Photo Expressions

Organize, store, and enjoy your Photos.

Project 2010- Organizing your photos.

Designed to help you:

Create Memories,

Share your Memories,

Preserve Your Memories.

If you have any questions, feel free to come into Photo Express - we have solutions for you and the supplies you need!

Getting Out of the (Shoe) Box: Easy Ways to Organize, Store and Enjoy Your Photos

Reprinted with permission from Aby Garvey, Simplify 101

Summertime is loaded with photos ops like vacations, shots of your backyard get-togethers, trips to the zoo, and Fourth of July fireworks, to name just a few. But if you’re already surrounded by heaps of disorganized photos, you may hesitate to take even more photos, since that would cause you to get even further behind in your photo organization. But don’t be discouraged! While the summer is a great time to take photos, it’s also a terrific time to sort and organize your photos. When things get too hot outside, take refuge inside with a cool drink and a simple plan to organize your photographs.

CREATE GOALS FOR YOUR PHOTOS
To determine the best organizing system for your pictures, you need to figure out what your goal is. Start with a few simple questions:

• In what ways would you like to enjoy your photos? Looking at them hanging in your home? By browsing through them in books?
• Where do you see yourself looking at and enjoying your pictures?
• Is your goal simply to get your photos organized into a single system, so they’re safe, protected, and can be enjoyed by future generations?
• Do you envision showcasing your photos and documenting your memories with written stories?
• Is the perfect solution for you somewhere between a box and a scrapbook?

DECIDE ON A SORTING SCHEME
Chronological organizing is a natural choice for sorting your photos. Photos are taken in chronological order and come back from the printer that way as well. However, when faced with a mountainous backlog, recreating accurate chronologies can be a daunting task. Here are some excellent alternatives:

Loose chronological categories.
Instead of sorting your photos in very specific order by day or week or month, use loose categories such as decades, seasons, or categorize chronologically by an individual’s baby years, childhood, teen years, college years, early married years, and so on.

Events and celebrations.
Consider sorting by significant events such as weddings, Christmas
(with all years grouped together), or you can group photos from favorite travel destinations or your summer home (again, sorted by specific destinations as opposed to single specific trips).

People.
Decide if you’d like to share some of your photos with friends and family members, and then sort accordingly. Giving photos to friends and loved ones can help you pare down years of backlog, and make your project less overwhelming. Decide who you’ll be sharing with, and then make the following piles:

• Photos for me
• Photos for others (as many piles as people you’ll be giving to)
• Photos to pitch

If you’re hesitant to sort using a non-chronological scheme, consider this: you don’t remember chronologically, either. Memories come to you randomly, and yet your memories are meaningful regardless of how they’re sandwiched between your other thoughts. Give yourself the same freedom when sorting your photos. Do what makes sense given your photo backlog and the amount of time you have.

STORE YOUR PHOTOS
The next step is to decide how you would like to store your photos going forward. Keep in mind this doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing proposition. If the thought of doing something with all of your photos feels overwhelming, then start with a small, doable project. For example, instead of feeling like you have to scrapbook all of your photos, decide to create a single scrapbook for a particular event. You can then decide where to go from there.

For each solution there is a trade-off between the time you invest, and your ability to retrieve or enjoy your photos.

Random, bulk storage
Consider storing photos randomly in a large container. If your photos are stashed in various rooms, drawers, shelves and containers around your home, or if they’re stored in a harsh climate (basement or attic), then corralling them all into an archival safe box and storing the box in an environmentally friendly room is a huge step forward. If that’s all you have time and energy for, that step alone is well worth the effort.

the trade-off
This solution takes little time, but your photos won’t be much easier to enjoy afterward than they were before you started. They are protected, however, and you can always implement other storage solutions later.

Photo boxes
No longer reminiscent of plain brown shoeboxes, today’s photo boxes come in an array of colors, materials and sizes, ensuring there’s at least one out there to fit your taste and storage needs. Tabbed index cards help you label and categorize what’s inside. Photo boxes can be used as a temporary holding place for photos waiting to be put in frames or albums, or they can be your long-term storage solution.

the trade-off
While photo boxes make it relatively easy to organize and retrieve your photos, they don’t display your pictures or make them easy to look at. You’re less likely to riffle through a box of photos, than you are to pull down a photo album from a shelf, flip through it, and enjoy your photos. Boxes are a terrific option for photos you simply want to store long-term—perhaps to give to your children when they move out, or for photos in queue for an album or photo frame.

Photo albums
Traditional style photo albums get your pictures out of the box and into a book, making it simple to flip through the pages any time you’d like to take a stroll down memory lane. Photos are easy to insert into photo pockets, and labeling is a cinch.

the trade-off
It will take more time to get your photos into an album, and photos stored in albums take up more space than photos stored in boxes. However, this step makes your photos easy to look at and enjoy, and keeps them safe from fingerprints and smudges.

Scrapbooks
Scrapbooking allows you to combine your photos with written words and creative embellishments—if you chose. You can store your photos along with memorabilia such as ticket stubs, programs, and even children’s artwork. Including journaling or stories about your photos gives you the chance to add even more meaning and memories than photos alone can capture. If you’re intimidated by scrapbooking, remember it doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing proposition. You can scrapbook your wedding photos, but feel free to pass on your boss’ daughter’s wedding. You can scrapbook your vacation to Disney, without having to chronicle every trip to your local playground.

the trade-off
Scrapbooks require a larger investment of time and money (for supplies like paper, scissors, stickers, and other embellishments). As with photo albums, a finished scrapbook is a breeze (and a treat!) to flip through and enjoy, and helps protect your photos over the long haul.

Photo frames
Don’t forget to display some photos where you can really enjoy them—in frames that you can exhibit on a shelf, a dresser, or hang on the wall. While this solution isn’t practical for every single photo in your collection, displaying some of your favorites allows you to enjoy your photos every day.

the trade-off
Displaying your photos in frames can take time—selecting the photos (and frames!), getting enlargements made if necessary, and arranging frames on the wall. But you get to enjoy your photos all of the time (and that’s better than sneezing your way through a dusty shoebox any day of the week).

TAKE ACTION!
Let’s face it, your photos are important—probably among your most prized possessions. Yet many of us keep photos trapped in cardboard boxes in remote storage areas in our homes. Take some time this summer to get your photos out of the shoebox and into a safe storage system, so you can easily enjoy them for years to come. Tackle this project one simple step at a time, and by summer’s end, you can be sitting back with a tall glass of lemonade, flipping through a photo album, and reminiscing about the good old days.

Project 2010- Spring Camera Tuneup

 

 

Project 2010 - Photo Assignment.

 Project 2010- Photo Assignment.

This week's assignment is to take a favourite photo and do SOMETHING with it. You will find lots of ideas at PE - scrapbooking, photobooks, framing, custom framing, enlargements, canvas wraps, mugs, t-shirts, blankets and more! What will you choose?

***And if you'd like us to help you get your photos uploaded to Foto Depot and printed, it is as easy as:
-bring us your memory card, we'll upload it to foto depot for you!! No excuses now, this is super easy!!!!***

Project 2010- Print Assignment.

Project 2010- Print Assignment.

This week's assignment is to read this little story and then do the simple step at the end.

Take a moment and imagine sometime in the future, you remember some favourite photos you took in 2010. You go to your "old" computer or laptop to look at the photos...but unknown to you, the hard drive has crashed and you can't get in to look at the photos.

Oh No!!

Then you think, that is okay, because I made a backup CD. Amazingly enough, you actually find the CD marked 2010. Then you stop...how on earth are you going to play this CD? Technology has changed so much since 2010, that there are no longer any computers that use CD's. (Remember Floppy Drives?)

Oh No!!!  Now you have no way of looking at those photos. Those wonderful memories are inaccessible.

You think, "if only I had listened to PE, and printed my photos!!!!! Now I've lost all those memories!"

As tears well up in your eyes...

you wake up!

Whew, it was only a dream. It is still 2010 and you CAN PRINT your photos NOW so that you will enjoy them in years to come. The real magic of a photo happens when it is printed, not when you see it on a computer screen.

A print is the best archival way to store your photo as you will always have the "technology" (hands and eyes) to hold and look at your photos.

Take some time this week (and REALLY do this one, don't put it off), and print some of your photos. You won't regret having actual photographs to look at.  You don't need to print every photo, just print the best ones. You can print them at home (though you will find that by the time you pay for the ink and paper, it is less expensive to have us print them), or bring them in to a lab that you trust with your memories...like Photo Express.

***And if you'd like us to help you get your photos uploaded to Foto Depot and printed, it is as easy as:
-bring us your memory card, we'll upload it to foto depot for you!! No excuses now, this is super easy!!!!***

Project 2010- Story Assignment.

Project 2010- Story Assignment.

This week's assignment is to tell a "story".

1. Gather some photos or take some photos (and print them) about something that is part of your "favourite list". This could be some favourite toys you had as a child, or favourite pets, or flowers, or colours, or food, or books, or people, or destinations, or ...the list is endless.

2. Create a scrapbook page telling why these are part of your favourites. Or put them into a photo album, and in one of the pockets, put in a piece of paper, telling the story of why these are part of your favourites.  Easy, done!

 3. Share your story with someone else.

***And if you'd like us to help you get your photos uploaded to Foto Depot and printed, it is as easy as:
-bring us your memory card, we'll upload it to foto depot for you!! No excuses now, this is super easy!!!!***

To see past "assignments" (aka ideas to pick and choose), visit the blog here. Any week, just pick one or make up one of your own, and DO IT

Project 2010 - Spring Cleaning

Project 2010

Designed to help you:

Create Memories,

Share your Memories,

Preserve Your Memories.

Ahhhh, spring is in the air, time to freshen up your home. While you are at it, take a few moments and "freshen up" your files and photos.

Step 1: Sort some old photos - gather 3 envelopes of old photos and file them away - into a pocket album, a photo box, a scrapbook, etc. Better yet, label them on the back with a photo safe pen (don't use a ball point pen on your photos!)

Step 2: Organize some of your photos on your computer - "Tag" your photos in Adobe Photoshop Elements (at PE we run classes on this), and/or upload some photos to Foto Depot in their own folders.  Now you can print and share the photos!

These "little victories" will make you feel great, and as you repeat them, will motivate you to great successes!

Olympic Photo Tips - Project 2010

Designed to help you:

Create Memories,
Share your Memories,

Preserve Your Memories.

There are going to be plenty of opportunities to take photos during the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics, with or without tickets.  A few points to remember:

 

• There are a ton of free areas with great photo opportunities, you don't need to go into the paid events.  Here a few photos from in and around Robson Square in dowtown Vancouver:

They're your tax dollars at work - may as well get some use out of them!
 

• Flash photos are generally prohibited during competition, and even when they're not, you are generally too far away.  Learn to force your flash off!  Come see us in the store if you need help.
• Remember the "sports mode" on your camera?  The one with this icon: Now is the time to use it!  It simply tries to give you a good exposure at the quickest shutter speed possible, to freeze the action.  Also, slower events lend themselves to the snow mode if you have it:
  
• Less zoom can be more.  Using telephoto zoom gives different results than cropping a wide angle photo, but when you have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, you want to make sure you get the photo!  In difficult conditions, consider backing off the zoom and cropping later.  Just make sure you have your camera set to the highest resolution, at the best quality setting.
• Bring lots of memory and batteries!  It goes without saying, you don't want to run out of either at an Olympic event!  Memory cards are so affordable these days, you just have to carry at least 2 if only in case the first one has a problem.  At Photo Express, we can hook you up real quick with extra memories and batteries.
• When entering events, there is going to be a lot of security, and with large bags (ie. SLR camera bags) you go into the "special lineup".  Well, I can't wait to find out what they do to you there, but keep in mind, if you have a large camera bag, give yourself extra time.  And not too large: "no larger than 15 cm x 15 cm x 30 cm or 6 in x 6 in x 12 in".  You may need to get a smaller bag that holds the cameras and 1 lens.
• From the list of prohibited items:  Flash photography and other lighting devices (such as laser pens) anywhere around the field of play (exceptions may apply)...Use of radio frequency devices (Wi-Fi, pocket wizards and land mobile radios) that have not been registered and coordinated with Industry Canada prior to entry into the venue.
• Get pictures of yourself.  It is going to be a friendly atmosphere, so feel free to ask others to snap photos of you and your friends/family.  A few tips on that: Set your zoom ahead of time, from where you want the photo taken.  Then say, "Just press halfway to focus, and the rest of the way to take the picture".  Even though every camera works this way nowadays, a lot of people still just jab at the shutter button before focusing.
• Upload to Foto Depot!  Do this right away, so you can share your photos with friends and family, and actually order some prints or make an Olympic memories photo book.  It's a legacy that won't cost you tons of tax dollars.

Project 2010 - Month end Check-up

Project 2010

Designed to help you:

Create Memories,

Share your Memories,

Preserve Your Memories.

The end of a month/beginning of a new month, is a great time to give yourself a "Photo Check-up".  Here are the simple steps to take to make sure you are always photo "fit".

1. Gather all your cameras (yes some people have more than one)

2. Download your photos off your camera(s) and onto your hard drive / external drive/ CD / program - wherever you do this first step is up to you. I personally like to have more than one backup so I download to my hard drive first. I use Photoshop Elements to organize my photos on my hard drive and have it set to automatically start to download when I plug in my card reader. Put your card back into your camera and format (if the photos are super important, I wait until I have my backup before I format).

3. Make a backup This can be a DVD/cd, external hard drive, or online storage such as PE's foto Depot . (Foto Depot is FREE to use, and there is no limit to how many photos you can upload. And did I mention there is no monthly or annual storage fee!!!!! No storage fees at all. This is a great form of additional backup. You can also share the photos with your friends and family around the world if you send them an invitation to share.) Whatever form you use, just make sure that your only copy of your photos is not just on your hard drive.  It isn't a matter of "if" your hard drive crashes, it is usually a matter of "when". You will be extremely sad if it crashes and you lose all of your photos!

4. Print the best ones This step is often not done, because you have already "seen" the picture on your computer. How often do you sit at your computer and reminisce through your photos? How often do you bring company to your computer screen to show them your photos? My guess is not very often. The magic of a photo happens when you print it! I guarantee you will look at them more often, enjoy them more, and share them more if they are in a printed format! Try it.

Bonus step: Do something with these photos. Put them in a pocket page photo album, use some of the pockets to write down what the photos are about. Or do a few scrapbook layouts about the pages, and put all the extra ones in pocket pages for your scrapbook. Create a photo book if you've taken a whole bunch of photos for the month, or done a special event, or trip. Frame a favourite photo and put it on your desk. Enlarge a favourite photo and do a canvas mount and hang it on your wall. There are so many ways to enjoy your photos once they are printed.

That is it. Simple steps that will get you to "photo freedom". You don't need to do them all at one sitting. Just make it a regular habit at the end of each month, to do these steps.

As it takes some time to upload to foto depot, I have started a little spiral notebook that I leave with my card reader. In it, I list the date that photos were taken, and then I have 2 columns - one for uploaded, and one for printed. I star them/check them off as I do it.  It looks kind of like this:

Date              Uploaded        Printed

2010/01/01           *                 *

2010/01/04           *                 *

2010/01/14           *

2010/01/16           *

2010/01/23

2010/01/24  

In this case, you can see I've uploaded all the photos for the month of January to Foto Depot except Jan 23/24th and printed Jan 1st and 4th. My schedule is crazy busy, so this helps me remember what I've done when I get those few moments in a day when I can work on this. 

If you make this a regular habit, you will always have room on your card in your camera, you will feel confident knowing that your photos are backed up, and you will have printed photos to enjoy and share with others!

And remember, that this is all about Photo Freedom. It doesn't have to be done chronologically. You can do these steps with any photos you have on your computer or on a camera at any time. Just do it!

Project 2010 - Keep it Simple - A Freeing Approach

Project 2010

Designed to help you:

Create Memories,
Share your Memories,
Preserve Your Memories.

You have permission, to simplify in 2010! Please don't make memory keeping harder than it needs to be. You have heard me say this almost a million times now, but I'm going to say it again! "They won't care what company the patterned paper is from, or what technique you used, or whether you spent 15 min or 2 days preserving the memory.  They will care that you did it, and they get to enjoy it!"

That is it - that is all that matters. I guarantee you, that it won't matter if you decide to do this as a scrapbook page, or in a regular photo album, or in a photobook.  Choose the one that works for you, or choose a combination of them.

I know it is hard to let go of those perfectionist tendencies, but the reality is, most people don't have tons of free time to dedicate to memory keeping. Don't stress out for 2 hours over the "perfect shade of blue" to go with your photos". It doesn't matter! You could even put green with your photos, and they won't care! They are going to look at the photos and your story. And however it is done, they will love it!

Try an experiment with me (humour me!). If you don't like it, you can always not do it this way the next time.  But promise me you'll try this once. It is very freeing. And the end result, is that in a week, in 55 minutes, you will have a great layout done in a few minutes a day. You may get so excited, that you do all the steps in one day and repeat them over again.  That is okay too. If you are a scrapbooker, follow these steps. If you would like to use a regular photo album or are short on time, skip down to the bonus step.

Here are your steps for the week:

Fri - Saturday:
Go to your printed photos pile and pick out 10 photos that you love that you would love to do something with. They don't have to be the same theme or subject, and they definitely don't have to be chronological.  Remember, you are humouring me here. Just go with it. Total time 15 min (more if you sit there and smile and reminisce over your photos. - See how nice PRINTED photos are!) Note I gave you two days, in case you don't have any PRINTED photos, to give you an extra day to get some printed!) You may or may not use them all on your layout.

Sunday:
Go to your stash of products (I know you have one!) Now this is important:
  -set a timer for 5 minutes. NO MORE. Now take your photos, and pick out 3 sheets of cardstock and 2 patterned papers that roughly go with your photos. Remember, it doesn't have to be perfect. It has to be done! Time 5 minutes.  That is it!!!!!
  -Now take another 2 minutes, and pick out some letter stickers or a die cut font, or a preprinted title you want to use for a title.
  -Take another 3 minutes and pick out any embellishments you want to add to the page - ribbon, brads, buttons etc.

Total time 10 minutes = 1 page kit done! I'm not kidding here - challenge yourself to do it within these time limits.  It actually isn't hard when you let go of the pressure that it has to be perfect.  Yes, if you spent 2 hours, you MIGHT come up with a combo that is a little more perfect, but that is 2 hours of your life wasted, when what you can come up with in 10 minutes is great.

Monday - go back to your space and roughly layout your papers and photos and embellishments into a layout. (Hint, a page map or sketch is very helpful here.) Again, don't stress out over making it perfect. Go with your first gut feeling. Crop any of the photos that need cropping. Total Time = 10 minutes.

Tuesday - adhere the parts of your layout down to the page, add any embellishments, title etc.  Total Time = 10 min.

Wednesday - Journal - yes JOURNAL. (preferably in your own handwriting, but if you must, the computer is okay.) Take 10 minutes, and write down why you love these photos. Slip it into a page protector. Total time = 10 minutes. Smile!

Thursday - share your completed page with someone.  They will love it. Time spent sharing - as much as you like!

End result - 55 minutes spent over the course of one week to get a memory down on paper with some photos that you love. Anyone can do this!

Bonus: Even quicker way: Use a photo album or scrapbook album with 4x6 page protectors - pick your photos, slide them into the page protectors, take one or two of the pockets and add in some journaling and maybe a decorative piece of paper and embellishment. Share with someone. Total time - under 30 minutes. Yes this counts as a memory preserved!

Project 2010 - Do something with photos on your camera

Project 2010

Designed to help you:

Create Memories,
Share your Memories,
Preserve Your Memories.

To see past "assignments" (aka ideas to pick and choose), click on the Project 2010 category to the right.

This week's assignment is to help you do something with some of the photos you have already taken. Do you still have Christmas photos on your camera?(If you are the average person, I know you do.) It is time to get them off so that you can enjoy them. Each step can be done on a different day or do them all on the same day.

Step 1:
Download them to your computer (if you are unsure how, come in and ask us, we are happy to help. It is easier than you think!). If you don't have Christmas pictures on your camera, do these steps with what is on there.

Step 2:
Now you need a backup. PE has great Click Free DVD packs where all you do is insert, and it does the rest of your backup automatically.  We also have a click free 120gb hard drive that does the same thing. For avid photo takers like me, there is also a 500gb external hard drive! Another great backup is to upload your photos (for FREE!) to PE's online storage system called foto Depot.  (Hint: Don't sit and wait for your files to be uploaded; set it up, click upload and then go make dinner or go to bed, or work on some other projects on your computer. It takes a while to upload as the entire file gets uploaded, not like most places that just upload enough to print a 4x6). I do this with all my photos as soon as I download them, so then I am always ready when I need to print them.

Step 3:
Print your favourite ones.  With the Save Christmas Campaign going on until Jan 31st at PE, you can save 50% on foto depot. Details here. To print, you can order your prints on foto depot, or come in and use one of our kiosks to order, or even just stop in and give us your memory card, tell us how many prints you want, and come back to pick your prints up later (just like the old days!)

Step 4:
You are almost done, and this will feel soooo good! Take your printed photos and slip them into an album or take 30-60 min and create a scrapbook page. Slip your extra photos into album sleeves or a photo box. Now don't forget to journal - what funny things happened at Christmas, what was your favourite gift to give or receive, what is your favourite Christmas dish etc. This is the fun part when you look back at them.

Now doesn't that feel good knowing that your Christmas pictures are saved and ready to be enjoyed?! Seriously, take a short block of time each day for the next week and get this done! You won't regret it :)

Project 2010 Introduction

Project 2010

Designed to help you:

Create Memories,
Share your Memories,

Preserve Your Memories.

What is Project 2010? This is PE"s way of helping you Create memories, Share your memories,and Preserve your memories. This is an array of ideas, projects, classes, tips etc that will be ongoing throughout 2010 to help you get SOMETHING done with your photos and memories.  It is not meant to stress you out - it is meant to help you.  Choose the part or parts that work for you.

Throughout the year, sometimes weekly, sometimes monthly, there will be suggestions for you - some big, some small. Some months you may be able to do all the suggestions, some months you may do one or two. Whatever you accomplish is fabulous and is something to be treasured. And remember, we are always here to help, just ask. See below for your first assignment- should you choose to accept ;) . You can always come back to the blog and click on the Project 2010 category to the right, and as new entries get added, you will see them all here.

Watch for more great programs and ideas we have in the works to help you do something with your photos and your memories.

So here is the initial start and watch for lots more ideas over the weeks and months to come.

Create Memories: Camera assignment 

This week, pull out your camera, and take some pictures of where you live; your home, your street, your neighbourhood. Take just a few or be creative and take lots using all different kinds of angles. Maybe take a closeup photo of your house/apt number, your front door or bedroom door, where you sit down to eat, the inside of your fridge, where you line up your shoes, your tv or computer area, your favourite room, maybe a tree you just planted that will grow over the years. Take one photo, or a few or lots. It is up to you. So often, we only take photos of "occasions" and holidays. Record your everyday life, you will love looking back on it in a few years. Here are a few of photos to inspire you.

 

     

Share Your Memories

Show these photos to a friend, neighbour, family member and tell them why you took them, what the significance is and why you want to remember them. If you upload your photos to Foto Depot

 

, you can share them with your friends and family all over the world.

Preserve Your Memories

Write down what you told the person above. You can write it on a sticky note, or a 3x5 type card, or right into an album or scrapbook. That way, when you print the pictures you took, you have the words to go with them when you put them into an album or scrapbook.

Bonus: Jump right in and print the photos you took (upload to foto Depot

 

and order them from the comfort of your home), assemble them with what you wrote in an album, or scrapbook, and voila - a fabulous moment in your everyday life done! Another suggestion is to start a photobook in foto depot

 

, and add pages to it as we progress through 2010 and at the end of the year, you will have a great keepsake.

Double Bonus: Win 25 Free prints!
To encourage you to get it done, and to help others get inspired, take this assignment and upload your photos or your album page, or your scrapbook page to our Facebook Project 2010 Album -Where You Live

 

. Someone will be randomly selected to win 25 FREE prints on foto depot! It always helps to have a little incentive (besides the great feeling you will have because you got something done!)