How I Organize My Photos & Plan My Scrapbook Albums

[@mickey7327]

I would love to see your photo printing process. I have a Selphy but am on the verge of buying the Epson PM. Thanks for the tips!😍

[@lauraalbertscrafts]

Will do! I think a few folks had questions about collaging photos too.

[@kimbell9292]

Would love to see home printing on epson PM

[@juniperoneill]

I was just about to say exactly this. I haven't been too pleased with the selphy but I am looking forward to the picturemate when the time comes. I cant imagine printing in bulk on them though, so I'd like to see that. Also, desperately need to find a way for easy collage making from a PC. All the better if I don't have to upload them somewhere else in order to make the collage and then download it to print at home? So please, I'd love you to walk us through choosing the photos, editing if needed, collaging, and printing on the selphy, though I'd be interesetd in PM as well if it's different. Thank you! I like how your process here seems very streamlined.

[@juniperoneill]

@@lauraalbertscrafts , Yes please!

[@anniebrown2430]

Yes to seeing a photo printing process.. how do you know which photos you have printed?

[@rhondabates6013]

Just what I was looking for. Thanks for the tips!

[@lauraalbertscrafts]

So glad it was helpful, Rhonda!

[@tinameredith8548]

Laura, this was so helpful and simple to follow. Thank you for all your content.

[@lauraalbertscrafts]

I'm so glad it was helpful, Tina! I find simple just works so much better for me!

[@MsSuperklutz]

OMG Laura this was a Spectacular Share. I have a Selphy and LOVE it cause it prints from my phone and my Cannon Camera Smart Stick and my iPAD .....I LOVE IT allot plus I have an HP Sprocket and occasionally now Print too from my computer using my HP photo printers so lots of options and I LOVE your share as always can learn something new. I would love to see a video of your photo printing process.....that would be great!! GREAT system Kiddo. TFS YOU SO ROCK!! Joan Smith

[@lauraalbertscrafts]

So glad it was helpful, Joan! I am planning the print at home videos now for each of my printers. Lots of tips for getting great quality pictures from both the Selphy and the Picturemate.

[@janaurant3544]

Thank you!! This is a great idea snd I think I’ll give it a try!! Thanks again!

[@lauraalbertscrafts]

So glad it was helpful, Jan! You're quite welcome!

[@cynthiatooley4577]

Yes would appreciate a tutorial on printing at home

[@lauraalbertscrafts]

I am already working on it! I'll have the print at home videos for Canon Selphy & Epson Picturemate up in March!

[@natalyabailey7356]

Thank you. This was very helpful

[@lauraalbertscrafts]

Glad it was helpful! This system is simple and far less time consuming for me then trying to piece together an album from whatever photos I felt like printing that day. It feels more like a curated story.

[@jonesfamilyny5]

Each time I watch this I gather another bit of info. ❤️

[@mariangeles76]

Thanks for sharing your tips ❤️

[@lauraalbertscrafts]

Hope this was helpful, I try to keep my system as simple and easy to maintain as possible.

[@colleencornett342]

Very helpful!!! Than you! Trying to catch up on videos.

[@lauraalbertscrafts]

So glad it was helpful, Colleen! Several lovely friends had asked to see the process and I'm always happy to share.

[@RayaWhisse]

Thank you, this was very helpful for me :)

[@lauraalbertscrafts]

I'm glad it was helpful! I think it's a pretty intuitive system, but it really helps me be more productive!

[@laurencunningham8281]

Yes please on Selphy tutorial 🤗

[@lauraalbertscrafts]

I will have that up in March! Doing one for the Selphy and the Picturemate because they seem to be the most popular.

[@tishschneider6252]

Wow, you are so organized! My photo system seriously needs help so I enjoyed this video. Not sure i can get as organized as you right off but, you know, goals and baby steps, right? LOL! I would love to hear how you decide what pictures get printed, for starters. Do you print all your photos at home or do you send the large batch every 6 months or so to a photo printing service and just print selected few at home? Printing all of them at home sounds like a daunting task to me! But I struggle with my Canon Selphi so maybe your upcoming video on using it will help with that!! This is definitely an area in my scrapping that needs help so thank for this!!

[@lauraalbertscrafts]

I didn't used to be very organized and found myself double scrapping photos pretty frequently. I knew that my system had to be simple and intuitive. It starts with downloading the photos on my phone once a month, setting up the folders for digital photos takes a little time, but it's so worth it when I'm looking for a specific event. I generally plan out a year's worth of albums at once (it's a 2-3 day project), deciding which photos to print, what order the album will go in, and then collaging/editing the photos. I send a big batch to a professional printer (usually Persnickity Prints) for that year's albums. Then, I just use my smaller printers for impromptu projects and stories I feel compelled to scrap right now. I will definitely go into great detail on the printing process for y'all!

[@tishschneider6252]

@@lauraalbertscrafts Thanks for the reply! I look forward to your videos!

[@susanwilliams4908]

I’d love to see how you print multiple photos on one 4x6. Is that possible with the epsom picturemate 400? Thanks for sharing your photo organizing tips.

[@lauraalbertscrafts]

Yes, it is! Epson has a printing app for your phone that allows you to collage photos, I'll go over it in the video in March, but I can tell you it's called Epson Creative Print in the App Store.

[@jennymay3665]

I’ve watched this video before, and I need to watch it again - and follow what you do. I love the basket of photos on your desk with the information on a post it note. So much more visible! 😃 Thank you for sharing 🥰

[@lauraalbertscrafts]

Glad it was helpful! My process is pretty simple and intuitive, which makes it easy to maintain and I need that. Anything that helps me to keep up with photo printing and saves me time in scrapping is worth doing!

[@emilywhite9274]

That is exactly how I organize my photos on my computer! Year > Month > Events and then all the random, miscellaneous pictures just sit in the Month folder. I have a PM 400 and love it for printing on demand! How do you edit your pictures though? I use Photoshop Elements with the magic wand that just auto corrects everything. Sometimes I wish I knew more about the settings on my phone for taking pictures as well as the editing pictures.. you know, beyond the auto correct. LOL!

[@lauraalbertscrafts]

Yes! It's a pretty intuitive system, easy to use and maintain. I use Picasa to edit my photos, but I know it's pretty hard to find at the moment. As long as your editing makes them print-worthy, that's good enough! I usually just lighten my photos and increase saturation a bit, that's about it, crop if necessary.

[@emilywhite9274]

@@lauraalbertscrafts Thanks, that's good to know!

[@M4pockets18Annie]

Great Job👍🏻

[@lauraalbertscrafts]

Thank you, Anne! I’ve had a lot of requests for this one!

[@cindydurran9519]

Very helpful. I would love to see how you print at home. My hard drive set up is very similar, but...I put 1-January, 2-February, etc. This stops the months from being in alphabetical order!

[@lauraalbertscrafts]

Glad it was helpful! My brain loves alphabetical order (even my kids’ names are in alpha order 😂), but a great tip!

[@emilywhite9274]

I number my months too, so it's easier to go down the list! I'm glad I'm not the only one. 😎

[@michelaharrigan5698]

Great ideas! I am definitely going to make a list of page ideas from on. I need to make sure I waste less--I was wasting money and photos. I like your ideas. Thank you for sharing.

[@lauraalbertscrafts]

Glad this was helpful! I find it’s the easiest way to stay organized!

[@Wherehopebloomsbrighter]

Thank you Laura, this is so helpful for me because I am always overcomplicating things with scrapbooking that I don't get to do my layouts, I just mostly hoard scrapbook supplies. :) ha ha ha. But hey with your tips, I can now see a more orderly way on how to prep efficiently so I can just scrapbook without a ton of grabbing stuff all over the place and then get frustrated when I can't get things right.

[@lauraalbertscrafts]

So glad it was helpful, Faith! I agree, we often make things far harder on ourselves than is necessary instead of keeping it simple and just having fun!

[@jonesfamilyny5]

I feel this ❤️

[@jeanetteburt3335]

Hi Laura, I also organise my photo's the same way on my computer. I never thought to organise the printed photos like you do....great idea. Thanks for sharing. Jeanette, New Zealand.

[@lauraalbertscrafts]

Thank you, Jeanette! So glad it was helpful! I find keeping it simple is the best way for me to keep up with it.

[@CraftyMeggy]

Thanks so much for sharing!! I used to do a lot of similar organizing things that you do. Photos I have kind changed and I try print out 6 months at a time. If I’m really on top of it I’ll print out 3 months. I’ve decided not to worry about older years. I just want to be in the moment and remember the year we’re in. I’ll edit photos every month or so and then print them at the 3-6 month mark. I organize my photos on a hard drive on my computer a lot like you do. It was interesting watching!! Makes me want to be this organized again. Lol

[@lauraalbertscrafts]

Having ADHD makes it really difficult for me to stay organized, but I find that if I devote one full day to this process twice a year, I can be far more productive the rest of the time. I do print and scrap current photos as well, on a whim mostly, but have managed to get caught up to 2019/2020 in the last year.

[@CraftyMeggy]

@@lauraalbertscrafts That’s so awesome you’re caught up on photo printing, for the most part. I decided last year that I am going to print the current year because I am so behind in scrapping it was getting to be stressful. This helped me focus on the here and now with scrapping.

[@kiandra323]

Just about the same as I store my photos Laura

[@lauraalbertscrafts]

It's a pretty simple and intuitive system, I think, but for those who have decades of scanned photos to organize, I can imagine the idea overwhelming! You have to do what works best for you and your photos, right?

[@pamnichols4268]

Oh Laura I wish I was a 1/4 as organized as you are!!!! I always print a ton of photos, I’m going to have to see if I can do the small ones in Photoshop or whatever it is I have. I never print wallets because they are pricey! Thanks for the top!

[@lauraalbertscrafts]

So glad it was helpful! I'm working on a printing/collaging video that I think will explain it better. I find the Project Life app super helpful for collaging photos on my phone.

[@tanyademillo8695]

I’m going to set this system up for myself! Keeps it from getting overwhelming.

[@lauraalbertscrafts]

Yes! I find this is super easy to maintain and makes scrapping a more efficient process as well.

[@kelliescraftythumb]

This is almost the same way that I do my family albums just a little less detailed. I make a list of pages for the year then check off once I get the pictures printed and cross off once the page is done. It has always been so helpful. But I do albums for my nieces and nephew and my boy's step sisters but there is no order there. Just when I feel in the mood to do girly pages, I just grab a photo and scrap it. Your photos are so organized in your computer though, I don't do that. They are all on my phone mostly

[@lauraalbertscrafts]

Yes! I think my system is fairly intuitive for the way I and most people scrap. Love hearing that others do something similar! I have a separate set of albums for my kids and I'm the same way as you are with those. I have them put away in chronological order, but don't plan them. When I come across a cute picture of them, I scrap it! I think it's good to have that more free-form option too!

[@Valeriearts2]

Love your system, makes the process look so smooth.

[@lauraalbertscrafts]

Thank you, Valerie! It definitely takes some time to set up twice a year, but it's so worth it to have stress free scrapping the rest of the time!

[@dawnhoover2065]

Great system! So simple and efficient. Thank you for sharing your process.

[@lauraalbertscrafts]

Glad it was helpful, Dawn! I definitely find a simple system easier to maintain.

[@janwright9309]

Thanks for sharing your process.Gave me some ideas to help me finish my albums.

[@lauraalbertscrafts]

So glad it was helpful, Jan! I’ve had some requests for this one and am always happy to help.

[@jenniferm1405]

Very helpful video! I have years of scrapbooking to catch up on and this is a very good system that I will definitely use!

[@lauraalbertscrafts]

So glad it's helpful, Jennifer! I find it so much easier to catch up when I keep the system simple!

[@bettelousmathers3064]

Thanks for sharing! This was very helpful & you are super organized!

[@lauraalbertscrafts]

Thank you very much, Bette! I try very hard to be organized, I didn't used to be and really struggled. It's a lot easier to maintain a simple system, I find.

[@cindyhughes8985]

This was very helpful! Thank you and I would Live to see more.

[@lauraalbertscrafts]

So glad it was helpful, Cindy! I'm planning a printing video and a choosing photos to print video, hopefully those will be helpful too!

[@lauraferrari851]

Great ideas! Would definitely like to see how you print at home. I have a huge problem with wanting to use ALL my pictures in scrapbooking. Example: last year we took a cruise and I made 23 pages book with at least 4-5 pictures on each page. I need help picking and choosing my picture. I take a ton of pictures (took over 1500 pictures on the cruise) and want to scrap a lot of them.

[@lauraalbertscrafts]

I am so glad it was helpful! I will definitely see if I can plan a video on how I to choose which photos to print.

[@stampbooker]

Very helpful!!! Thank you! I’m not sure how to arrange my photos on my Mac like you did. I’ve had it for 2 years now and still trying to get used to it, but one of the reasons I wanted one was because I have an iPhone and I low how the photos are seamless between the 2

[@lauraalbertscrafts]

Thank you very much, Michele! Glad it was helpful. I would suggest collaging your photos on your iphone first before uploading to the Mac. You can use the Project Life App to do that pretty easily. I don't have a Mac, so I'm not sure what editing options you have for it.

[@tinaharsch8761]

Great system Laura! I would love to see a video of your printing process. I also have a Selphy and a lot of times the pics don't come out the way I expect. Have a great day!

[@lauraalbertscrafts]

Thank you, Tina! You've got it, working on printing videos for both of my printers for March!

[@Atiffan2]

Thank you for sharing! This was helpful. I would love to see how you print pictures with you Cannon. I just got one and I think it takes a long time and ink is expensive. So I only use it for reprints or special prints. I curious about ideas to print say 200 photos.

[@lauraalbertscrafts]

I'm glad it was helpful! I will say that I don't use my Selphy for mass printing. I don't think it's cost effective or time effective, personally. I sent out big orders to a professional printer (I use Persnickity Prints) and then use my home printer for impromptu projects (like mini albums, Project Life, etc). I will definitely show you some tips on collaging and filtering photos in the March printing video.

[@Atiffan2]

@@lauraalbertscrafts thank you!

[@CraftyAsh86]

Would love to see a selphy/epson picture mate comparison!! This was a great video! Thank you!

[@lauraalbertscrafts]

Will do, Ashlee! So glad it was helpful!

[@MoiraOReilly]

I would love to see a video about your printing at home Laura, particularly comparing the Epson PM and the Selphy. I have a Selphy but wonder whether I also need an Epson ;) xo

[@lauraalbertscrafts]

Thank you, Moira! Will do! I like the Epson's picture quality better, but I do love the paper quality of the Canon.

[@pineapplepapers]

Wow you are so organized!

[@lauraalbertscrafts]

I have to be, my crazy ADHD brain would not function if I didn’t plan it out. It’s a rough couple of days twice a year, but saves me so much time and stress the rest of the time.

[@jeankarcher2460]

Yes, please show how you print at home. I'm so behind.

[@lauraalbertscrafts]

Will do, Jean! I'm working on printing videos for March!

[@ohMamarazziScrapbookingVicky]

Hey Laura - we have very similar systems! I am totally organized with pictures and supplies (organized, but still messy LOL) and I could not function without my notebooks, where I document all the pics I take and plan to scrap. For me, IF IT'S WORTH SNAPPING, IT'S WORTH SCRAPPING! I will be posting my vid soon - hope you get to see it, cuz you're getting a shoutout in it :) xoxo Vicky

[@lauraalbertscrafts]

Thank you, Vicky! It’s so helpful to have a system that works, just makes the whole process easier! I’ll be looking for your video!

[@graceyj7996]

Laura I do something with writing a list of events and then print and store in zip bags vs your basket. I do have a question though…do you keep your kids’ albums photos in separate baskets or are they all mixed in that one basket?

[@lauraalbertscrafts]

They are all mixed up together because if the layout only features one kid, it goes in their album, but if it's multiple people, I put it in the family album. So, it doesn't really matter what order they are in.

[@slatsinhi]

I have a SELPHY and no clue how to work it, does it allow borders? Can you edit photos? Etc Love this video

[@lauraalbertscrafts]

I've got you! I'm working on a How to with the Selphy app and printer.

[@cherienaera3751]

I use the project life app on my phone. My kids got my selphy to go with my phone. I had no idea and had to use a memory card only on it for two years

[@s3linakyle548]

What do you do with a photo/s you feel you want to put in an album but dont feel it should have a whole pagr layout for? Idk if that makes sense to anyone. But im struggling trying to figure out which photos should go on a scrapbook layout or just in an album with other random photos. All the "random" photos i want in some kind of category...ugh 😮‍💨

[@lauraalbertscrafts]

I found some 6x12 pocket page protectors and do a monthly update with photos that aren’t full page worthy, but I still love.

[@lindabracht2930]

How do you print photos in a collage?I have a Hp office jet pro printer.

[@lauraalbertscrafts]

If you don't use an editing software, you can collage them together in a Word document before printing if you print on a larger sized photo paper.

[@joanjacob7644]

Picasa seems to have been disabled

[@lauraalbertscrafts]

Yes, unfortunately that's true. I have Picasa downloaded on my computer, so I still have access, but it has been discontinued.