Getting Organized

• 1). Get your pictures organized before you begin the process of archiving them. This will make the process go smoother and you'll be finished faster. You can sort your pictures chronologically and then according to event, or you may have a method that works better for you.
  
  
• 2). Just inserting photos into a blank sleeve doesn't tell the whole story. You may want to embellish your photos with frames or captions. When you revisit your album years from now having a few lines of explanation will help you recall the events of the day.
  
  
• 3). Keep an open mind when it comes to how best to store your lifelong memories. You have options that weren't available 10 years ago. Consider having your pictures scanned into a computer so that you have a digital copy that can be preserved forever. If you don't have a digital camera, invest in one. Film and cameras that use film are becoming obsolete.
  
  
• 4). Get acquainted with the digital age. Even if you print every picture you ever take it is important to have a permanent record that cannot be destroyed. Another great advantage of digital albums is the cost factor. You can save thousands of images on one CD-Rom, whereas it may take hundreds of dollars to print every photo. Print a selected few and keep the rest archived for future reference.
  
  
• 5). Use a photo album service. There are photo printing websites online that will print your pictures and arrange them in an album of your choice. You simply upload the photos, tell them your specifications, and they do the rest. The finished product will be shipped to you or you have the option of having it shipped to a friend or relative.