When someone asks me to recommend a professional photo organizer, there’s one company I always come back to: Pixologie, The Photo Estate Company, co-founded by photo organizing expert Mollie Bartelt.
But the story of how I discovered Pixologie is a little unusual. It involves a long flight, a YouTube binge, and an unexpected friendship.
And actually, I have a history of finding friends in unexpected places online.
In 2005, I placed an ad on Craigslist looking for a studio manager for my photography business. I hired the perfect person, and more than 20 years later, she’s still one of my best friends. We love telling people we met on Craigslist.
Apparently, finding friends online is a thing for me, because another wonderful friendship began on YouTube.
How I Discovered Pixologie and Photo Organizing Expert Mollie Bartelt
I was on a long flight, obsessing over the best ways to help people organize and protect their photographs.
I’d been a professional photographer for decades, but my passion for pictures had grown beyond taking them. I wanted to help people preserve the photographs they already had, and I was determined to share accurate, trustworthy information with my community.
So I started researching the leading experts in professional photo organizing, digital photo management, and family photo preservation.
That’s when I found Mollie Bartelt and Pixologie.
I spent nearly the entire flight watching Pixologie’s YouTube videos about organizing printed photographs, managing digital photo collections, preserving old family pictures, and sorting through a lifetime of accumulated memories.
I was hooked.
What impressed me wasn’t simply the depth of Mollie’s knowledge. It was how approachable she made everything feel.
I’d grown a little tired of tech experts who seemed to forget that not everyone speaks their language. I’ve always believed that caring for photographs shouldn’t require a computer science degree. Pictures belong to everyone, and the knowledge of how to protect them should too.
Mollie understood that.
Her explanations were thoughtful, practical, and delivered with the kindest voice. I had found exactly the type of expert I wanted my community to learn from.
So I started sharing Pixologie’s videos.
Not long afterward, Mollie herself reached out to thank me. We began talking, discovered our shared passion for preserving photographs, and eventually met in person.
And just like my Craigslist friendship, I had a feeling this one was going to last.
Why I Trust Pixologie for Professional Photo Organizing
Today, Mollie and I cohost the Great Photo Voyage, a photography-themed cruise for people who love pictures as much as we do.
We come from different professional backgrounds. I bring decades of experience as a photographer, while Mollie brings her expertise in organizing, digitizing, and preserving family photo collections.
But we share the same belief: the photographs people treasure today deserve to be protected for future generations.
And getting to know Mollie professionally and personally has given me an even greater appreciation for the work she and her team do. When they take on a photo collection and offer their photo organizing services, I know they are doing an excellent job for their clients.
It’s one thing to research a company and admire its expertise. It’s another to get to know the people behind it, understand their approach, and see the care they bring to preserving other people’s family memories.
That’s why, when someone asks me who I recommend for professional photo organizing, I confidently suggest Pixologie.
What Is Pixologie, The Photo Estate Company?
Founded in 2013, Pixologie specializes in organizing, digitizing, and preserving family photographs and memories, including large-scale collections of printed and digital photos.
Over more than a decade, the Pixologie team has organized and preserved millions of family photographs, slides, negatives, film, videos, memorabilia, and treasured documents.
Their clients often include busy professionals, retirees, and families who have accumulated decades of photographs or inherited collections from previous generations.
Some have tried organizing everything themselves and feel overwhelmed. Others simply don’t have the time or would prefer to trust an experienced professional to handle the project properly.
Pixologie helps turn those collections into something families can actually enjoy.
What Is a Photo Estate?
A Photo Estate is an organized, curated, and preserved collection of family photographs, videos, and memories, thoughtfully prepared for both current enjoyment and future generations.
Pixologie follows a three-step process, and the order is important:
1. Organize: First, the team organizes the photographs and family keepsakes to understand the collection and determine what should be digitized.
2. Digitize: Next, they coordinate digitization of printed photographs and older media so those memories can be enjoyed, accessed, and shared.
3. Preserve: Finally, they develop a plan for secure storage and future family access, helping protect the collection for generations to come.
I particularly appreciate this approach because it addresses something I talk about frequently.
It’s not enough to simply save our pictures. We also need to consider what happens to them next.
Will our children know where to find them? Will someone understand who’s in those old photographs? Will future generations be able to access the memories we’ve collected?
Creating a Photo Estate helps families prepare for those questions.
Who Should Hire a Professional Photo Organizer?
I believe everyone can take steps to protect their photographs, but I also recognize that not everyone wants to tackle a lifetime of pictures themselves.
Hiring a professional photo organizer can be especially helpful if you:
- Have thousands of printed and digital photographs scattered across devices, boxes, and hard drives.
- Have inherited family photographs, slides, negatives, or home movies.
- Feel overwhelmed by the thought of organizing decades of memories.
- Want an experienced professional to help create a lasting photo preservation plan.
- Simply prefer to have the project handled by someone who specializes in this work.
For many families, the greatest benefit is finally being able to enjoy their pictures instead of feeling burdened by the project of organizing them.
Meet Mollie Bartelt, Professional Photo Organizer and Photo Estate Expert
Mollie Bartelt is the co-founder of Pixologie, The Photo Estate Company, and has worked in professional photo organizing and preservation since 2013.
She has helped organize millions of photographs and is the author of six books, including The Pixologist’s Guide to Old Photos, Genealogy and Saving Your Family History.
Through her client work, educational presentations, YouTube videos, and online courses, she helps families understand how to organize, enjoy, and preserve their photographs.
And having gotten to know her, I can tell you that her enthusiasm for helping people care for their family memories is genuine.
Why Pixologie Is My Recommendation
I never imagined that searching YouTube for photo organizing advice during a long flight would lead to a friendship and eventually hosting photography cruises together.
But I’m so glad it did.
I discovered Pixologie because I was looking for genuine expertise. I became friends with Mollie because we shared a passion for photographs. And I continue recommending Pixologie because I believe in the knowledge, experience.
If you’re looking for a trusted professional photo organizer to help you organize, digitize, and preserve your family’s photographs, I encourage you to learn more about Pixologie, The Photo Estate Company.
Your pictures deserve to be enjoyed today and protected for the generations who will treasure them tomorrow.
👉 Want to join the photo organizing CRUISE? YOU are invited to join this fun Picture Person getaway! Check out The Great Photo Voyage and be sure and sign up soon, space is limited!
👉 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.
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