Beginners Guide to Scrapbooking: Photo Organization

Now that you have your basic supplies you will need to get your photos organized. Once your photos are organized you won't have to waste time searching for a particular photo. Whenever you process a new roll of film you should immediately organize the photos. By immediately organizing you won't have to worry about misplacing the photos and they will be at your fingertips when needed.

Digital photographers have different organization needs. Your digital photos should also be organized and backed up. When uploading your newest photos, save the photos to the correct folder, and immediately print the photos you know you want to scrapbook. By immediately printing the photos they you love you will be ready at a moments notice to be able to sit down and scrapbook or attend a crop party.

What supplies do I need to organize my photos?

Photo Box
When searching for a photo box be sure that the box is specifically made for storing photos. Many Rubbermaid and Sterilite containers are not safe for photos. Find a box that is large enough to fit all your photos or if you have a ton of photos make sure it is large enough to hold a years worth of photos. If you are a digital user you'll need a box large enough to fit all the photos you have printed that are waiting to be scrapped.

You will also need a pencil and 4"x6" index cards with tabs.

How do I organize my photos?

As you are organizing your photos you will be creating categories and making a discard pile. If possible you will want to organize the photos by year first and then into less general categories. You will be organizing in two steps. Depending on how many photos you have this may take several hours. Try to chose a place that will not be disturbed if you run out of time or get called away.

1) Start by making a index card for the years that you know you have photos for. Lay these index cards out in front of you and begin by separating the photos into piles by year. Create yearly index cards as necessary.

2) After organizing by year you will begin organizing by person, them, or event. Here is where the organizing becomes more difficult, you will have some photos that will fit into more than one category. Chose the category that best fits and more on to the next photo. Start creating category index cards as you discover photos. These categories may be an event like a birthday or a person. I also have create categories like silly faces, at the beach, outdoors, etc.

Now that you have finished a complete year place the year index tab at the front and put each category for that year in line behind the year tab. Each category should be properly labeled so that you can find any photo at a glance.