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 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.