catch up on your photos: the ten-step escape plan

 
Is this you?

photo courtesy TimThumb

Do you have so many photos that you feel like you're drowning?  Are you overwhelmed with the amount of photos you have that need homes?  Do you not even know where to start??

It sounds like you're in a frustrating place called Overwhelmville.  Let's get you outta there--with a ONE-WAY TICKET.

I recently came up with an Escape Plan to help people who are under a mountain of photos.

For the next 10 Fridays, I'll post one of the Escape Plan steps.  Some steps are things to do, others are things to remember.  All of them will help you get a handle on your photos, figure out where to start and how to move forward, and help you solve the problems you're having with your photos.

If you haven't already subscribed to this blog by e-mail, you'll want to hop over to the right sidebar and do that.  It's the easiest way to get the steps right into your inbox. 

I love helping people turn this

to this

and this

Because memory-keeping MAKES A DIFFERENCE.  It's good for YOU when you do it, and it's good for the people who receive and enjoy what you've created.  It decreases stress and raises self-esteem.  Memory-keeping isn't for "creative" people or people who are into "scrapbooking."  It's for people with memories and photos.  And that's it.

#icanhelp

See you on Friday!  :)  

P.S.  I'll be posting all these steps at the "how to catch up on your photos" tab at the top of the blog, too.

why you HAVE TO print your photos

I just read something alarming.

Remember when I said that you should print your photos because it's so easy for phones to get lost, stolen, or damaged?  (In case you missed that, it was {here}.)

So, yes, it's really a good idea to back up your photos to your computer, a flash drive, an external hard drive, etc., but don't lose sight of the fact that the digital version is only a backup.  It's not the real thing!!  It's essentially the film negatives--it's not THE PHOTO.  (You can read why digital photo storage is a backup, not a goal {here}).

We all know how fickle technology is.  It changes.  It crashes.  Files become unreadable.

But did you know THIS?  {This Google study} is ALARMING!  Here's what it says:

And this is A MINIMUM!  If you keep your computer for five years, you have AT LEAST a one in three chance of your computer crashing.

Keeping your files backed up is great, but printing your photos is even better!

See!?  That's much better than a bunch of digital files anyway!

Click "how to get started" above to get on your way!

The Importance of Storytelling (by guest blogger Hollie Clere)

Throwing your photos in a "photo book" really isn't that different from sticking undocumented photos in a shoebox.  

What makes a photo meaningful is the story behind it--the REASON you took the photo.  You don't have to be a writer to tell your story.  Just tell your story like you'd tell it to your friend.

Today I'm pleased to share with you some fantastic thoughts on storytelling from an expert.  Hollie Clere is also known as The Social Media Advisor.  I've often heard her say how VITAL storytelling is to a business and a brand--and it's vital to preserving photos and memories, too.  It's all about the story.   See what insights Hollie has and think about how they relate to telling your story as you preserve photos and memories!
   

The Importance of Storytelling

Hollie Clere

You have a story to tell, and I want to read it. Guess what? I’m not the only one!

Every project you create has a story behind it. Taking that story and turning it into something takes more than just time and materials. It encompasses frustration, brainstorming, determination, and joy of completion. Your story is inspiration; the inspiration behind anything you choose to make from it.

When you look at something you’ve crafted, the effort behind it is readily apparent. There’s sentimental attachment to the process. It showcases a message that will be interpreted differently; dependent on the viewer.

Your project doesn’t have to be perfect, and if you’re chronicling your efforts through text, pictures, videos or any combination of the three, it’s the stuck points that can help others overcome their own difficulties.

Every project, just like every person and business, has a story. There is the process, and then there is the emotional connections and attachments associated with it.

A story is made up of three very important things:

1. What led you to creating the project? This is your inspiration.
2. The voice/tone/style. Your voice is how you tell your story.
3. The process from beginning to end. This is where you incorporate your materials, time, instructions and promotion.

If you’re telling this story on a blog, social media, or in a video, you’ll want to tell your story in a way that compels readers/viewers to create – to make something of their own stories. This element of being inspired will ensure that your audience returns over and over again. Here are some quick key tips to making your story memorable:

1. Mention your pain points in the storytelling. Give people something that they can relate to. Give them a reason to be invested in your outcomes.
2. Make sure that it is immediately obvious that it is YOUR story and that you are the mastermind behind telling it.
3. Be social! Interact with anyone that feels compelled to talk to you about your story.

Whatever method you use to tell your story, storytelling is an important part of all of our lives. Keep creating and sharing your tale with the world so that they feel inspired to create and share their own stories.

Hollie Clere, with the Social Media Advisor, teaches your clients the importance of storytelling. Telling an effective story in your brand will make or break your online presence. We are storytellers. The Social Media Advisor builds robust bios that tell your real story, the pains you are solving, incorporating your ideal target market, and the most effective keywords. We build a working bio for you that equips your audience with the story they need to hear from you.