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SHARING INSIGHTS FROM THE PROFESSIONAL & PERSONAL SIDE OF ORGANIZING.
Change-Your-Life Photo Storage
What do you do for photo storage? If you’re the family “memory-keeper,” you know the mental load of sorting and storing generations of pictures.
But what if you knew you could handle your photo storage once and never think of it again?
Enter: the photo suitcase.
Read on for ideas on how to tackle your pictures!
She’s Beauty, She’s Grace, She’s a Lovely Photo Case
I was skeptical about these at first. It seemed heartless and clinical compared to the traditional photo-boxes I grew up with… what did I need with one more plastic box?
BUT HAVE I BEEN CONVERTED! It is so easy to use these 4×6 photo “cassettes,” especially for sentimental crafters who want to pull out photos and put them back again and again.
HOW TO USE THESE PHOTO CASES
First, sort your pictures into CATEGORIES.
These photo suitcases give you freedom to be flexible with your categories. You could organize by…
- PEOPLE: side of the family (maternal and paternal), children, friends
- EVENTS: birthday parties, professional achievements, anniversaries, travel
- DATES: year by year, or seasons of life
For example, for one client I’ve devoted an entire case to different years of an annual family vacation. For another client, I dedicated an entire case to each child, dividing up into micro-categories within the cassettes inside.
These photo suitcases are also accessible in a really unique way
- They are clear so you can see inside each photo case
- They have handles
- Each of the interior photo cassettes easily click into place
As a professional organizer, these are small details I look for that mean my client is more likely to keep up with the solution I offer, because it’s EASY TO USE!
WHERE TO GET ONE OF THESE BOXES
The good news, is many companies are catching on! You can get them at most craft stores and Amazon.
They regularly go for 50% off at Michael’s. If you’re into color, you can also get these rainbow versions!
Hobby Lobby also has some as well.
BONUS: If you like the cassettes themselves, you can find them on their own without the larger suitcase on Amazon. They’re great for car organization or travel hacks like these, but they don’t clasp as well as the ones that come with the box, I’ve noticed.
ARE THERE ANY CONS?
The only con to these boxes is that they only fit 4×6 photos.
This can be frustrating, but you can easily use a larger memory/memento box like these I recommend here for larger photos!
NOT FOR YOU? TRY A PHOTO SHOEBOX
If you’re not feeling the solution I love (I know, I understand, it took me a minute, too!) try a photo box like this from Michaels or Hobby Lobby at about $5 a pop. Pick a color or texture you’d be happy displaying!!
I would recommend this solution if
- you have a limited number of photos
- you’re looking for a final stop to your photo process
- you don’t particularly love plastic
- you want to have your boxes happily displayed rather than stored away
Your organizing process will be similar to the process above. You’re going to separate your photos by category that matters to you: person, place, year, etc. Then, once you’ve made your categories, nest them in a photo box and use index cards like THESE to separate them out!! If you’re in a pinch, you can cut manilla envelopes to size. I warn you, it’s a bit tedious.
YOU CAN DO IT!
Now that you have your options, go and conquer this project! Remember, photos always take more time than you think, so grab your favorite drink, a soothing playlist, and some sticky notes and have at it. Make sure to leave plenty of time for all the feels that come up during the process – it’s a lot.
I see you. I know you’re doing great!
If this feels overwhelming at any point, I’d love to help. Schedule a free consultation with me to see if we’re a good fit for that project that’s driving you bananas!!
Happy Organizing!!
CATEGORY
6/26/2025
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