Preserving family memories often takes the form of a photo album. Here's how to arrange one artfully to make it last.
Some families take so many pictures that they have several filled and unfilled photo albums as well as boxes of pictures that still need to be organized. If you are ready to start arranging photos in a meaningful way, the following suggestions may be helpful.
Since you probably have more than enough to fill one album, you may need to plan on buying more later. Buy in bulk if possible to maintain the desired color scheme, size, or design of your photo album. If you can't get to them immediately, pack the unused albums in a box and mark the box so you can find it the next time you're ready to arrange more photos.
Then arrange your pictures for the first album. Use an organizational method that will allow you to connect several books over a span of years. For example, you may want to designate a photo album for each immediate and extended family album. Arrange the pictures in ascending chronological order, from earliest to most recent. Or you may want to categorize photo albums by year; for example, "1990" might include key family snapshots from that year only. You also could organize photos by family group, such as one album for your immediate family, one for your in-laws, another for parents, and so on. A theme arrangement is another possibility, i.e., birthdays, holidays, etc.
Select clear, attractive shots that feature relatives in a positive light, literally and figuratively. If possible, avoid faded, blurred, or dark photos that will only get harder to see with time. Try to include pictures that have cars, clothing styles, and home decor that reflect the time period, as these will bring back a host of memories later.
Consider adding mementos to turn a photo album into a scrapbook. Print or lettering at the top of each page, along with captions near the photo they represent, can provide context to those viewing the albums who might not be as familiar with family members or events as you are. Check your local craft store for scrapbook supplies. Or pick up a magazine on this topic; several can be found at the local bookstore. In addition, you can sign up for a class on scrapbooks or photography that will help you take the best pictures and showcase them to advantage.
Store unbound photos in an air-tight container to preserve them for future use. And keep your photo albums in an accessible place so everyone can enjoy the pleasant memories of years and faces gone by.
