Photo Pointers

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Once you have planned your workspace, it's time to tackle your most important element in scrapbooking: your photographs. Depending on the period of time you’re attempting to scrap, you’ll have anything from a small stack to boxes full of photos. It may seem intimidating at the beginning, but these simple steps will have you organized in no time.

Checklist

• 2 Lifetime tables
• A Lifetime folding chair
• Your photographs
• Photo-safe or acid free photo boxes
• Folder tabs that fit your photo box
• A few hours and some patience

Steps

1. First, decide how you want to create your albums. If you want them to be chronological, then sort and organize your photos in that manner. If you plan to do albums about each family member, sort that way. Or, if it is by theme, keep this in mind too when you sort photos.
2. Spread out all of your photos into piles on a separate table from your workstation, and sort them either by year, theme or person. Once those piles are gathered, go through each pile and put them into chronological order. Once sorted, put them in photo boxes, multi-file folders or other organized storage containers. Date each section so you can find it easily.
3. Store photos safely. Never put photos in paper envelopes or use metal clips, rubber bands or regular clear tape on photos. These can have acid or gases that cause your photos to deteriorate. Place photos in products that are photo-safeor acid-free photo boxes or photo chests of archival quality. When in doubt, check the product label.
4. Keep your organizing current. Once you've gone through the process of organizing your photos continue using that process for current and future photos. Keeping your photos organized can make scrapbooking an easier and more enjoyable process.
5. Scrapbook the best and save the rest. The slogan, coined by Colorbök for its new album system, says it all. Don't try to scrapbook every photo. Go through your pictures and ask yourself, "Is this photo necessary to tell the story?" If not, give yourself permission to put it away in a box of leftover photos. I often see women scrapbook four of the same picture. Your picture means more when it stands out than when it is surrounded by like photos-unless they are used to create an effect.
6. Pay attention to your photos. The best photos make for the best layouts. I sometimes find all the tools, toys and accents so much fun that I want to use them all-but it's not the goodies that tell the story, it's the photos. Make yours count. Choose the most powerful pictures for your pages.