Week 6- Photos
Wow, this one was overwhelming and easy at the same time. Overwhelming, because when you have 20 years of photos, you’re talking about a daunting task. Easy because the MAIN job of this week’s thing is to pick a system and set it up. I guess we’re supposed to work on it whenever we don’t spend the whole week doing our other stuff. Ok, I can handle that.
One thing I love about this organizational challenge are all the fabulous links she has to amazing products. So, looking for photo storage ideas before I made my decision, I start looking at her suggestions. What I found, to my surprise, is that I was drawn to things I NEVER expected. For example, these great Sailcloth Storage boxes. I tend to want COLOR or white. Instead, I drool over these natural colored boxes. What’s with that?
I also loved these from the Margo Storage Collection. Aren’t they just yummy? I love that Taupe, that Celery, and that Steel. The Steel would match my bedroom well, but I’ve been planning on ACCENTS, not coordinates. OY. Do I want my photo storage to pop in my room or to blend? I don’t know. I thought I wanted a pop but…
This was a fascinating idea. I’m not sure it’s what I want, but boy, I am seriously considering it. I will just keep thinking. Kwim?
The Photo Dock by Memory Dock holds an awful lot of pictures and organizes them really well. What I do not like are the colors. While the lovely sailcloth above grabbed me and I LOVED the color, the “warm sand” here just makes me think, “Meh.” I love the grape but it doesn’t match anything, and the meadow is ick for me. I happen not to like black AT ALL for decor in my room, so I’m sayin’, “No thanks” to this idea I think. Drat. The only thing that will make me change my mind is if I can figure out how to spray paint it or decoupage it or something.
Creative Memories had a “Power Sort” product that was basic, simple, and reasonably attractive, but it is just your basic box and dividers– and the box was black. No thanks. Cropper Hopper had a plastic option. Um, not my thing. I LOVE plastic… I’m not one who has eradicated it from my life– I enjoy it in a million and one ways. Just not this one. Another “No Thanks” option was an expandable “accordion” folder kind of thing. Nah. I LOVED these hardwood boxes, but they aren’t what I am willing to spend and are not the look I’m going for in my bedroom. So, they got nixed too. Of course, there was a basic simple solution– regular photo albums. Just plop your pictures in until you’re ready to scrap them puppies. It’s easy to use it too. Simply grab the album, flip through the pages, and grab the pictures you want, and make your page. They’re easy to enjoy until they get scrapped, and at least you can have the mental feeling of “hey, all my pictures are in albums!!!” Furthermore, you don’t even have to put them in the albums in order. Just put them into books willy nilly, and then with another empty one, slowly organize at your leisure. 🙂
Can you guess which option I chose? Wanna know why? Well, because that’s what I did a few years ago! I got tired of seeing my pictures in zip lock bags, I popped them in photo albums. At least we could enjoy them even if they weren’t chronological. Just sayin’.
Now, the next thing “Wookiemouse” says to do is to sort. I’m not sure I’m going to. I might later, but for today, I’m going to leave it as it is. Why? Well, the fact is, I’m not a scrapper– not primarily. I do intend to scrap my photos– it’s just not my priority like it is for people doing this challenge for their “scrap space”.
Digitally speaking, she offers several options to organize your photos. She just didn’t suggest the one I own already. Snort. I got, on the advice of a digital scrapbook designer, ACDSee. I love the program and now I need to do something about it. Having the program is great, but if you don’t USE it, it’s a waste of money. I have about 1/4-1/3 of my scrapbook elements/papers/alphas etc organized. I need to do more. So, I think I’m going to dedicate one hour a week to it. Seriously, there’s no reason not to just spend an hour organizing. So, that’s my goal. I’m thinking Sunday nights after everyone goes to bed. Close the browser, turn off the messenger, and work for one solid hour. It’s the idea anyway. Her suggestions for how to organize your photos and get the job done are excellent. Read her article. This isn’t a rewrite, it’s a “what I’m doing with what she says,” so head on over and see what’s up!
Now, the main thing she has you do first is choose whether you want to organize chronologically or by subject. I’m (in the digital program anyway) going for the chronological plan. I just think it’s more how I think.
She also makes a big pitch for Stacy Jullian’s Library of Memories plan. Well, I did some research and I can’t find anyway to do her online class, but hey. I tried. I did find this book, Photo Freedom. I may buy a copy. We’ll see. If you know of another book she might mean, do let me know. I figure if I’m going to do this, I might as well do it right. Just sayin’.
Just a thought on her opinion on 3 ring binders. While I agree that it’s easier to shuffle etc… for people like me who need to see accomplishment… using a “bound” version is really much nicer for us. All those EMPTY slots really give us a boost to keep going when it seems like there’s no end in sight. The fact is, as long as we’re alive, there IS no end. So, for people like us, we need to see the “empty sink” sometimes before it gets refilled with dishes from the next meal. Just sayin’.
There you have it. Week Six. Thud.
paradoxology.wordpress.com 