ORGANIZE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS! 
Yes, this can be an overwhelming project, if you have not kept up with your photographs throughout the years, but don’t let that stop you from getting started.
Your photographs are a valuable family heritage to be treasured and PRESERVED by you and your loved ones not only for now, but for years to come. If you keep putting it off, your piles of photos will only grow larger and more overwhelming.
Where To Begin:
1. Prepare a working space for your project.
Set up a work table that is out of the way of normal, day-to-day traffic and company.  Your work space should be a place where you can come and go without having to put everything away when you are not working on your project. It can be in a corner of your basement or work room….a place where it is OK to have a “work in progress”. This will make it easier for you to work in small increments of time throughout your day/week whenever you may have some spare minutes.
2. Gather ALL of your printed photos that have not yet been organized in a photo storage box, photo album or scrapbook. Don’t forget all of those loose photos scattered in drawers, as well as the photos that are still in their photo sleeves from the printer.
3. Arrange your printed photographs by year, event (Christmas 2008, 2006 Cruise, Aubrey’s 16th Birthday, etc.), or by individual (Pictures of Grammy). This will allow you to break up your pictures and work with them in sections.
4. Begin organizing your most recent photographs and work backwards through the years. Begin small by working on your photo organization 15-30 minutes at a time. If you have more time within a given week, the faster your project will progress.
5. Take the time to sift through each photo and discard the photos that are blurry, or are not of importance to you and your family. It really is OK to discard photos that are of poor quality, unidentifiable people, or photos that are not of value to you. Think about what your children/grandchildren would like to see when they are older.
6. Once you have organized your photographs by year or event, etc. you can:
– Display your pictures in “photo safe” albums or sleeves;
– Creatively arrange your photos in scrapbooks;
– Store your photographs in a “photo safe” storage box; or
– Scan your photographs to a digital format and share online or on a cd.
Storage
If you are not placing your photos in an album, store each year, special occasion, etc. in a photo storage box made especially for photographs and label accordingly. Shoe boxes are definitely not a “photo safe” product.
When organizing your photos in an album, make sure the album is lignin and acid-free. The terms “archival” and “photo safe” are not regulated and therefore pretty much meaningless. To be absolutely sure your photo storage products are safe, they need to pass the Photographic Activity Test (PAT). This test basically predicts potentially harmful interactions between your photos and the storage materials. You can find PAT tested storage products at an archival supply company such as Gaylords and Light Impressions.
Avoid keeping your photos in attics, damp basements, laundry rooms and bathrooms, as the heat and humidity will cause mold and damage them.
DIGITAL
If you have digital pictures on your computer, it is vital that you have a “back-up” on a separate cd and label specifically by year/event.
Keep in mind that computer hardware and software become obsolete about every five years and that cd’s/dvd’s have a lifespan of less than 50 years. So, eventually you will have to upgrade your digital keepsakes.
 Something Fun
I came across a company that will convert old photos, negative, slides and film/video into digital format. In about a week, they will convert your photos, etc. onto a digital file where you can easily share your photos with others.
http://www.scandigital.com/affiliate/159/index.php?page=1
Photograph organizing is a process that will definitely take some time. Keep in mind the end result and focus on small sections at a time, so that you are not too overwhelmed. The time and energy spent organizing your pictures will be a legacy of love to your family and loved ones that will be treasured for years to come.