Getting Started with Print Photo Organization: Your First Step

Like any organizing project, the hardest part of tackling your print photos is simply getting started. But before you can dive into the organizing process, the first thing you need to do is ask yourself: Am I ready for this? 

Once you’ve made the decision to take on this project, the next step is figuring out where all your photos are and what you actually have.

Step 1: Find Your Print Photos

Before you can start sorting through all those family snapshots or decide which photos of Great Aunt Betty deserve a place in the album, you need to track down all of your print photos. At first, this may seem simple—after all, you probably know you have stacks of albums or shoe boxes tucked away. But if you’re like most people I work with, your photos are probably scattered across various places in your home, and maybe even in other people’s homes.

So, take a deep breath, and get ready for a photo scavenger hunt! Gather up as many prints as you can find before you start organizing. It’s far easier to stay consistent with your organizing process when you have all the photos in one place. Going back and adding more photos later can throw off your workflow (a fancy term for your step-by-step process), so it’s best to collect everything up front.

Where to Look for Hidden Photos

You might be surprised by where your photos have ended up over the years. Here’s a list of places where printed photos tend to hide:

• Photo albums (including old, dusty ones)
• Photo boxes or shoe boxes
• Framed pictures (check behind those frames!)
• Scrapbooks
• Relatives’ homes (ask around!)
• Plastic bins in the attic or basement
• The fridge (magnetic photo holders, anyone?)
• Drawers (junk drawers, kitchen drawers, nightstands, or even the coffee table drawer)
• Closets
• Under furniture (beds, couches, dressers—you never know!)
• Wallets (sometimes you forget there’s a photo tucked inside)
• Memory boxes or hope chests
• Yearbooks or other books(you never know what’s tucked inside the pages)
• Safety deposit boxes or wall safes
• Unprocessed film rolls (remember film?)
• Moving boxes (perhaps packed away during your last move)
• Attic, basement, or garage
• Storage units (if you have one)
• Secret hiding spots (under a floorboard, inside a mattress?)

Grab your own copy of our list of over 50 places your precious family photos may be hiding.

The key here is to think creatively—your photos might be hiding in places you haven’t even considered. Just don’t get too sidetracked by memories as you go! There’s plenty of time to reminisce later; right now, focus on finding the photos.

Step 2: Put It All In One Place

Once you’ve tracked down your photos, the next step is to bring them together in one location. Ideally, you’ll want a flat surface where you can spread everything out while you work—this might be a rarely-used dining table, a ping-pong table in the basement or the guest room. The more space, the better. When organizing print photos, being able to see everything laid out will keep you motivated and on track.

If you don’t have a large surface, get a couple of bins or boxes to hold everything. This will help you keep it organized while you’re still sorting through the piles. You can even do a rough sort at this stage. For example, photos from your maternal grandmother’s family in one pile, and all the photo albums in another. If you have a lot of loose pictures, use a bin to keep them together until you’re ready to start the real sorting.

And don’t worry—you don’t have to organize everything in one day! It’s okay to break the process up into manageable chunks. But the important thing is to avoid creating an avalanche of photos in the middle of your living room!

Step 3: Start Sorting

With all your photos in one place, it’s time to start planning how to organize them. Should you go by year, event, or person? Or maybe you’d prefer to sort by themes, like “vacations” or “holidays.” Whatever system works for you, the key is to stay consistent. Remember, organizing your photos doesn’t have to be overwhelming—it’s all about finding a system that fits your needs and lifestyle.

Wrapping Up

Organizing your print photos doesn’t have to be a long, tedious task. The first step is simply to find and gather all your prints into one location. Once you’ve done that, you’re ready to dive into the sorting and organizing phase—where the real fun begins! Whether you choose to organize by year, person, or event, remember that the goal is to create a system that will help you enjoy your memories for years to come.

So, go ahead and gather your photos. The first step is the hardest, but once you get started, it’s smooth sailing from there. You’ve got this!

Other Helpful Posts

Print Organizing Services by Good Life Photo Solutions

The Beginner’s Guide to Organizing Your Printed Photos – our 6-step process for more organized prints

The Ultimate Guide to Dating Your Photos – tips and resources for dating your old photos

Like with Like: An Easier Way to Organize A Print Photo Mess – a quick, fun way to put order to the chaos

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