Is your photo organizing project under way?
My step-father recently told me that he had located boxes of his own childhood photographs and wanted help getting digital copies of those pictures. When I got together with him I saw (for the first time) the most amazing collection of photographs from the 1940’s and 50’s. What was supposed to be a day of getting digital copies of each photo ended up not being as productive as I had expected, however the outcome of that day turned out to be much more valuable than even those digital images.
Although I had thought I knew so many of his childhood stories already, the pictures sparked conversations that I couldn’t have imagined. I learned so much about his childhood, our hometown and other family members. We ended up spending so much time on each page of the album, just discussing each photograph, that the “get a digital copy” project ended up being a secondary mission. The highlight was that special, unexpected time we spent together.
Are you are looking at photo organizing through the wrong lens? Instead of treating the project as a task, like cleaning out the garage, consider it more of a time for traveling down memory lane. Set aside just an hour a week to pull out an old album or box of pictures. Take time to enjoy those photographs. Work together with a family member. Use it as a time to bond with children and grandchildren over those memories. Then give yourself grace. It doesn’t matter if you get a digital scan of 5 pictures or 50. Progress is progress. Enjoy the journey!
Be sure and forward this email on to that friend or family member who you want to work together with to get photo organized!
If you are just starting out on that journey check out my shopping page for photo organizing products. From my favorite album the the external hard drive I use, it’s all there and ready to help you get photo organized too!