September is here and for many of us that means back-to-school, a change of weather, and cleaning out our closets in preparation for the holiday season. September is also a time to think about those photo and video memories stored in drawers and closets. Luckily for all of us, September is also Save Your Photos Month.
Save Your Photos Month 2023 – Brought to You by The Photo Managers, is now in its 9th year. It is a worldwide event organized to help families gather, manage, preserve, share, and celebrate their photo and video collections. If you are ready to begin the process of getting your photos and other memorabilia organized and preserved but aren’t sure where to start, Gold Star Photo Solutions is here to help. Throughout the month of September, we will be posting helpful tips focused on preserving photos and videos.
To kick-off Save Your Photos Month, let’s begin with tip #1.
Tip #1: Begin With The End in Mind
Organizing your photo and video collection can seem like a daunting task. If you take it step-by-step, it could make the task manageable as well as enjoyable. Begin with asking yourself a few questions to evaluate what your ultimate goals are. For example:
- Why do you want to do this project now?
- Who are you doing this for? Do you want your collection to be passed down in your family? Is this a legacy project or simply a personal one?
- What would you like the completed collection to consist of:
- print and digital image organization
- a digital-only collection
- print media converted to digital
- audio and video media transferred to new formats
- physical items to be documented and safely stored
- or maybe photo books, albums, or prints
- By when? Is there a timeline or deadline you must get your collection organized? Do you have a plan for who will be responsible for maintaining the collection – now or in the future?
- If you could wave a magic wand and your collection was completely organized and preserved, what would you want to see?
Once you have a clear idea as to WHAT your goals are, you are ready to create a plan to get started.
During Week 1 of Save Your Photos Month, The Photo Managers are focusing on why your legacy matters and how to get started. To sign up for free classes, visit SaveYourPhotos.org. For more information about Save Your Photos Month or about the products and services that we offer, please contact us at info@goldstarphotosolutions.com or call us at 530-264-5995.