The ABCs of Photo Organizing: Choosing What Matters Most
A simple, meaningful guide to preserving your story with intention
When you begin organizing your photo collection, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed. Decades of memories can live in boxes, albums, drawers, phones, and hard drives. The goal isn’t to keep everything. The goal is to keep what matters.
Photo organizing is not about perfection—it’s about clarity. It’s about identifying the images that truly tell your story and letting go of the ones that don’t.
This is where the ABCs of Photo Organizing can guide you.
A is for Your Absolute Best Images
These are the heart of your collection
Your “A” photos are your most important images. These are the ones that immediately spark emotion, recognition, and connection.
They often include:
Milestone moments — weddings, births, graduations
Meaningful portraits of loved ones
Images that capture personality, relationships, and connection
Photos that instantly bring you back to a moment in time
If your entire collection were reduced to a single album, these are the images that would belong there.
These are your legacy images.
B is for the Meaningful Keepers
These support and enrich your story
Your “B” photos may not be the absolute best, but they still hold value and meaning. They provide context and help tell a fuller story.
These might include:
Additional moments from important events
Everyday life images that show growth and change
Photos that may not be perfect, but are meaningful
Supporting images that add depth to your collection
These photos give texture to your story. They help future generations understand not just the milestones—but the life between them.
C is for Clear Out the Unnecessary
Letting go creates space for what matters
Not every photo needs to be kept. In fact, removing unnecessary images is one of the most freeing steps in the organizing process.
These often include:
Blurry or out-of-focus images
Duplicate or near-duplicate photos
Accidental shots of the floor, ceiling, or inside a bag
Excessive repeats of the same scene—like dozens of fireworks or beach sunsets
Keeping too many similar images actually hides the meaningful ones.
When you remove the clutter, your true story becomes visible.
S is for the Storytelling Images
These are the soul of your collection
Storytelling images may not always be technically perfect—but they capture something real.
They show:
Relationships
Personality
Everyday life
Emotion
The essence of a moment
Sometimes it’s a quiet moment. A laugh. A glance. A gesture.
These are often the images future generations cherish the most—because they reveal who someone truly was.
These photos give your collection its voice.
Organizing Is an Act of Preservation—and Love
When you follow the ABCs, you are not just organizing photos. You are shaping your legacy.
You are making sure your story is clear. Accessible. Protected.
You are creating something that can be shared, remembered, and passed down.
You are giving your memories a future.
Start with one box. One album. One folder.
Clarity comes one decision at a time.
