Organizing your photos is the key!

You took these photos because you wanted to capture a moment in time. Something looked awesome, felt wonderful or was a one in a lifetime moment. Maybe you knew this moment will never duplicate itself (your baby's milestone) even though, if you really think about it, no moment repeat itself exactly. You might celebrate Thanksgiving with the same group of people at the same place and date, with the exact same traditions every year but so many components did, are, and will keep changing. So the Zen people were right - it's definitely not the same river and we should live in the 'now'. That's precisely what you'd like to capture in your photos - the NOW,encapsulated, to view later and remember, to cherish... sounds like catch 22 doesn't it?

Photos are treasures, and as such they should be kept well.


Here are some ideas to get organized, cherishing treasured moments:

Organize your photos by name -example: I have a file for each one of my kids.

Organize your photos by date - birthdays, school years, months, chronologically etc.

Themed folders, with dated photos in them: holidays, events, outdoors, school, etc. That way, you can retrieve photos for later use at presentation DVD for Bar/Bat mitzvah, a gift mini album for Thanksgiving, grandma’s birthday, etc.

Faces - believe it or not, there are face recognition photo management software out there. sample some at Picasa, iPhone.

Places - if you tend to travel a lot, this is the way to go. Create a folder for each place you've visited.
Divide your photos into subjects - work, home, family, friends and have sub categories files in them.

If you are organizing printed photos make sure all products involved are archival safe. Products with lignin and acid in them (sticky notes, sandwich bags) could damage your photos.

More about Scrapbook albums

• Digital Scrapbooks - traditional scrapbook artists create their layouts with scissors, papers, adhesive and embelishments. The digi scrapbook artists create their layouts on their computer using software like Photoshop elements or other graphic softwear. They then print their work and put it in a traditional album or a photo book. Learn more about it here.
• Hybrid Scrapbook - uses both digital scrapbook methods and the traditional ones, so a layout might be layered and printed, than added to with paper flowers or other embelishmants that create that tactile, raised, WOW effect. See samples here.
• Photo books - a service available online. You load your photos (sometimes need to download their program), choose a theme, drag the photo onto the selected background and follow the instructions on the screen. Far less creative than scrapbook, much sliker result, wait for your photobook to ship to you in it's hardbound cover you pre-selected. Serviceproviders include, but are not limited to: Shutterfly, Picasa, Picaboo and more.

Now, why would you choose to place your photos in an album at all?

• A designed photo album adds to the presentation of the photos and creates expectation. The photo (baby? Lovers? Home?) Or title (holiday? Someone’s name?) In the cover’s window, the fabric used for the cover (velvet? Silk? brilliant colors?), ribbons and crystals create a certain feeling and an urge to look at your photos.
  
• A designed scrapbook album is presentable and is quick and easy to access. A small group can enjoy your photos without worrying about poor connection, too small of a screen, slow sites or limited number of photos. You can always add pages to your Scrapbook album and it is always accessible, on your shelf.
  
• Gathering around a gorgeuse scrapbook album on the sofa is much easier than standing around a screen at a desk. There’s a sense of leisurely sharing memories to it.


• Your photos are well protected from stains and fading with Our archival photo albums . Your scrapbook album will have sheet protectors so your children and guests can enjoy it without staining it. Your photo albums will be your legacy for generations to come!


• Using our designed scrapbook albums to display your photos, make them more personalized as they contain a uniquely designed look.


• If your best photos are in a film container or your camera's memory card, they are not viewed or enjoyed. Organize your photos in a presentable way to keep on a bookshelf, coffee table or have in your purse as a mini album brag book.

Naxt week I'l write about the necesities of a good photo album.

Have a great weekend!

Choosing the right photo album for you

There are many photo albums to choose from, so I'll try to be short and to-the-point. Always remember to ask for archival quality, and use acid free, lignin free products, (yes, even the adhesive) so your photos are protected (no fading, no yellowing) and viewable for longer time.

• Old magnetic photo albums - the ones from the 70's with the 'sticky stuff' that hold the photos on the page, covered with a sheet of clear plastic (PVC or Mylar). The glue is acidic and causes the photos to yellow and fade. To remove and protect your photos look here.
• The old leather bound, rice paper dividers album - Grandma has one, probably, and on it's black inside sheets the black and white/sepia photos are assembled, about 2 per page, with photo corners. See sample here.
• Slip in pockets - nylon pockets in which you can slip your photos, scribble something on the side journeying bar if yours has one. See how it looks here.
• 3 Ring binder - On the outside a binder, inside you'll find sheet protectors to place your scrapbook pages or pocket inserts that divide the space to a few pockets where you can slip your photos in. See it here.
• Post bound/Scrapbook - my favorite. This album will allow you to expand the number of pages and is usually bound by 2 posts running through the pages. They usually come with durable sheet protector to protect your photos and avoid finger prints.I use the post bound scrapbook photo albums with all of my medium and large size premade scrapbook albums.
• Brag book - smaller slip in pockets album you can fit in your purse for quick bragging sessions. See one here.
• Book bound - bound just like a hardcover book, with a spine and a seam where the pages are sewn together. See sample here.
• Saddle Stitch - Folded signatures are placed over a "saddle" and then stapled along the spine. See here.
• Rag and bone - ribbons sawn and contains filler strips to prevent the album from yawning when filled with photographs. see how it looks here.
• The old shoe box - shuv it in and forget about those photos, or, for the fancier version, see here.

Next time I'll add photos of the different photo albums and premade scrapbooks, as well as the digital additions.

Be well and seize the day,

Sarit.

I believe...

I believe everything is connected. I believe you need to give back to the community, and often times 'pay it forward'. I believe we are care takers of the world and we should be responsible. I believe in learning from the past, living in the moment and planing my tomorrows.
I believe that when you do things 'for the love of the game' you enjoy more and you're able to excel in what you do. I believe people should emphasize their good experiences, remember the better things they encountered. I believe we should listen to one another and learn to see the opportunity in everyday experiences. I like to do things fast, yet I believe we should stop for a snail or allow ourselves the time to see how vivid the tree leaves looked today. Enjoy creation - it's yours, for free!
I create premade and custom scrapbooks and I love it. It lets me in on people joys (birth, wedding, Bar/Bat Mitzvah, birthdays, school days); I love crafting; I love the smiles on people faces when they see the end result - their memories layouts done professionally in an archival scrapbook album. I love reminiscing on good memories - I find this inexpensive experience liberating. I hope you will, too!
In this blog I'll try to explore photography techniques for the novice, help with scrapbook advice and hear about your life views and photos.

For starters, I'd like your comments/thoughts about:
What is the best experience you had in your life so far and what do you do to keep it?