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Photo Organizing Made Easy: Going from Overwhelmed to Overjoyed

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“No organizing project is more daunting than photographs,
and no one is better equipped to walk you through the process than Cathi Nelson!”
—Julie Morgenstern, New York Times Best-selling Author



Our photos.

They are the keepers of our most precious memories and the tellers of our most cherished stories.

But in the digital age, and when free time is nonexistent, organizing your photos - the thousands stored in shoeboxes under your bed, in fading photo albums, and on your phone - is a daunting task!

In Photo Organizing Made Going from Overwhelmed to Overjoyed, professional photo organizers share their eight, doable steps to help you organize, maintain, and most importantly, enjoy your photos.

You’ll learn how to tackle the challenges of time and technology, have access to trusted resources when you need a helping hand, and benefit from expert advice.

We are a people of stories.

Taking the time to organize your photos is a priceless investment and a gift your loved ones will treasure for generations to come.

194 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 18, 2017

141 people are currently reading
109 people want to read

About the author

Cathi Nelson

2 books3 followers

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5 stars
39 (45%)
4 stars
27 (31%)
3 stars
14 (16%)
2 stars
4 (4%)
1 star
1 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
Profile Image for Ash.
1,095 reviews130 followers
June 6, 2019
This book is interesting but doesn’t have too many tips or resources for people who want to organize photos themselves. Cathi is part of APPO which is an association of personal photo organizers and this book essentially is for marketing this association I feel. She touched upon topics briefly while suggesting us to go to a professional in case we need more. I didn’t like the fact that she didn’t go into details on tools available or techniques used by professionals.
Anyway, still it was worth reading as I got some ideas on how i can possibly tackle my GBs and GBs of photos.
3 reviews
April 8, 2018
Excellent book for getting photos organized! One of my favorite quotes from the book: “the most photographed generation will not have a picture of themselves within 10 years”! Her point is valid! We take countless photos on all our devices, never print most of them, don’t have them named, dated or organized & eventually if we are not diligent-we will have no idea where to find them. Most of us have countless photos in countless spots! She has great tips & helps along with websites & organizing tools. She suggests a photo HUB, where we store & organize all our photos & movies & then once organized (which will take time& effort) stored in at least 3-4 other spots so we never find ourselves devastated with the loss of all our cherished pics! I highly recommend this book if you’re ready to get those countless pictures in order!
Profile Image for Denise Griffitts.
184 reviews2 followers
July 25, 2024
Cathi Nelson's "Photo Organizing Made Easy" has been a lifesaver for me as I tackled the daunting task of organizing my scattered collection of memories.

Nelson's approach is refreshingly straightforward to implement. She breaks down the process of sorting, categorizing, and storing photos into simple steps that anyone can follow, regardless of their level of experience. What I found particularly helpful were her practical tips and strategies that made the whole endeavor much less overwhelming.

The book is well-structured with clear instructions and useful illustrations that clarify each concept. Nelson also includes downloadable resources that further simplify the organization process. It's clear that she understands the challenges faced by everyday people and has tailored her advice accordingly.

"Photo Organizing Made Easy" isn't just about tidying up; it's about reclaiming and cherishing our memories in a meaningful way. Whether you're dealing with digital photos or old albums, Nelson's guide provides a comprehensive yet accessible approach to preserving your family history.

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to bring order to their photo chaos. Thank you, Cathi Nelson, for demystifying the process and helping me regain control over my stored memories!
Profile Image for Diane.
1,180 reviews
April 24, 2018
I have to admit that I skimmed this book more than "read" it. It's a handy guide to organizing photos but is aimed more for someone who is a real family historian or geneaologist. I'm just a woman with a boatload of old photos. These chapters are easy reads and each ends with "Cathi's Pics" which are resources for various things...scanners, apps, home movie converters, archival materials etc. I don't have movies or slides or anything of any value so I was able t skip those chapters. BUT...if you really wanted to be super organized this is a good handbook. Me? I'll probably still have a boatload of barely organized photos.
128 reviews
August 5, 2020
I read this book as I have just scanned and catalogued 9,000 family photographs and wanted to make sure I was organizing then correctly. It turned out that I had done most of the organization correctly, so I did not have to make many changes.

This is a very thorough, well-written book that has an enormous amount of information about scanning, organization, and using the images later.

I highly recommend this book as a great source of information. I know I will be referring to it in the future.
Profile Image for Suetr.
129 reviews
February 10, 2018
I’m starting on my new career as a personal photo organizer which encompasses my love of storytelling and keeping things tidy ;-) with my passion for photography, design and family history. Cathi’s book is an excellent resource for a do-it-yourself organizer who wants to organize their families photographs and unlock family stories. It’s also a information and resource packed source for professional organizers helping others to organize their photos.
Profile Image for Liz Sevy.
2 reviews1 follower
February 22, 2018
This book contains a lot of helpful information on many aspects of "getting organized". I have years of film, VHS, cassettes, slides, photos, digital everything and she addresses everything. And offers resources as well. If you are considering organizing your photos, or you are ready to go, this is a great start to the process. Just do it!
Profile Image for Cheri.
258 reviews17 followers
January 7, 2018
As a fairly new photo organizer, I have spent a lot of time learning best practices through the Association of Personal Photo Organizers (APPO). Cathi Nelson's book condenses tons of information into an easy-to-read, inexpensive reference I will return to over and over.
75 reviews1 follower
October 17, 2018
If you've inherited a boat load of photos from relatives, or just have an overwhelming number of physical and/or digital photographs, this book will help you to organize them. I greatly appreciate the online resources mentioned at the end of each chapter.
Profile Image for The Devine Ms Em.
486 reviews2 followers
July 8, 2019
I gave it two stars only because I could have written this book. My photos are all categorized, sub-categorized, sub-sub categorized, properly titled, dated and tagged. So why do I have still have so many Miscellaneouos photos? Somehow Nelson misses advice for the 'left-overs'.
Profile Image for Dionne Merriott.
5 reviews7 followers
March 31, 2018
If you've ever wanted to organize your photos "someday", this book will give you the information and inspiration to get it done. Easy, fast read that I will refer back to again.
Author 1 book1 follower
October 17, 2020
Good Starting Point

Read this before you start tackling photo organization. It’s a concise and well-written primer to get us started on organization.
Profile Image for Michele Anderson .
46 reviews7 followers
March 31, 2022
I really enjoyed the author’s voice and her expertise. I learned a lot of practical tips I can apply professionally and in my daily life when it comes to organizing my photo collection. Also love all the resources she provides!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews

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