Start with the Date: A Simple Photo Organizing Fix That Changes Everything

A few weeks ago, I found myself on a mission: I was trying to locate a single photo from a recent vacation. Just one! I opened up my iPhoto albums and started scrolling…and scrolling…and scrolling. I was a little embarrassed to realize that I hadn’t named most of my albums in any useful way.

There were at least four albums labeled “Thanksgiving” and a solid ten named “Christmas.” Not helpful. At all.

So I finally did what I’ve been meaning to do for ages — I reorganized. I renamed every album and photo file using a system that’s now my gold standard:
YYYY-MO-DY_Subject and Topic

And wow. What a difference. Suddenly, all of my albums were in beautiful chronological order. Everything made sense. I could find exactly what I needed without the guessing game. It was actually fun to see the timeline of my memories unfold in order.

Here’s the best part — it didn’t take long at all. Once I committed to it, the process went quickly. Just a little bit of consistency made a huge impact.

So here’s my advice to you: Start now.
Whether you’re organizing photos on your phone, your computer, or a backup drive, give every file and folder a date first. Even if you're filing inside a sub-folder like “Vacations” or “Family Events,” using the date format helps keep things tidy and searchable.

Trust me — future you will thank you when you're trying to find that one picture from a beach trip, birthday party, or big milestone.

If organizing your photos feels overwhelming, you’re not alone. That’s exactly why I started Snapshot Photo Management. I help people like you preserve, organize, and safeguard their memories for generations to come. Want to get started but not sure where? Let’s chat.

Back-to-School Photos: A Tradition Worth Keeping (and Keeping Safe!)

Well, it’s that time of year again—school is starting! One of my favorite traditions has always been taking a first day of school picture. It’s how I’ve tracked my boys from preschool to high school, and even into college. As our family has grown, my daughters-in-law have joined in, sending me pictures of their kids’ first day too. It’s such a fun way to capture those milestones and watch how everyone changes over time.

But as we dive into the excitement, let’s talk about a few things to keep in mind:

1. Protect Your Privacy
If you’re using those cute chalkboards or printable signs that list details about your child, make sure the information is safe to share. Avoid including the name of their school, teacher, or any location details. And before posting online, consider turning off your photo’s GPS data so it can’t be tracked. Keeping our kids safe while still enjoying these traditions is always the priority.

2. Create a First-Day Album
Make life easier on yourself—set up a digital or printed album for each child. Every year, simply add their first day of school picture to that album. Over time, you’ll have a complete collection of their school years in one place.

3. Celebrate the Journey
When each of my boys graduated from high school, I loved pairing their very first first day photo from preschool with their high school first day photo and their last day of school picture. It was such a special way to see just how far they had come—a beautiful walk through time.

This school year, keep the tradition alive, keep your kids safe, and keep those memories organized. Because one day, you’ll look back and be so glad you did.