Organizing Photographs

LET’S GET ORGANIZED

I imagine many of you already have a mass of photographs all over your computer, no problem. Here’s is how to start. START TODAY.

1. Make a folder on your computer called PHOTOGRAPHS. Then think of what you mostly take photos of, family, nature, trips, etc.
2. Make subfolders in the PHOTOGRAPHS  folder with these headings. Make them very broad so you only have 5 or 6 subfolders at the most. Don’t worry if you can’t decide where something goes. Your photos can go in more then one folder.
EX. You can put the photos of your son in his own folder and in the folder of the trip to Cancun.
HOW TO DEAL WITH ALL THE UNORGANIZED PHOTOS:  In each of the 5 – 6 subfolders make another folder called “to Organize” put all your unorganized photos from that theme in that folder.  You can just dump in all the photos of your trips, family, art photos etc in this folder.  Then while you’re watching TV or something little by little you can put them where they belong.

NOW MOST IMPORTANT: Every time you download photos from you camera make subfolders under the main themes and put those new photos there.

Here  are two sample of a structures that will probably work for lots of people. This second one will seem daunting however this is what you’re working towards.

SAMPLE ONE : Simple start (do this today)

PHOTOGRAPHS
Travel
to organize
Family
to organize
Fine Art
to organize

SAMPLE TWO: This is your goal.

PHOTOGRAPHS
1. Family
a. Kid 1
i. 2012
ii. 2013
iii. 2014
b. Kid 2
i. 2001-2005
ii. 2005-2009

c. Mom
i. Childhood 0-18 years
ii. 18 – 30
iii. 30 – 40
d. Dad
i. Childhood 0-18 years
ii. 18-30
iii. 30 – 40
e. Family together
i. 1999-2005
ii. 2005-2010
iii. 2010-2014
f. Other family
g. to organize
2. Travel
a. 1995 (these can also hold same photos from family folder}
i. Cancun
ii. France
b. 2000
i. New York
ii. Houston
c. to organize
3. Art Photos
a. Landscapes
i. 2012
ii. 2013
iii. 2014
b. Close ups
i. 2012
ii. 2014
c. to organize