Highlight folder of ones you’ll print off.
Then, inside of each MONTH, I created subfolders for any activities or recurring themes.
For example, FAMILY/FRIENDS, HIKING,
This allows me to go into my PICTURES and there will be a search bar at the top right.
It becomes simpler to find things, when we can type “Christmas eve 2014” than having 5, 000 to have to sort through with no simple distinction
How to organize printed photos
Scrapbooking is not for everyone; don’t feel bad if it isn’t for you! The important thing is to organize your photos in a way that will accomplish your goals.
I have years worth of printed photos that are stored in photo boxes, tucked into a closet. Photos that I don’t plan to use, or am just too overwhelmed to deal with. Can you relate?
No biggie! The key is to make sure they are in a photo-safe box. They are cheap and sturdy.
Photo boxes can be especially helpful if you inherited piles of photos and aren’t sure how to sort them!
You can use the cardboard dividers provided, or, like I do, just slap on a sticky note with an approximate label.
You don’t need perfection yet, just a starting point. They can be organized in greater detail later. The most important thing about printed photos, is to remove them from the old photo albums!
They ruin the photos with time, as they didn’t have the technology for acid-free products. Don’t be afraid of those old albums– if the pages are stuck to the photos? I have been lucky with gently using waxed dental floss under the photos to loosen them. Also, a hair dryer on low heat, in short bursts might loosen the adhesive.
If you enjoy the simplicity of putting photos into a traditional album, I will put a link to photo safe ones below!
John 1:16 –From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another (NLT)
Organizing printed photos with scrapbooks
There are so many ways to scrapbook! Here are the real pros and cons I’ve found of creative paper books. After moving many, many times? Those ever-increasing collections of scrapbooks are really heavy. Legitimately cumbersome.
Once, when we moved? We had 10 boxes, just.of. scrapboxes. That can be a little much for most. Those years of creating so earnestly to preserve all my children’s lives? The truth is, they won’t want so many.
They might not have the space, or it just isn’t their thing. That is ok, I’ve learned, and nothing to deter you from creating more.
Remember that is it enough to scrapbook for your OWN enjoyment, to remember your story, in a way that brings you joy.
My shelves groan from the gazillion scrapbooks. Perhaps even the concrete is cracking a little in our foundation from the sheer weight of their masses.
However, should my kids *or anyone else in my world* ever want to see their story?
They can count on knowing I’ve cared to document it. That is a gift for them, but also personal satisfaction. Plus, I have loved every minute of creating them! That is what hobbies are, right? This one is for YOU, and when they are ready? They’ll enjoy them too.
No rush.
If scrapbooking IS for you? There is a distinct split between the first decade and the second. Whereas it used to be all cutesy and thematic, it has become narration based. I highly recommend the latter.
This is especially rewarding emotionally for photos where you have only a few, one…or even none. Become a keeper of the story, by telling what you know. Record those descriptive memories while you have them.
Psalm 103:2Bless the Lord, O my soul,and forget not all his benefits (ESV)
Best photo books for digital memories
If crafty isn’t your jam, then uploading your digital photos to companies that create beautiful books for you is the way to go. We have used Shutterfly, Snapfish, and Costco to create lovely hardcover records or family memories.
Teaspoon of Adventure has a great review of photo book makers and what she likes (plus the cost) of each here.
There are advantages to organizing your photos with this type of book.
They are much lighter and thinner to store on a shelf
After purchasing scrapbook supplies? These often have wound up being cheaper in the big picture (see what I did there? Picture. She’s got jokes, ladies and gentlemen)
No creativity is needed. These companies have drag-and-drop templates, to easily make your photos flow
Psalms 77:11 But then I recall all you have done, O LORD; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago (NLT)
Create mini books with thematic pictures
If you have a grouping of thematic photos, it can be fun to organize those pictures into a small mini-book. I would recommend this as a hobbyist level way to record memories.
For example, my grandfather let me interview him the last time I wound up seeing him, many years ago. All 10 of his siblings are gone also, and I wanted them to be remembered. I gathered the tiny tidbits I knew about each, and let them shine on one page per sibling.
We inherited a pile of photos from my father-in-law’s childhood, on the farm in the 1940’s. They also have their own little book. These are tiny treasures.
When you have too many printed pictures for a scrapbook page, this can be a loving tribute.
Ephesians 5:20- giving thanks to God the Father for everything (NIV)
Why I love scrapbooking
When we are young, we assume our memory will be as sharp as those living color moments. And then, life. Aging and brain fog, plus a massive accumulation of life experiences?
The trusty memory bank gets pretty full.
Scrapbooking and knowing where to find over 50 years worth of pictures, helps me remember and delight in traveling back in time. To be able to find what I am looking for to relive a memory. To be reminded of sweet moments of being a wife and mother, all over again? Priceless.
There is also a place in organizing our photos for the hard times. Life isn’t all precious memories, and it can be therapeutic to also record the raw emotions. In a sense, organizing our photos in this way is a visual journal. One that helps us process and move on from pain.
No matter HOW they are organized, being able to go through photos has become a grounding touchpoint for me…regardless of circumstances beyond my control. A reminder that God’s mercies are new every morning. That we will make it.
Philippians 4:19And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus (ESV)
Celebrating the small things in your family story
Perusing our life experience visually is a wonderful complement to a slow-living lifestyle. Taking the time to savor where you have been, and reflect on where you hope to go.
One more thing, as a veteran homemaker and mother, all of these documented stories? They are my greatest “material” treasure. When we are busy in the throes of mom life, it is easy to miss the regular days. We don’t get to slow down as easily, because we are living it.
Time truly flies. Remember, there is no such thing as an ordinary day.
Knowing where pictures are tucked away, allows us to see life from a different perspective. From a different season. This offers a unique opportunity to remember the little things.
That, my friends, is a treasure worth delighting in…over and over again.
P.s. WHEW, I’ve been meaning to share these ideas for years, but it felt overwhelming. I truly hope these ideas help you celebrate your story♥
Favorite Tools to organize your photos
These are suggestions, and if you go to a hobby store near you instead, just make sure they say archival or photo safe…
If you aren’t doing projects that require archival safe paper, I love to search for ephemera packs of vintage papers on Etsy. A few favorite small businesses I like are My Little Crafty Corner and Paper Pippi
This is an older book, but it has great ideas for preserving memories in ways (and on topics) you might not think of. Also, they are fast and simple to replicate
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