Be your own photo editor

I have a digital camera currently, so editing new photos is a no clutter issue. If I don’t like them, I don’t print or even save them. There’s not even digital clutter.

However, I didn’t always have a digital. I used to have a basic camera, and I always made prints of photos. Photos are likely my number one biggest clutter issue right now. I have maybe three photo albums that are actually complete – two of my son, and one of older stuff, but I really need to get a handle on my pictures. If I don’t this poor child of mine will never have nice albums to look at in his later years.

My first step:

What I’m doing right now is sorting and editing. I have boxes of negatives and photos. I set the negatives aside for the time being and am concentrating on te actual printed pictures I have.

To sort your photos:

Take out and toss any lame, fuzzy, or flawed pictures. Unless you have a reason, like your three year old took a fuzzy, but cute picture of his room, than don’t keep poor photos. Also don’t keep photos you just plain don’t like. Just because it’s a clear shot, doesn’t make it a memory you want to keep. If you can’t decide, make a can’t decide photo box, and decide later.

As you go, jot down vitals on the back of the picture with a photo safe pen. I’m writing down names, places, and dates. If I can’t remember, I’m letting it go. It’s not that big a deal.

Next up in photo organizing; um, well, I’m not sure. After I get through sorting I’ll let you know where I go from there. I have a few ideas. I’m betting it will have to do with organizing by date though – yikes!

Stay tuned…