Photographs are near and dear to our hearts. They preserve our memories and they are a history of days gone by. If you love taking pictures of family, vacations and scenery, you may find that you’ve amassed quite a collection of photos. What’s the best way to sort through your photos and store them? 

Here are some tips for organizing your photos...

First think through what system of organization makes the most sense for you. Do you like to have your pictures sorted chronologically or by subject matter? Perhaps you’d like to combine those areas and have pictures chronological within the categories.

Next figure out how you’d like to store your photos. Do you prefer photo albums or photo storage boxes? Sometimes the sheer amount of photos may have you choosing boxes over albums. However if you want to view your pictures more often or share them with others, photo albums may be preferable.

Are you, or is anyone in your family, skilled with a computer and scanner? You can digitize your photos, create photo albums, and share photos with family members online. Digitizing your photographs and even your negatives is a great way to save space in the home, preserve, and share your pictures with more family members. If you have slides or negatives, do a little research to find the necessary tools that will be compatible with your computer and the items you want to digitize. Going digital with your photos also allows you to use your pictures in creative ways as gifts for loved ones. Your pictures can be printed on mugs, shirts, blankets, posters, as greeting cards, on canvas, metal, wood and more.   

When you look at all the photographs you’ve taken over your lifetime, it can be difficult to know where to begin when it comes to downsizing. How can you possibly organize and pare down your pictures without feeling like you’re losing an old friend? You may not want to let go of your holiday photos, vacation pictures or everyday snapshots, but there is a way to cut out some of your photos while keeping the most important memories intact. Here are some tips to help you sort through your photos... 

As you begin to sort, set aside any duplicates. You may wish to share some of these with family members or divide them between your children or grandchildren. Other duplicates you may want to toss.

Are there any pictures that aren’t flattering of you or loved ones? Get rid of them and only keep the photos that show everyone in a pleasant way.

Are there pictures of people that you don’t know or can’t remember? It’s ok to let these pictures go. Are there photographs of people that you no longer like, perhaps you have photos of people from toxic relationships? Get rid of them.

As you look through your vacation pictures, weed out the shots that are very similar in nature and only keep the best of the best. There’s no need to keep the attempts at a good photo that are blurry, off-center, askew, etc. Just keep the photos that show your vacation in the best light.

Make sure to label and date your photos, album pages or storage system. Note any important people, family members or locations so your descendants can have a better understanding of the photos you kept and why they were important to you. Take the time to jot down some memories of the vacation or event to store with the photos.

When you are sorting through your photographs and organizing them, remember that you'll eventually be leaving them as a legacy to your family and friends. Keep what's most important, label them or leave a note with the who, what, when, where and why, and toss the pictures that no longer hold the same meaning for you.

Most importantly, have fun reminiscing and remembering the good ole days as you sort!