Gather first, decide later
Photos and keepsakes tend to be scattered through closets, garages and under beds. Bring them all to one table before you sort anything. Seeing the full amount helps you decide how detailed your system should be.
Bring a roll of painter's tape and a marker. Label temporary piles on the table as you go, so you can leave and come back without losing your place.
Sort broadly, then refine
Getting stuck on exact dates is the main reason photo projects stall. Sort first into big groups, like decades, family branches or each child, and only refine within a group once everything has a pile.
Pull duplicates, blurry shots and photos of scenery you no longer recognize. Keep the ones with people and moments that matter. Many families keep far fewer than they expected once they see the full collection side by side.
- Photos: by decade or by person
- Kids' keepsakes: one box per child
- Family heirlooms: by the relative they came from
- Cards and letters: keep the meaningful ones, recycle the rest
Step by step
- Gather
Bring every photo, album and keepsake into one room.
- Rough sort
Group by decade, person or family branch without worrying about exact dates.
- Edit
Remove duplicates, blurry images and items without meaning.
- Protect
Move what you keep into labeled acid-free boxes stored indoors.
- Digitize
Scan favorites and back them up in two places.
Choose storage that protects them
Use acid-free photo boxes and archival sleeves for prints, and sturdy lidded boxes for keepsakes. Label each box on the end with its contents and date range so you never need to open it to know what is inside.
Heat, light and humidity swings are what destroy photos and paper. In Las Vegas, the danger is heat: a garage in summer can get hot enough to warp prints, melt adhesive albums and fade ink. Store everything in an interior closet and keep framed photos out of direct afternoon sun.
Digitize the ones you love most
Scanning gives you a backup and makes photos easy to share with family. Start with the favorites, not everything. A phone scanning app works for small batches; a flatbed scanner or scanning service suits large collections.
Name files consistently, such as year, then people, then event, and back them up in two places. Once a set is scanned, you can keep the originals in a box or pass some to relatives who would treasure them.
Make keepsakes visible, not buried
Keepsakes mean more when you can see them. Choose a few items to display in a shadow box or a shelf, and rotate them. Store the rest in labeled boxes you can open on anniversaries or holidays.
For kids' memories, a single box per child with a strict size limit helps; the kids' artwork guide explains a rotation system for drawings and school projects.
