It was 2018 and my kiddo was graduating from high school.
It was a big year, and I was an emotional momma bear.
Like so many parents, I found myself reaching for comfort in the only way I knew by revisiting the memories that had shaped her childhood. I pulled out the old photo albums.
There was the one from 2000, the year she was born. The preschool album with sticky pages filled with chubby cheeks and crooked pigtails. The first day of kindergarten, which got its own dedicated page. The album from our vacation to Puerto Rico. And the one from the time we surprised her with a hot pink and lime green bedroom makeover (she still claims that was the best day ever).
As I flipped from year to year, my heart was pulled in every direction equal parts joy and bittersweet ache. But then, the albums stopped.
Somewhere along the way, as digital cameras took over, my storytelling moved online. I posted to social media, texted pictures to friends, and even had one of those digital picture frames cycling through moments. All wonderful… but none of it felt like the tangible, hold-in-your-hands story that those albums told.
When I opened my computer and scrolled through the sea of digital photos, it just wasn’t the same.
Right then, I knew: those albums weren’t just cute keepsakes. They were the visual diary of our family’s story. And that tradition needed to be revived.
Now, I do one photo album a year and I have a simple routine that makes it completely doable, even for the busiest season of life.
My 4-Step Photo Printing Routine
1. Heart your favorites as you go along.
Whether you’re on your phone or computer, take a moment when you snap a picture you love to “favorite” or “heart” it. These will be your go-to images when it’s time to print.
2. Print photos once a month.
On the first of every month, I print the last month’s batch of favorites. No backlog, no stress, just fresh memories ready to go.
3. Have the album ahead of time.
Before the year even starts, I buy my photo album and keep it in plain sight. When prints arrive, I slip them in right away instead of letting them pile up.
4. Download a photo lab app now.
I keep my favorite photo lab’s app on my phone so printing is literally a two-minute task. No uploading marathons, no “I’ll do it later.”
Why this works: The key is that I made photo printing part of my everyday life instead of a once-in-a-decade project. By breaking it into tiny steps, I’ve kept the tradition alive and my family now has a printed album for each year.
If you’ve been meaning to get back into printing your photos, start small. Pick one simple step, maybe hearting your favorites this week, and before you know it, you’ll be holding your family’s story in your hands again.
If you’re ready to start a photo printing project start by grabbing a photo album. Here are a few good ones to check out!
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$13.99
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$27.99
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$24.99
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And if you’re looking for even more help getting the most enjoyment out of your photos, check out the other ways we can connect:
Follow along on social media! Check out Instagram and YouTube to get my latest information.
👉 Grab my free Photo Resource Guide – it’s packed with tools, apps, and simple steps to get started.
👉 Check out my book, Beyond the Storm – a powerful blend of true stories and practical advice for safeguarding your photos.
👉 Want to join the photo organizing CRUISE? This fun getaway is set for February 2026 and YOU are invited to join! Check out The Great Photo Voyage and be sure and sign up soon, space is limited!