Organize those Photos!

Do you ever have the New Year’s resolution that reads, ”ORGANIZE MY PHOTOS”. Ever since I got a digital camera in 1995 I have been promising myself to organize my digital photos. It’s quite an overwhelming task when you look at the thousands of photographs on your computer hard drive, camera card or phone. Here are a few steps to help you conquer all of those digital images:

1. Upon taking a photo or downloading, immediately delete bad shots.

2. Rename your images so that searching will be easier. (extra step, learn how to “tag” your photos)

3. For each calendar year, sort into major categories such as:

a. Events (Kwanzaa, Christmas, Summer Vacation)
b. People (Friends, co-workers, neighbors)
c. Places (Baltimore, Top Sail Island, Pittsburgh, Bali)
d. Family (individual folders for immediate family members)
e. Heritage (images collected throughout the year)

4. Select an on-line photo developer

5. Upload photos by folder identified above, order at least 10 photos from each folder (sooner rather than later)


Now, race over to the sidebar and order your FREE subscription to Scraps of Color Espire, you’ll need it for the next phase.

Once you receive your hard copy prints you can try the following tips:

• Make an date with these photos (set an appointment date for when you will sit down and handle them appropriately).

• Pull up the premiere issue of Scraps of Color Espire and dream of the possibilities or;

• Insert photos into safe “slip in” photo albums so they can be enjoyed while they await be scrapbooked or;

• Purchase a photo album kit (my favorite is Creative Memories Pic folio) Paper comes pre-cut and decorated…you can complete a year (120 photos) in an afternoon or;

• Create what I call “Personality Profiles”, enlarge and print/develop one photo to 8”x10” and scrapbook it anyway you like, include the journaling on the page or tucked away, but accessible behind the photo, be sure to include descriptive language about the subject of the photo in the journaling.

• If none of the above ideas inspire you, attend a crop and scrapbook every single one of those photographs and make sure you share them on-line for a much deserved applause!



What are some of the challenges you face in managing your photos?

Lisa A.K.A. "Ethnic Scrapbooking"

What is Ethnic Scrapbooking?

Hola! I’m senorita Lisa Sanford and that is the extent of my Spanish. I’m thrilled to be part of a team that is dedicated to inspire. Inspire you to create, to be more creative in all aspects of your life. I made my first scrapbook in 1972 when I was in second grade. I’ve been passionate about creative scrapbooking for 12 years now. I’ve designed products and have been an advocate for diversity in the scrapbooking craft industry since the day I was introduced to Creative Memories.

After I did years of the chronological scrapbooking for five children, my sister asked me to do an album of her first trip to West Africa. While I was home having babies, my sister was travelling the world. I enjoyed her photos (by the thousands) and stories about cultures in lands far away. I quickly became enthralled with teaching my kids about other cultures through scrapbooking and that’s Ethnic Scrapbooking. I authored Ethnic Scrapbooking, not as a scrapbooking how-to-book, but a book about self-exploration…about connecting to your own culture as well as others.

My style of scrapbooking has varied over the years…right now I’m about quick and easy (because I work full-time) with a heavy dose of meaningful journaling with an emphasis on educating. Really, scrapbooking is a lifestyle for me. Being behind the lens has changed my perspective on many things…mostly about how I want to be remembered by my children (all five of them). I incorporate cultural learning into many areas of my life, from the foods we eat, the music we hear, the clothes we wear and the activities we partake in.

One of my favorite workshops that I teach is Kwanzaa Through the Year. It’s a class where you review the seven day ritual of Kwanzaa and reflect on the past year of photographs to find ones that represents the meaning of the principles. It’s a weeklong fun way to look back through your photographs and see your (or your family’s) growth throughout the year, to see how you can connect to a cultural tradition that may not be part of your heritage and document it through a mini album or a series of scrapbook pages. This method can also be adapted to other weeklong celebrations or series of principles or virtues such as the Beatitudes from the Holy Bible or various Jewish Holidays.

My challenge to you is to take more everyday photos of your daily life and to think out of the box and give “connecting to other cultures” a try.

Parts of this article are adapted from Ethnic Scrapbooking, pages 58 & 59.