It is easier than you think.Your goal is to create a small collection of meaningful images that both you and future generations will treasure.
Let's get started. Choose a work place. Get three containers and gather all your photos together, even those in photo albums.
Container 1:
Those that have immediate emotional impact are the keepers. What makes them so special? You'll know immediately because they will evoke a feeling, bring back a memory and they are irreplaceable.
Container 2:
This will have photos you will not be keeping. They are the ones that:
- are severely over or under exposed, or hopelessly blurry.
- have people or places you cannot identify.
- are poor duplicates of similar photos that are much better. (How many pictures of "that trip to the lake" do you really need?)
- bring back moments you'd rather not revisit.
Container 3:
There will be some you can't make decisions about on the first evaluation. They go in this group. You'll revisit these when you are done. Be true to your intention and remember your original goal was to create a small manageable collection of the most precious memories. You'll find there will be some from this group that have another purpose. Other family members and friends might love to have them and that's exactly what you'll do; mail or deliver those photos to people who will sincerely appreciate the gesture.
Your first step in the process is complete. Next, decide if any of the keepers from Container 1 need restoration. Those are the ones that are precious, but not perfect. They might be faded, yellowed, torn, spotted or scratched, but not beyond repair.
Lastly, you will decide how to preserve and view the images you are keeping and the choices are many and varied. Options include traditional frames, photo albums, digital photo frames, CDs and DVDs or a composite of several photos for framing and wall display.
One final thought. Whenever possible add a personal narrative to tell the story behind the photos. Your family members will like that part best of all.
