When you start out organizing your photographs, the task may seem a bit daunting. Just remember that you don't have to complete the project in one hour, one day or one week. Work on it as you have time. There is no rush to see it to completion. For many people, the self-imposed time factor keeps them from doing anything at all. Don't let that happen to youSet the papers out on a table (or floor) with enough space in between so that you can put photos on top as you sort through your stacks. Start sorting. Look at the photos and if you have to, guess in what the year the pictures were taken. If you can get close, such as within one year, you’re doing great. Don't worry, we’ll refine this as we go along. While you are doing this, think about this, too: What I like to do is to remove the negatives of the photos (keep them in the protective sleeves) and write the date on the plastic and set them aside. I keep all of my negatives in a fire safety box. Even if the worst thing I can think of happens and my house burns down, I at least have a chance to rebuild the past with those negatives. If, for some reason, you have to clear the table (or floor) in the middle of your sorting, start with the earliest date and arrange everything for that year behind the piece of paper for that year. Go on to the next year. Then, stack them all chronologically. You've lost nothing and you’re much farther ahead than you would be if you hadn’t started at all. Next time you have the table cleared off, you can start the sorting process again. Put the piles back down on the table arranged by date and begin to sort the remaining photographs. Yes, it takes time. Organizing your photographs can be a lengthy process. It is not unreasonable to assume that it may take a few attempts before the whole process is completed. It can be completed, though. Just don't expect to do it all at once. That is what frightens the life out of people. Take it one step at a time and your photographs will be in order before you know it. Organizing your photographs will make you feel so much better. Just jump right in and get started. There's no better time than right now.
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