Let’s talk about that phone that is overflowing with pictures! You need to take steps now to organize and backup those photographs before it is too late. Here is my complete checklist of all of the steps I suggest you take starting TODAY to keep your photos safe!
1. Organize Your Recent Photos
[ ] Review your camera roll and delete screenshots, duplicates, and accidental shots
[ ] Favorite or tag important memories from the past month
[ ] Add names, locations, or notes to key photos
2. Back Up Your Photos to the Cloud
[ ] Make sure your phone is set to auto-backup with iCloud, Google Photos, Amazon Photos, Dropbox, or OneDrive
[ ] Confirm that your latest photos are backed up and synced
3. Separate Important Photos Into Folders/Albums
[ ] Folders can include special events, holidays, “best of” for each family member, or personal highlights/achievements
[ ] Add a short caption or note to preserve the story behind the moment or event
4. Download to a Second Location
[ ] Save that month’s folder to your computer. I suggest using an external hard drive
[ ] Optionally copy it to a USB drive or a second cloud storage account
[ ] Label folders clearly for future reference
5. Share and Print Favorites
[ ] Text or email a few favorites to loved ones
[ ] Start a running annual photo album, print a few favorites every month to add to it.
[ ] Print one or two standout photos to gift
6. Protect Your Photographs Going Forward
[ ] Make sure you have access to your cloud account credentials
[ ] Review who has access to shared albums or cloud folders
[ ] Set a reminder to repeat this checklist next month
7. Prepare Your Photos For the Future
[ ] Add important photos to a heritage folder that will be passed down
[ ] Add photos of each family member and milestones/accomplishments to a genealogy website
If you are looking for more inspiration and tips to keep your photo collection neat and organized, check out my book Beyond the Storm! I share every secret I have to make sure that your pictures are safe!
Part memoir, part practical guide, "Beyond The Storm" delivers emotional, real-life stories while providing invaluable tips for digitizing, organizing, and protecting your own precious memories before disaster strikes. This book is a must-read for anyone who values the power of photographs and the stories they tell. Perfect for fans of "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up" and "Hold Still," it’s a call to action—reminding us that even in the wake of destruction, our most cherished moments can still be saved.
And be sure and follow along on Instagram for simple tips. And for my longer tutorials follow along on YouTube.
I've tested dozens of tools, apps, scanners, and services to find the absolute best solutions for photo organization. And now, I’m sharing them all with you in one easy-to-follow FREE guide!