Taming the Photo Chaos: A Journey to a Useful Digital Collection

Are you drowning in boxes of printed photos, feeling overwhelmed by the thought of organizing them? You are not alone! Turning that chaos into a beautifully organized digital collection is achievable, and it all starts with a smart approach.

Memory Forward Founder & CEO Laura Woolsey sat down with B&H Event Space’s Derek Fahsbender earlier this year to share some of her secrets to sorting and scanning your printed photo collection. Watch the full interview here, or read on for a quick list of helpful tips for photo organizing.

The key is chronological order. Forget sorting by person or theme, that can often lead to confusion. Chronological sorting eliminates ambiguity and preserves the flow of your family story. Imagine a photo with siblings John and Jamie at Jamie's birthday. Does it go in John's pile or Jamie's? Chronological order bypasses this dilemma.

So, how do you transform that messy box of loose photos into an organized collection ready for scanning? You can rebox the physical groups chronologically and even make printed or hand written labels using a system that makes sense. This allows you to have a beautiful, chronologically organized collection that is ready to be digitized.

Why is sorting so important? Because your photos document real events, trips, holidays, and milestones. Keeping them in order preserves your family's narrative. Sorting the physical photos ahead of time will make the digitization process much easier.

Remember, the goal isn't perfection, it's about creating useful groupings that make the process manageable. It might seem overwhelming, but breaking it down makes it fun and easier to manage. To help you get started, Memory Forward offers a batch card template that you can print yourself.

Ultimately, passion is key. Find the joy in organizing, and you'll be well on your way to creating a digital photo collection you'll treasure for years to come.