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I recently got way outside my comfort zone and shared about how my own photos are totally disorganized (a “hot mess” is putting it kindly). I hoped my own struggle (as a professional photographer) might make you feel a little lighter about your own photo backlog. It turns out I’m not the only one with deep-rooted fears about losing track of photos in this digital era.

Since this is clearly a big issue for many of us, I decided to do some digging to find the very best tips for keeping our digital photos organized. My hope is that even if you don’t have time right now to go through your backlog, you can put these practices into use going forward. They don’t take any real time in the moment but will save you a lot of time (and probably some gray hairs) down the road:

Set a Monthly Date for Photo Transfers

Choose a date each month to transfer all your images from your phone and camera to a hard drive and the cloud. Add this date to your calendar and stick to it! It should take about 30 minutes, and you can multitask during the transfer process.

Organize Photos by Date

Create a folder for each year inside your “photos” folder, with monthly folders inside the yearly folder. For example, in your 2024 folder, create folders titled 01, 02, 03, etc. If you’re unsure of a photo’s date, check the file info and drag it into the correct month folder.

Cull Your Photos

This can be tough, but be ruthless with duplicates and unnecessary images (like those snapped for a quick text). Pick the best shots and let the rest go.

Bonus: Create Event Folders

If you have extra time, create named folders inside your monthly folders for specific events, like “Oliver’s birthday” or “San Diego.” This will make it much easier to find specific photos later.

I hope you find these tips helpful! Simplicity is key to staying organized. If this resonates with you or if you think it might help someone you know, please share!

If you’re looking for a family photographer who understands the struggle and can help create beautiful, organized memories, check out Mary Catherine Photography.