How to organize your vacation pictures pt. one

So you just got back from vacation and with that - you now have hundreds, possibly thousands of photos to organize.

Sound fun and exciting?  Well, for some people this is a HUGE chore that never gets done simply because it feels too overwhelming after a week or more of vacation time. 

Never fear, help is here.  I will be sharing my easy-to-follow tips and tricks on getting your photos organized so you can share online, in print or create a photo book.

Step one:  Delete, delete, delete. 

I'm assuming that by now everyone has a digital camera - yet this can also work for traditional film cameras as well (it was much harder for me to do this with traditional prints in the beginning). 

Go through your photos and delete anything that's isn't usable.  Horrific lighting.  Heads cut off.  A stranger blocking your subject. 

The one exception to this rule:  don't delete that blurry picture you took of the Loch Ness Monster or big foot - for some reason no one can get a clear shot of either one.  

If this task feels too overwhelming, then give yourself a set number of photos to go through each day until you get this all-important task complete. 

By deleting first, you will save yourself time and frustration later. 

I would have uploaded examples of my bad photography, yet I've already deleted it - so go me!

Step two:  rotate all photos into their proper upright position. 

This step is important for two reasons:  1.  it will save the necks of your viewers - so they're not constantly turning their heads from side to side to see you standing in front of that ferris wheel.  2.  yet another time and frustration saver when you re-visit your photos or use them to create an online album.

Step three:  Create individual day folders for your photos.

Step three is optional and can be accomplished in a variety of ways.  Basically, find a way to group your photos so it will be easier to find a photo or create projects. 

I do this step as I upload my photos to Shutterfly.com so I can create an online photo book that I can order for myself as the ultimate souvenir. 

An example of this might be:  09 7 14 Beijing day 1 (I put the date first so it's easy to search)

Remember - step three is optional, yet might be a life-saver at a later date. 

Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to accomplish each step and break up your work into short spurts of time so you don't get vacation photo burnout on the first day. 

You have one week to delete, rotate and categorize your photos.  Part two to follow next week.

If you need support with this task - please - by all means - ask for it. 

For me, nothing feels as good after a vacation like a finished photo album...except for another vacation!

How does breaking down a big task into small steps support you?  How do you know when you've reached your daily, weekly and monthly limit with a task before it is no longer productive?

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries. 

Comments

[Toni]

I often delete daily or at the time I am taking pictures.

Rotation is also important with art. For one reason or another I have taken pictures one way when the subject is another way. It is important to rotate before I forget which way is up!

Also sooner is better in that somewhere along the way "I want to do this becomes, I have to do this."