Jackie Lyals, Author at Save Your Photos

Jun 30 2016

Do You Have a Photo Plan?

This is a guest contribution from Shelley Murray, Executive Sales Director of Forever

As we prepare for the annual Save Your Photos Month, we should begin thinking about where our photos are kept. Some think of getting old family photos out of dusty boxes in the attic so they can be scanned and preserved digitally. Others, like me, may be thinking about all the digital photos that are seemingly lost in our computer or locked away across camera cards. Saving our digital photos is just as important as saving our printed photos. These days, we have huge numbers of digital photos and they are often being forgotten about because there are just too many of them filling up our phones and computers. And because of this, they are “as good as” lost in our computers. Having a photo plan in place is important so we can not only take photos of special moments, but also get them back into our lives and enjoy them.

My photo plan includes gathering all my photos into one place, organizing them, telling the stories behind them, and then creating digital albums to share with friends and family and/or creating photo books so that we can relive the special moments all over again. The end result of this plan? I have peace of mind knowing that all of my photos are stored permanently and privately in their digital home of my Forever account. No matter what – even if my computer crashes or my hard drive fails, my photos will be safe. They will also outlive me so they can be = enjoyed by future generations of my family.

I have a personal example that I would like to share with you that illustrates the importance of my photo plan. While my family and I were on vacation a few weeks ago, we went on a fishing trip. I had my son and two young nephews in my boat and we caught 11 sharks! It was a thrilling experience that we don’t ever want to forget. During the trip, I took photos on my camera, my dad took photos on his camera and many of us were taking photos on cell phones as well. When the trip was over, I put my photo plan into action.

1^st– I gathered all the photos from all the cameras and phones and brought them together into one place by uploading them into my Forever account. Once they were in my account, I had peace of mind knowing they were permanently stored in the cloud.

2^nd– I created one album that included everyone’s photos. I cleaned them up by deleting all the photos that were unneeded: such as duplicates, those that were out of focus or just unnecessary in telling the story of our fishing trip. I went from over 100 photos down to around 50. And then I used Forever’s editing tools to improve some of the photos that needed enhancement.

3^rd-When we used to print out a roll of film, it was a good practice to write the date, people’s names and the description on the back of the photo. The same thing is true with digital photos. So, my next step was to use the tools in my account to record each of these details. The description or “story” behind the photo is the most important piece because it allows the photos to go from just a photo, to a memory.

4^th-My family is always asking me to send them photos. The captain and first mate on our boat, Richard and Kevin, asked me to send them photos as well. So right from my Forever album, I was able to click the share button and email the entire album to them.

5^th-The last and certainly the most fun part of my photo plan process is creating a photo project. I can do this right in my Forever account under the Projects tab. I decided to create a simple 8×8 softbound photo book. It would be less than $20 to print and I would print one for each of the little boys on my boat. I wanted it to be a fun book with lots of photos and stories of our big day so they would be able to remember the details many years from now. It was simple because the photos were all available in one place, and I simply needed to choose a layout and add some text. I also happened to use these photos to do a live training webinar while I was on vacation on how to create a photo book. Check out the recording here: Projects Instructional Webinar (40 minutes)

We just got the photo books in the mail this week, and my son has not set his down. Being able to pull these photos out of being trapped on my computer or lost way back in my photo roll on my phone is so valuable to my family. You can see some of the pages I created in this short “Capture the Moment” video. Nick Kelsh, the photo tips guy, helps me with some great photo editing tips and I share a few pages from the photo book. Capture the Moment with Nick and Shelley

Also, I know exactly where these photos are and I can grab them at a moment’s notice. They are all together in one album and I can pull up on the web or right from my mobile app. And then finally and most importantly, I have complete peace of mind knowing that all of my photos are saved and will live on in its permanent digital home of my Forever account. To learn more about what Forever can do to help you with this process check out this 90 second video. A look at FOREVER

So, as we move through the summer and get closer to Save Your Photos Month in September, I encourage you to think of a great memory you have had with loved ones and go find those photos. Get them in your hands and tell the story behind them. Then share them with others either via a digital album or a printed treasure.

Shelley Murray is an avid memory maker and memory keeper. She has always had a love for photos and scrapbook design. As an executive with Forever, she is passionate about sharing their unique mission with others. She has worn many hats at Forever over the last three years. But, her favorite is simply helping others learn how to organize, preserve and enjoy their photos.

Jun 28 2016

Could Your Photos Be at Risk in Your Own Home?

This is a Guest Contribution by Meaghan Kahlo of Ephemera Photo Organizing

Personally valuable photo and family heritage collections may be at risk even in your own home. Although hard to imagine, photos can be at risk for a variety of reasons ranging from the obvious – home fires – to the not so obvious – the actual storage materials and location your photos are in today.

Are Your Photos At Risk?

Consider if your photos are at risk from any of the following:

Fire or Natural Disasters

This is likely the biggest risk many people would face. How quickly could you gather your valuable photos and documents if you had to evacuate due to a house fire, a wildfire, a hurricane, or a tornado? Do you live in an area that experiences floods or earthquakes?

The Elements

Over time the conditions in our homes could detrimentally affect photographic and paper materials. Is your home too damp or too dry? Do you have framed photos in direct sunlight? Are albums stored in front of heater exchanges?

Location

Do you have boxes of photos or albums that you store in the basement, garage, attic or even in an offsite storage unit? These items are at risk from extreme temperature fluctuations and unstable environments that again may be too damp or too dry. While it is tempting to store bulky boxes of photos and albums where we have the space, consider how devastating it would be if your memories were damaged from a flooded basement, or you opened a box stored in the attic to find your memories covered in mouse droppings.

Storage Materials

Even the boxes, folders and albums we store our photos in can pose risks. Materials that are not acid- or lignin-free or proven to be photo-safe can cause damage to paper, photographs and negatives. Sticky magnetic albums will leech acid onto prints via the glue-covered pages. Vinyl binders and envelopes from the processing lab will outgas harmful chemicals. Album pages can become brittle over time and crumble.

Digital Risk Factors

Digital images are at risk too for many reasons. Many people simply have so many digital images they cannot enjoy their photos or find photos when they need them. External hard drives full of photos and video can fail, be broken or stolen. Lost or forgotten passwords to online photo storage vendors result in forgotten and orphaned photos.

Ultimately, the risks posed to our precious family photos and documents could be greatly mitigated by some awareness of what our collections encompass and where we choose to keep them. Personal archivists and photo organizers are knowledgeable guides for protecting your photos from common risks and can help you identify specific risks in your home.

Meaghan Kahlo, owner of Ephemera Photo Organizing in Seattle, WA, began her professional life with graduate work in museum studies focused on collections management. Her enthusiasm for photography and historical preservation combined with a passion to organize and create order are the driving forces behind her business. Meaghan helps clients transform the ephemeral nature of digital and printed images into meaningful photo solutions for loved ones today and for generations to come tomorrow.

Jun 22 2016

“I haven’t seen these people in so long…”

This is a guest post by Harley Cross of Share My Photographs.

When all we have left of beloved friends and family are photographs, their value becomes truly priceless. Understanding this is what motivated one woman to do something truly beautiful…

The story begins on one of those perfect, warm summer mornings with the sun beaming, the birds chirping and the smell of fresh-cut grass in the air. Tom and June were at the yard sale bright and early, looking through an interesting assortment of items laid out neatly on the front lawn of a quaint country home.

June peeked inside an old wooden box for sale and was surprised to discover it was filled with photographs. Being a keen photographer herself, she was delighted by this wonderful collection that spanned several generations and included some very colourful characters. She was puzzled. Why were they for sale?

She approached the homeowner to ask about the photos and he explained that they weren’t his family’s memories, but had been found by his wife, inside a box marked “Free”, outside of a recently abandoned house.

June could not imagine that anyone would abandon such a precious box filled with family history. She felt it must surely have been thrown out by mistake and that someone would be just sick about losing them. June bought that box of photos right then and there having decided that maybe, just maybe – with a bit of detective work – she might reunite these treasures with their rightful owners.

So, this became June’s new project and she spent her summer piecing together clues she found within the images, like street names and local business names. She asked questions at the library, at businesses and spoke to the older residents in town, looking for anyone who may recognize her mystery family.

Finally, June was rewarded with the name, “Mr. Frank Jones” and his address in a neighbouring town.

Good Samaritan that she is, June purchased a nice leather-bound album and placed the many pictures inside. Then, she and Tom made a surprise visit to Mr. Jones.

This story just couldn’t have a happier ending. Mr. Jones was a widower in his 90s with no family left alive that he knew of. A WW2 veteran, he had lost touch with his older brother and sister 15 years previous and was the only sibling who had any children.

When presented with the beautiful album, Mr. Jones spent a long time slowly turning pages as the tears ran down his cheeks. When he turned the last page he finally spoke in a trembling whisper, “Thank you so much. I haven’t seen these people in so long and this has brought back so many wonderful memories. You’ve made an old man very happy.”

This is a true story and it’s just one of the many that inspired the idea behind Share My Photographs. The effects of time, natural disasters and loss are heartbreaking reasons for losing precious family photographs; especially when it is preventable.

At Share My Photographs we help people protect their family history by securely digitizing and archiving these memories for future generations. Please don’t risk delaying any longer. Give us a call and we’ll be pleased to discuss how we can help you organize, secure and share your happy memories, forever.

Greetings, Harley Cross here. I have always loved the creative arts and in particular Photography – I have been passionate about Photography for over 20 years. So much so that I started my own photography business when we moved to Canada from the U.K 10 years ago.

Photography led me to my current business endeavour of organizing, digitizing and archiving client’s visual history. I have found that there is a real need for this service and people are so elated when they find our personalized organizing and scanning services. Having the ability to be able to help people via a business is very important to me and seeing people overjoyed with what we do, keeps the fire within me always lit.

Share My Photographs was born out of a true need with past Photography clients consistently asking “What do we do with all these old Photos?” Their only current option was to post these precious memories away to be scanned by a mass scanning warehouse and so many people were against this, that we decided to start a business that could help them without their photos ever having to leave their homes.

Jun 21 2016

It’s Time to Tidy Up Your Photos!

This is a guest contribution from Cathi Nelson, Founder of The Association of Personal Photo Organizers

Most of us don’t want to save the thousands and thousands of photos we take each month. What we really want to save are the ones that matter. Could you quickly find the photos that bring you joy and happiness? Probably not; it simply isn’t possible when you likely took a few hundred in just the past week!

However, think about it. What photos would you choose? The fun family photos of everyone together at the beach on a warm summer night? A photo of your parents when they were young and healthy? Your son’s first birthday party or your daughter walking down the aisle? The list isn’t mysterious because as human beings, we cherish the times we spend with family and friends. We document those moments with our phones and cameras to capture a moment in time that reminds us of all we hold dear.

So what is the problem? With the popularity and affordability of digital cameras and mobile phones, many of us are sitting on a virtual heap of digital images. Combine that with all of those hard copy photos we always meant to stick in an album and suddenly we’re in over our heads.

This is exactly why we have designated September as Save Your Photos Month—it’s time to Tidy Up Your Photos and we are here to help lead the way!

Your first step is to take the pledge to Save Your Photos. It’s your promise to yourself that you will take action during the month of September—and you won’t be alone. You will be joining thousands of others throughout the world who have taken the pledge. Beginning on September 1st, we will send you a daily email with a tip to inspire you and to keep you on schedule. If you can spare even just a few minutes a day, you can join the fun, start to organize, and participate in tidying up your photo collection.

Imagine the sense of relief you will experience when you can easily find the photos that bring you joy.

The Save Your Photos initiative is a public service outreach campaign developed by The Association of Personal Photo Organizers (APPO) to teach individuals how they can preserve life’s irreplaceable photos, videos and documents in case of unforeseen accident or disaster.

Cathi Nelson

Cathi Nelson founded (APPO) as an answer to the growing need of our digital age – assistance for organizing an influx of digital photo memories, printed photos, media and memorabilia. APPO supports its hundreds of members by offering ongoing training, a supportive community, professional credibility and an annual educational national conference.

Jun 18 2016

Save Your Photos: Save Your Stories

This is a guest post by Bonnie Shay of Mariposa Creative Solutions.

One of my most difficult, yet most rewarding, photo projects was for a divorced couple and their adult children. The divorce was acrimonious and bitter (the husband had had an affair). My job was to help the ex-wife edit the family’s photo and video collection and provide her ex-husband with a copy of everything as required by their divorce decree. Although the family would never be one “unit” again, my goal beyond the divorce decree requirement was to provide each family member with a record of their family’s story as it once was.

Unfortunately, all divorces interrupt the family’s story. I speak with first- hand knowledge since I, too, am divorced. What was once one, is now two separate entities. Plans that were made when a couple was married no longer exist. Life as you knew it is fractured into separate pieces. This is especially true when there is animosity between the divorcing spouses. Oftentimes, looking at their family photo history is the last thing a divorcing couple wants to do.

Nevertheless, the family’s history still exists. The fact that the story has changed, however, should not minimize the significance of the past. It was important to embrace the positive aspects of the photo organizing project. Fortunately, I was able to accomplish this goal with my client. We focused on the gift that each family member would receive at the completion of our efforts. Namely, an external hard drive that was filled with their memories in photos and videos. Luckily, despite the bitter divorce proceedings, we were able to celebrate the family’s story. Although the family would never be “whole” again, each member could acknowledge their past while focusing on moving forward into the next chapter of their lives.

When I was a little girl, my idea of a fun activity was to organize my family’s kitchen pantry, cabinets and drawers. I discovered many years later that it wasn’t every girls’ idea of a good time. Who knew? But it planted the seed of an idea that underlies Mariposa Creative Solutions: that each of us loves and excels at different things and if we recognize that and do what we do best, we can make a difference in other people’s lives.

My clients often say that at the beginning of our work together they feel like some or all of their home is chaotic. The great filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola said, “Anything you build on a large scale or with intense passion invites chaos.” And so it goes whether you have built a family, a career, friendships or a beautiful garden, a certain amount of “chaos” has been part of the process while you’ve been living life.

And if you’re reading this, my guess is you’re not like me — one whose passion it is to make order. The important thing for you is to stop feeling bad about that. It’s about recognizing what you’re good at, what you enjoy, and how to relieve that which weighs on you.