Professional Organizer Tips for Managing Digital Photos and Prints

New year, new pictures… and probably thousands of them. If you’re like most busy parents, your phone is already overflowing with photos—many of which you’ll never look at again. Organizing your digital photos may sound like a daunting task, but with the right process, it’s easy and quick! The key is to break it down into manageable steps and create a habit of organization.

Step 1: Back Up Photos Automatically

Instead of manually sorting and saving your photos, set up an automated backup system. Amazon Photos is a great option, especially for Prime members who get unlimited full-resolution photo storage. Other cloud storage options include Google Photos, Apple iCloud, and Dropbox, but Amazon Photos is my favorite because of its ease-of-use, affordability, and integration with other Amazon devices.

How to Set Up Amazon Photos:

1. Download the Amazon Photos App – Available on iOS and Android.
2. Enable Auto-Save – This will automatically upload every new photo you take.
3. Add Family Members – If you and your spouse both use Amazon Photos, create a Family Vault so all photos are stored in the same place, preventing duplicates and lost images.
4. Organize Albums – Once backed up, create albums by year, occasion, or family member to make it easier to find specific memories later.

📌 Cost: Amazon Photos is free for Prime members; non-members get 5GB free, with additional storage starting at $1.99/month for 100GB.

💡 Pro Tip: If you use multiple devices, make sure all of them are synced to the same account to keep everything in one place.

Step 2: Favorite and Declutter Monthly

A quick monthly routine will help keep your collection organized. Set a reminder to spend 5-10 minutes each month doing the following:

• Favorite the best photos – Mark the ones you want to keep, such as milestone moments, vacations, and candid family shots.
• Delete unnecessary shots – Say goodbye to blurry pictures, duplicates, random screenshots, and photos of receipts.
• Organize into albums – Sort favorites into designated albums, such as “Family Trips,” “Birthdays,” or “Everyday Moments.”

💡 Pro Tip: If you’re behind on organizing, grab your favorite beverage and set aside an hour to go through each year. You’ll quickly gain momentum!

Step 3: Order a Photo Book

Now that you have an organized library of digital photos, you can easily turn your memories into a physical keepsakes. Amazon’s Photo Book Creator makes this process effortless:

How to Create an Amazon Photo Book:

1. Log into Amazon Photos and select ‘Create a Photo Book‘.
2. Choose a Layout – Select from preset designs or customize pages manually.
3. Drag and Drop Your Photos – Arrange them to tell a story, adding captions and dates as needed. Amazon can also autoselect and create the album. 
4. Preview and Order.

📌 Cost: Prices start at around $19.99 for a softcover book and $39.99 for a hardcover. Additional pages cost extra.

💡 Pro Tip: Order two copies—one for your kids to flip through and another to store safely for the future. If you have multiple children, consider printing a copy for each to avoid sibling disputes later!

Step 4: Display Photos with an Amazon Echo Show

Want an easy way to enjoy your digital photos every day? Use an Amazon Echo Show as a digital picture frame! It works seamlessly with the Amazon Photo App and allows you to stream your entire collection or select albums.

How to Set Up an Amazon Echo Show as a Digital Frame:

1. Open the Amazon Photos app on your phone.
2. Create an album with your favorite family pictures.
3. On your Echo Show, say “Alexa, show my photo album.”
4. Adjust settings to rotate pictures throughout the day.
5. Set up  slideshows for special occasions like birthdays or anniversaries.

📌 Cost: The Amazon Echo Show 8 (a great mid-range option) is around $129.99.

💡 Pro Tip: Create a “Throwback” album with older family pictures for a fun surprise when they pop up!

Bonus: What to Do with Holiday & New Year Cards

Instead of tossing those beautiful family holiday cards at the end of the season, try these two creative ways to repurpose them:

1. Create a Yearly Holiday Card Book

• Hole punch each card and thread them onto a binder ring.
• Label each year and store the book with your holiday decorations.
• Pull out the books and set them on a coffee table or other areas friends gather as part of your holiday decor. 

2. Use Cards for Family Reflection

• Keep a basket of cards at the dinner table.
• Each night, pull out a card and pray for or send good thoughts to that family.
• At the end of the year, discard them and start fresh!

📌 P.S.: My family loves this! It helps the kids stay connected to friends and extended family while building gratitude and empathy.

Final Thoughts

With just a little effort each month, you can keep your digital photos organized, enjoy your memories daily, and create beautiful keepsakes for your family. By following these simple steps—automating backups, favoriting and deleting photos, creating photo books, and displaying your best pictures—you’ll transform your photo chaos into a curated collection of memories.

Time to get started! Pick one step to implement today, and watch how easy it is to stay on top of your family’s memories. 📸