18 • The Beacon April 18 , 2024

By Jen Jones

Everyone has their own opinion on the best way to keep photos safe and organized . Some prefer to send them to “ the cloud ” while others print copies and keep them accessible at all times . Others keep their pictures on their phone or laptop . Still others put all of them on memory cards or other external memory devices . The option that is best for you depends on your needs .

If you are someone who loves to display pictures and wants to be able to look through them often , printed copies would be the best option for you . Storage options for printed photos vary widely , and again , it depends on what you prefer . A simple photo box allows you to organize your 4-by-6 ( and smaller ) photos easily with simple dividers that can separate years or months in each box .

The boxes do take up a lot of space , though , so if your space is limited , you may need to think about only printing your favorite pictures and leave others to look at on your phone or laptop . Even if you print everything , digitally storing your photos is important too .

Many stores are selling large , flat plastic cases that have several 4-by-6 cases inside . Your photos easily fit into the smaller cases , and you can organize them by month , event or year . The large , flat cases stack easily , and your photos will be stored flat to keep them from curving or bending .

No matter how you choose to store your printed photos , do yourself and your family a favor and immediately write on the back of the photos . Include first and last names — don ’ t use Mom or Dad as future generations will have no way of knowing who that is — and the date of the

File

Photos are great ways to capture memories , but how do you store them ? In this article you will find several different options to try .

photo . You can even include a short note saying what was going on or something you want to remember about that day .

A simple scrapbook can be used to create a one-of-a-kind memory book . Each photo can be mounted in the book , and you can easily make notes to share who is in the picture

and what was going on that day . These can be especially important for older photos you may have of family members who have passed away . Future generations may find it fun to read about their greatgrandparents ’ wedding day and to see how weddings have changed over the years .

Scrapbooks can be dedicated to all of the birthdays in a year or to certain holidays or events , like a vacation . Only you can decide what is important to you — what you want your children or grandchildren to know . If storage space is a problem , you may want to only scrapbook the photos

that are the most important to you .

Digital storage is a necessary option for everyone . Many people even scanned photos from before digital cameras were used so they would never lose those precious photos if a fire or other disaster would happen . Again , digital options vary widely , and you will need to choose the best option for your needs . For those with a laptop , the easiest thing to do may be to purchase external memory devices and save all your photos to those . These can then be kept in a safe place such as a fireproof safe or a safe deposit box . The photos on your laptop will still be accessible to you and can be easily printed if you need another copy . Some families make two copies of their digital storage and then keep one at home and another at a trusted person ’ s house . This offers even more protection to your photos and doesn ’ t take much space to store .

Be sure if you choose to purchase a memory card or USB stick that it has enough storage for your needs . Both options are inexpensive and easily stored .

Many people have chosen to forgo external memory devices in favor of cloud storage . Photo storage is offered by many companies now with monthly or yearly rates . Your photos will be safe and are accessible to you . This can be a great option for many people , but it does come with a few downsides .

Make sure if you use a cloud service that you leave someone else your sign-in info . If you don ’ t , no one else will be able to access your memories if something should happen to you . Also , though it is rare , your account could be deleted or locked by the company , and you will lose everything you have saved . The cloud can be a great service , but be sure you read everything you can before you choose this option .

No matter what digital option you choose , consider having a backup device . Glitches happen all of the time , and you don ’ t want to lose your favorite photos because you didn ’ t have another copy . Files can become corrupted , laptops can become useless and phones can be lost or damaged . Having your favorite photos saved in more than one place can help ensure you will never lose irreplaceable photos .

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