Ever feel overwhelmed when you think about family photos, videos, and your other memories? Are they easy to get to or are they scattered in different boxes and locations like your closet, the garage, or a storage unit?
I love looking at family photos and imagining the stories of family members from a hundred years ago. And, of course, I enjoy looking at the memories I’ve had with my children and now with my grandchildren.
A reason I’m a photo coach is because I believe your family’s memories and your family’s story is important to preserve so future generations will be able to look back and understand their heritage.
Going through old boxes to find photos, videos, audio cassettes, slide shows and more can feel lonely, like we’re struggling through this together.
Currently, I’m working with two types of small groups:
- Educational sessions for those who are completely new to preserving their photos and want to learn the best practices for decluttering, digitizing, and enjoying their family’s memories.
2. Photo circles, small groups of friends who can then coach each other in future months. The graphic for that session is below.
Click on my Events page to see what I’m doing during October in Monrovia, California.
You can do this anywhere in the U.S. and the world with friends and I can show up for a session via online.
Let’s Declutter Together
We’re social creatures and cleaning up and organizing can seem lonely and discouraging when life gets in the way.
Wouldn’t it be nice to have a small community who share your interest in organizing and safeguarding all of your family’s memories?
You’ll be with others who can share your experience and understand your passion for family memories.
You can learn from me and each other as well.
How to Declutter
Decluttering isn’t difficult but it does require a mindset.
Be willing to change
We get used to living in our situations even if we don’t like it. Ever feel like the clutter is in charge and you’re not? Plus, we get busy and we can function just well enough that we learn to live with clutter.
Be willing to change and know that you can clean so you feel in charge and at peace.
Find a central location
Bring your photos, VHS tapes, slide shows, your external hard drive and other files into one central staging area.
Begin the process of keeping and deleting. How do you know what to keep and what to toss?
Here’s an easy guideline to follow.
Keep the photos that grab you emotionally and tug at your heart.
Discard the obvious blurry pictures, the duplicates, and get rid of the memories where you don’t know any of the people in the photo.
At the end of this post, I link to an additional post that you’ll find useful.
How to Digitize
I digitize using the services of FOREVER®.
During my almost 30 years of photo coaching, FOREVER® is the best solution I’ve found. Here’s what you can do:
Digitize older, out of date media files like printed photos, video and audio tapes, slide shows, Super 8 film and printed documents.
Store your files permanently, guaranteed. You own your account and FOREVER® is designed to last for a lifetime, plus 100 years and with the goal of going beyond that time frame.
FOREVER® is the safest cloud storage I’ve found as well. Files are triple backed up and migrated to newer technologies as they become available thanks to the FOREVER® Guarantee Fund, at no extra cost to you or future generations.
Turn your digitized files into printed photo books and gifts to keep your memories alive and in use every day.
Finally, you can research your family’s history making use of FOREVER®’s professional genealogists to trace your family line back generations and centuries. I’ve traced my family line back to the Civil War era.
How to Form a Photo Circle
Ask some of your friends or family who care about their photos if they’d like to have a photo circle. Bring them together and their photos and I can show up online to coach you through the basic steps.
Scroll down to get in touch and I’ll share more of the details with you.
Let’s Preserve Your Family’s Story
Do you have questions on how to declutter efficiently and make sure you don’t miss important memories?
Contact me and let’s visit.
I’ll be glad to answer your questions and help you get started whether you’re in Southern California or you live anywhere in the world with an internet connection.
Your family’s story is valuable so let’s make sure it’s preserved for many decades into the future.
Be sure to scroll through my Events page and follow me on Facebook and Instagram for decluttering and digitizing tips.
Here’s a post I wrote recently that will also help you declutter and digitize:
Let’s Tell Your Life Story and Preserve Your Family Photos and Other Important Memories