I think too many people are put off by the task of organizing their photos. They have amassed boxes of photos over the
years and are simply overwhelmed by them. Don't let this be you. You never took those pictures with the intent of storing
them in boxes, bags or developers envelopes! It doesn't have to be overwhelming, but you do need to make a commitment to begin!
The albums don't have to be fancy or elaborate-that's all a matter of person taste and talent. Each will be unique because
it will reflect your personality.
My biggest piece of advise to you is to journal. Write down at least the minimum of the five W's-who, what, where, when
and why. Even if you never get your photos into albums yourself (and there really is no reason why you can't accomplish this
goal) your family will be better prepared to achieve success. How many of us have come across an old photo and we know it's
of grandma, but we don't know where she is or with whom she in interacting? So much is lost! Don't let this happen to you.
Contact family members and get the stories behind those pictures before it's too late. And don't leave incomplete history
for your future generations. A bit of advise though-don't use pen on the backs of your photos; it can damage the print. There
is a pencil sold by Creative Memories that is perfect for this tast because it has a super soft lead.
A word of caution. The scrapbook industry has exploded recently and there are many choices out there. Not everything
is quality merchandise. Not everything is worthy of your precious photos. Pages and papers should be buffered and acid and
lignon free. But these are terms used by many companies and you don't necessarily know that they are the best they can be.
Personally, I trust Creative Memories products and they come with a lifetime guarantee. Never put your pictures
into an album with magnetic pages. The adhesive in them will lead to deterioration of the pictures. Additionally, don't let
your memoriabilia come in contact with your photographs for the same reason.
Make a commitment to gather those pictures and get them into albums where they can be enjoyed.
