Like with Like: An Easier Way to Organize A Print Photo Mess
Let’s talk about sorting photos. Raise your hand if you have a box, bag, or an entire bin of loose print photos that is a completely jumbled mess.
I’m sure that because they are so unorganized, just looking at them makes you break out in hives. How can you even think of putting them into some kind of order? Can you say overwhelmed?
You probably look at them and then return them to their spot on the shelf or in a drawer and walk away. Believe me; I’ve heard this story before.
Allow me to share a better way to create order in the mess, a way to sort photos that is quick and, dare I say, fun.
Remember back in Kindergarten how the classroom was organized? We put like with like. All the blocks went on one shelf; all the dress-up clothes were in another corner.
We will do something similar with your photo jumble, and like magic, you will have a much more organized collection at the other end.
One caveat: I wouldn’t do this method if your photos are somewhat organized, such as still in the developing envelopes. This technique is more for a pile of truly random, loose pictures.
The only tool you need is space. You will need room to spread out for this process. Using something like your dining room table, a large coffee table, or even the floor is helpful.
Step One: Grab a handful of photos
We are going to start with a handful of pictures. Make sure they are all facing the same way. Now turn them over so you are looking at the backside. Yep, that’s what I said, the back. Trust me; trust the process.
Step Two: Sorting Photos by Size and Shape
Start making piles, sorting the photos by size and style (3½” x3½”, round corners, wavy edges called deckling, Poloraids, etc.). Don’t worry about what is on the front of the pictures right now. We are only concerned with the size and shape. This process ends up being a little like dealing a deck of cards.
This is a high-speed example of sorting by size, shape, and type. (Ignore the fact that I am sorting the photos face up. It just makes a better visual that way.)
You can repeat steps one and two until you’ve sorted all the photos.
Step Three: Make Sub-sorts
Pick up one pile, ensuring they are all the same kind, shape, and size of photographs. Now examine the backs of the photos for identifying marks or stamps. In older photos from the 40s through the 60s, every photo (theoretically) was stamped with a batch number such as 106 and 319, or perhaps the name of the store that developed it. Some older photos even have the number written with a pencil.
In newer photos (the 90s through 2000s), there is often a seemingly illegible string of characters, which actually may contain a batch number. Look for similarities. Sometimes you get lucky, and there is a developing date. Start making piles of these batch numbers and dates.
Try to find the similarities in the codes, like the first or last few numbers and letters.
(Left) Use whatever clues you might have.
(Center) No. 11a was likely the 11th photo printed in that roll of film.
(Right) ome may only have the processing date stamp.
Step Four: Turn Them Over
Now for the magic, turn over the piles. Ta-da, while it is probably not perfect, you have successfully sorted your print photos into some semblance of chronological organization. You can now work on sorting, organizing, and identifying the images by what’s on the front.
from a trip to North Pole, NY, c. 1950.
I use this method on my own family photos and those of my clients. It works every time! It doesn’t make for perfectly organized photos but provides an excellent starting point.
If you need a good resource for dating these different types of photos, check out our post, The Ultimate Guide to Dating Your Family Photos.
So try it out and let me know how it goes. Have you ever sorted your photos by the backs before?
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I think it is fun to sort through printed photos, but a lot less phone to sort through the many digital photos. We all have so many, and I don’t have a good plan for bringing order to these photos. In contrast, the old photos are FEWER, and because their quality differs, easier to find a few to toss. This is a great exercise for this time, as is sorting through all of our memorabilia. I love all the advice you give here!
The ones that are the same size and shape often end up being from the same roll of film, so that helps with the process too.
This is an approach I never would have thought of, and it makes so much sense! Love the info about those numbers on the back of older photos, too. Lastly, most of my clients get distracted by looking at the pictures (memories …), so turning them over for the first two sorting waves will be a HUGE time saver.
These are great step by step instructions, and helpful images. This is how I sort photos, too, and I’ve also noticed that the same size photos are of the same event/era. One of my “to do while social distancing” tasks is to finally organize some old printed photos. I think it is a good project for anyone stuck at home to undertake now.
This is an interested process. I’ve never thought of organizing photos by size and I’ve never understood what those numbers were on the back of old photos. Thanks for the info.