"Scrapbooking isn't just re-living memories. It's re-loving them." ~Janna W.
Here's a look at my scrapbook. 😁
The layout for these pages came from some searching online. I seem to only have about 3 ideas for scrapbook layouts on my own, but I really enjoy mixing it up for each "topic" (event, page, whatever it happens to be), so love getting ideas from other people.
One of the things I really love about the particular digital scrapbooking program I use (see Credits below) is that I can use any font that I've installed on my computer, which is so fun. I like to switch up the fonts a lot! (It's easy to install new fonts on your computer--I love the free ones.)
my digital scrapbook printed
And you may have noticed in both the Colorado and the Austria pages here, I've included QR codes. That's one of my other favorite things to do in a digital scrap page so that I can also see the videos that go with the photos.
I store my photo files digitally in a cloud space that's private and permanent (unlike Google, or anything else out there, for that matter), and I love that I can store my videos there, too! I've added on a streaming service in that cloud space so that when I scan those QR codes, I can play the video right from there!!
I used to use YouTube for that, but they removed one of my videos once (without my permission--I was so mad, and there was nothing I could do about it), so I stopped counting on them (and using them). Anyway, you're welcome to scan the QR codes here to see my fun videos, too, if you like (if the quality here on Blogger is good enough for you to do that). It's SUCH a cool thing to be able to do. 😎
NOTE: I am a Forever affiliate called an Ambassador (a decision I made because I love it so much), so you will find affiliate links in this post. I earn a commission from anything purchased at my website, and being your Ambassador means I'm here to help you with questions, too. If you're new to Forever and open your free account here to give it a try, you'll get a $20 welcome coupon towards anything mentioned in this post.
Digital book printed here (in gorgeous, high-quality pages I fall in love with every time), with the digital version PDF also kept forever there in my private account.
FAQ
Why digital?
First, there's no "right way" to scrapbook, except for two things: 1- quality so your book will last for many, many years to come, and 2- something you will love and therefore do.
I personally choose digital because it's faster and easier, taking up less space in my house than the papers and scissors and stickers (and table space) I needed when I was a paper scrapbooker. I like that instead of having to crop (cut) a photo to make it fit, I can easily resize, zoom in, etc.
I also love the ability to print multiple copies with just the click of a button, and for safety reasons I like that my scrapbooks exist both digitally and in print. (I have scanned my old paper scrapbooks for the same reason.)
Why digital just to print it?
Aside from what I mentioned above: Accessibility! Yes, I print my digitally-created scrapbooks because print is an easily-accessible form of seeing and also sharing (and gifting!) photos and memories. Print doesn't need a full battery in an expensive gadget. Plus, photo experts still recommend print as an important way to store photos and memories, in addition to digital forms.
Thanks for stopping in. See you at next month's Scrapbook Look! (Or, first click the Scrapbook Look tag at the bottom of this post to see more scrapbook pages.)
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I was recently at lunch with a friend and we were talking about our businesses when she asked me: "What is the number one thing you want to accomplish in your business?"
Of course, I immediately wanted to say: "I want to help more people fireproof their photos and family videos and digital memories. I want to help more people preserve the stories and memories that go with their photos by saving them in print."
But I thought, "That's so obvious!"
And so I told her:
"I want to educate people. There are so many things about photos and preserving them that people just don't know, even though they are things that really matter!"
They are things I didn't even know, either, until I dove deeper in 2021.
And since that lovely conversation, I organized the seven things I wish everyone knew about photos. I'll give you the short version here, so you'll probably want to watch the video version at the end of this post for more details.
And these are in no particular order because they're ALL so important!
#1: iCloud is Not a Backup. It's a Direct Sync.
A backup is a second copy of something. A direct sync means if you delete it from your iPhone or your iPad, it's also deleted from the cloud. Don't think you can "clean up" your device because it's all "saved in the cloud." Almost nobody I talk to knows this!
Check out the video to see the actual terms of service where Apple tells you they aren't responsible for anything in iCloud, so make sure you have a backup. Yeah, they really have the nerve to say that even though you're paying for iCloud.
#2: Today's phones are a great place to take photos, but they're a terrible place to store them.
Phones are not permanent! They are easily stolen, lost, or dropped. More importantly, Apple states (and you should check the terms of service if you have an Android) that your Apple accounts are terminated upon your death. Phones are not a safe place to keep photos. At all.
Check out the video for 2 sad, real life stories about this.
#3: Google Photos is Not Private or Permanent
This is not a newsflash, I know. It's pretty common knowledge that Google data mines (gathers data from our personal information to use or sell). They reserve rights to your photos and anything you put in Google (Gmail, Google Photos, etc.). But I think most people have never actually read Google's Terms of Service, and I think we should know what's in there.
In the video, I go over the Google Terms of Service, which include rights to "host, distribute, publicly communicate, use, publish, publicly perform, and display your content." I also talk about a CBS News article about a family whose photo had been sold and used without their knowledge on a political flyer.
So, yeah, another thing I definitely want people to know.
#4: Your Social Media is Not Yours
It can disappear in an instant. PLEASE DO NOT think it's a safe place to store your photos and videos! It's tricky because you feel like you have control over it, but it can be shut down without ANY warning. It happened to me, and I told that story here. It also happened to Cindy from the County Road 407 blog, and you can see a brief description of it at the beginning of her post here.
In the video, I also mention a couple more reasons social media is NOT for storing photos and videos. Please check it out if you count on Facebook or Instagram or even a blog for your photos, videos, and stories to be preserved.
#5: Photos are SO Good for You!
You may already know this if you've been here at the blog a time or two. Sometimes people treat photos like a chore, and I really wish everyone knew how incredibly good they are for the heart and soul. Sometimes we know this from experience, but there have actually been studies done that prove it! Spending time with photos decreases stress, increases happiness, increases gratitude, and increases relaxation. Among other things.
I talk about some more reasons to prioritize spending time with photos in the video, which you'll find below after #7.
#6: Saving, organizing and sharing photos (and videos) is doable! No overwhelm required.
I really wish people knew this. Some people don't believe it. But it's definitely true! I write about this all the time, I know. This is huge:
In the video of Seven Things I Wish Everyone Knew About Photos, I actually give a ton of tips and ideas for making preserving photos and videos doable, so definitely check out that part.
#7: Photo experts recommend storing them three ways.
You probably already know this from your time here at Photo & Story Treasures, but this is definitely one thing I wish everyone knew. I hear, "Oh, I'm set. All my photos are on an external hard drive." If it's the one and only place, they are still, most definitely, at risk. Photo experts say the safest way to keep photos is:
In the video below I explain why 2 digital ways are best and the difference between the two that photo experts suggest. I also talk about why print is still a recommended photo preservation way! I also talk about cloud options since Google and iCloud are obviously out of the question.
And here's the video so you can dive a little deeper! Grab a snack and a drink and enjoy this 40-minute informational video. Or just have it playing while you make dinner. I guarantee you'll learn something new!
Was there anything in this Seven Things I Wish Everyone Knew list that you didn't know before? I'd love to know, so tell me in the comments.
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NOTE: I am a Forever affiliate called an Ambassador (a decision I made because I love it so much), so you will find affiliate links in this post. I earn a commission from anything purchased at my website, and being your Ambassador means I'm here to help you with questions, too. If you're new to Forever and open your free account here to give it a try, you'll get a $20 welcome coupon towards anything mentioned in this post.
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