How to organize your photographs

by Jen (May 24, 2007)

If you have a ton of photos that need organizing, there are a few ways to approach this.

First: consider scanning all the photos and dumping the hard copies. This option isn’t for everyone, but it can be very freeing (plus oh so easy to post or email the digital scans to friends and loved ones). You can buy photo scanners that can even read from negatives, producing excellent digital copies. I reduced several boxes of photos to some files on a detachable hard drive a few years ago, and I’ve never looked back.

If you like your hard copies, no sweat! Buy some acid free binders for the ones you have, and a few extra for the ones you’re going to have eventually. When you develop photos, put them into a binder ASAP. Make that part of the whole photography process.

You can have different binders for different roles of film or events. Or you can separate the binders according to who gave you the photos, or what they’re of… whatever makes sense to you. It’s a good idea to mark the binders and put captions on the photos. Turn it into a fun scrapbooking event.

Don’t forget the negatives! You don’t want to lose those. One very simple option is to put them into an envelope and tape the envelop to the binder they belong with.You can also go through and write the negative number near the photograph in the binder so that if someone wants a copy of that picture you know just which roll or individual photo (I think that service is still available?) to get developed.

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