Organize Digital Photos

These days, you've probably got more than just print photos to worry about. Digital photos are easy to take and easy to share -- right away or by email.

But just like everything else, just having digital photos doesn't guarantee you'll be able to enjoy them. You've got to develop a system for storing and retrieving your favorite shots.

Organize Like Print, But Use Computer Folders

Organizing digital photos is a lot like organizing your print photos. As soon as you download pictures from your camera, delete the ones that aren't so great. Then create file folders on your computer with event names and dates and store the photos in these.

For example, let's say you took a summer trip to New York in July 2004. Your child also participated in a soccer tournament, you attended the annual family reunion, and your good friend got married. Chances are, you've got a lot of photos from each of these events.

After weeding out the poor photos, you'd start organizing by creating a computer folder. We'll call it "July 2004." In this folder, you could then create four subfolders: "New York Trip 2004," "Soccer Tournament 2004," "Family Reunion 2004," and "Mary's Wedding 7212004." Move photos from your digital camera to the appropriate folder

Some software programs, like Adobe Photoshop Album, provide multiple options for organizing and indexing your photos. You can check out Adobe Photoshop Album at www.adobe.com.

Storing Digital Photos

When you've got a hundred or so digital photos organized on your computer, burn them onto a CD and label the CD with the dates and events. You're then free to delete the digital photos from your computer to make room for more.

Store the labeled photos CDs in shoeboxes or CD holders with your other organized photos.


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