Technology is great! Organizing the results is not so great. You probably have photos on your computer (maybe multiple), your phone, your family member's phones, even on kid's Ipods! Here are some quick steps to help you stay organized when it comes to your digital photos.
Step 1: Consolidate!
Get all digital files together in one place: Set up a reoccurring appointment on your calendar to consolidate all your photos in one place. This could be on a specific computer, or it could be using an online service. Decide what will work for you and do it regularly!
Step 2: Delete!
Since we have the capability to take multiple shots of one situation, we often do! Take time to pick the "best shot" and get rid of the rest. This is especially hard for new parents so remember, the more files you have, the more you have to organize, and the more you have to sift through when looking for a particular shot! Delete, delete, delete!
Step 3: Organize! I recommend using a photo organizing software like picasa (free download) or IPhoto. These programs will organize your photos by time and date associated with the file (so make sure your camera's information is correct!) They will also attempt face recognition and you can assign tags to each photo (or multiple at once) to help easily access them in the future. If you delete your extras it shouldn't take too long to assign faces and add key word tags. Some key word tags I use are; Birthday, Siblings (a good shot of all 3 kids), Cabin, Farm, School days (with the my son or daughters name included), Church, Girl scouts, Cub scouts, Baseball, and Football. When deciding what keyword tags, think about how you may want to use your photos in the future. Will you want to put together a sports book for you son or daughter? Will you some day make a gift for a grandparent with photos of all the times you have visited? Adding keyword tags takes some time on the front end, but will make it so much easier to search and find files later!Step 3: Protect! Don't put your eggs in one basket no matter how safe you may think that basket is! Have your photos stored in at least two, but preferably 3 places - one should be offsite! I have all my photos on my IMac, backed up onto an external hard drive and we also have the online backup through Carbonite. There is an app to access files from your smart phone with Carbonite.
Step 4: Share!
Take the time to create some great projects with your favorite photos. I complete a family yearbook, vacation books, school books, you name it. I also decorate our home with our favorite timeless shots. Why buy expensive artwork with no personal connection? Take a great shot, add an inspirational quote an publish on a canvas, poster or metal print and you have a priceless piece for you home.
