Are you a scrapbooker starting with a ton of photos? This article offers help and ideas for storing and sorting all those photos.

Storing and Sorting Photos

Kathleen, I am new to scrapbooking and found this article interesting. i have many very old family photos, and I am currenlty in teh process of sorting these, placing with photo mounts onto acid free card, and storing in sealed archival storage bags. When it comes time to do the family tree scrapbook pages, is it best to use copies of these old photos for the scrapbook pages, that way I have the original. I am also making digital copies of the front and the back that has been written on to pass on to other family members. Any other ideas out there on dealing with old photos and scrapbooking them would be greatly appreciated.

Great to hear from you, lmm! Thanks for reading my article.

It sounds like you are taking great care of your photos. It's always good to make a copy and store it safely (from possible water, fire, etc. damage.) Personally, I use copies, especially if I'm doing any cutting/cropping. I would also consider who might be viewing the book - will it stay on a shelf or will children be going through it someday? If you feel confident that the copies are safe, you could use the originals.

Another idea... when you get the digital copies, make a digital album! Then, no one is touching originals and you can make multiple copies, if needed.

I plan on giving all of the family members a copy of the digital photos on a CD, that way they will never be lost. But what do you mean a digital album? As I said I am very new to all of this.

Sorry, I didn't see this until today. A digital album refers to layouts that are done digitally. Not JUST the photos, but the layouts also. It's very easy to get copies done of the entire album, if it is digital layouts. Some people also do color copies of their paper layouts - either way, you can have an electronic file then. Hope that helps!

Btw... I use a product by Close To My Heart, called Studio J. It's free to use, all online (no downloads) and no charge until you print.

Thank you for this Kathleen. Is each lay out then kept in a folder. Maybe I will need to experiment with the product.

I think it depends on the product. But you have the right idea!