TIPS FOR DOWNSIZING PHOTOS & VIDEOS BEFORE MOVING

Downsizing can be daunting, but here are some tips that will make it easier for you!

Photos and videos are very personal, with LOTS of memories involved, so they are not easy to "downsize". Here are some tips to help you "right"-size your photo & video memories so that you will be comfortable with them in your new home.

Get started by purging!

• Purge the "duds" (unless that "dud" is the only photo you have - then keep it!)
• Purge the extraneous (how many scenery shots from that trip do you need to keep?).
• Unless you are planning to hang the picture on your new wall, take it out of the frame.
• Let go of the "shoulds" - "I should keep this - my mother (son, friend, etc.) gave it to me". Purging photos can actually be fun if you do it with a spouse, friend, or family member!
• If you are using an Estate Sale company, take photos of sale items and tell the stories.
• Remember, the less you bring with you, the less you will have to pay the movers!
• Do it now, while you have some time and it is not a "forced" move.
• Have lots of vacation photos? Maybe put a Travel Photo Wall in your new home!

Once you've purged, it's time to organize!

If organizing chronologically, here are some tips to figure out when photos were taken:

• Are the photos still in the processing envelope? Look for a date on the packaging.
• What kind/style of clothing are the people wearing?
• Who is in the photo? How old do they appear to be?
• Where was photo taken? (When was that trip? When did you live in that home?)
• Backgrounds - furniture, cars, wall color or draperies all give hints!
• Look out the "window" (if there is one in the photo). Season? Cars? Location?
• Some prefer to organize their photos by specific people or places. You decide!

What's next?

Consider having your photos (& videos) digitized and saved in Permanent Cloud Storage. By doing this, they will be preserved and others can also view them, if you want. (I can help you with that! FOREVER.com is the best source for digitizing outdated media.)

Have fun!