What is a photo manager?

I usually use this blog to provide tips and tricks, introduce you to different software that I like, talk about backup. Today I’d like to tell you what it is I actually do and why you might need me in your life.

We all have photos and videos. On our phones, in various cloud services, sent to us via email or text, on random thumb drives in a drawer, or perhaps in boxes in the closet. It’s great to have all of these memories, but not so great if you don’t know what you have or if they are causing you stress. You likely think, I’ll take care of it someday.

But what if you don’t?

If you don’t take care of your photo collection, what good is it? What is it actually worth if you can’t find anything? What will your kids think if you simply hand them the mess someday? Honestly, they will likely think, “what am I supposed to do with this?”

That’s where I come in.

What does a photo manager do?

Essentially I take your mess of memories and bring it to order. I gather all the “things” from all the places, pull it together, sort it out, remove the duplicates and junk, give it structure, and hand it back to you as an organized, accessible, and backed up collection. You can then enjoy it, search through it, share it, and pass it down as a gift to the next generation.

Here are some of the things I do on a regular basis:

• Process huge digital and/or print photo collections

• Remove the duplicates and junk (do I need that photo of my parking space from 3 years ago?)

• Digitize tiny tiny photos and very big photos and memorabilia

• Scan at a quality level to preserve for future generations instead of the snap from a phone

• Actually organize photos! Put physical photos in order before scanning so as not to create a digital mess

• Convert all formats of video and integrate them with the rest of the client photo library

• Apply appropriate metadata - the who, what, where and when of the photo. It’s not helpful to have thousands of photos named IMG_4748, IMG_4749, IMG_4750… AI can help with this, but usually can’t get you all the way to where you want to go (AI still can’t find the photos of my son at his fencing tournaments)

• Digitally restore damaged photos

• Determine where all these photos should be stored and the best way to access them

• Create a workflow you can follow when we’re done, so that you don’t need to call me again in a year (although I’d love to hear from you and help you with your next project!)

• Create a backup and backup strategy so you are protected in case of emergency or if life throws you a curveball or if the software company you rely on to hold your photos goes out of business

Why can’t I do it myself?

You can do it yourself if you are willing to put in the time and energy to do it. I have plenty of blogs that discuss just this, and I have plenty of clients who enjoy the journey and just need a bit of coaching and direction . But if you haven’t already put your memories in order, or if it’s been sitting on your to do list for ages, it is highly likely that it will continue to sit there for ages.

I have spent years learning the best techniques and all the software so that you don’t have to.

What does it look like to work with me?

All projects start with a simple conversation. We talk about what you have, and where you want to be. What is your ideal photo collection look like? You may know exactly what you want or might not even know what is possible. Everyone is different, so during that conversation we talk about your collection and your needs. I am not a cookie-cutter solution. From our first conversation we tailor the best path forward for you. You hand it off to me and I take care of the rest. Or I coach you - giving you homework and keeping you accountable. The next thing you know, when you are with friends from long ago reminiscing about a concert you went to, you can pull out your phone and pull up the photos from that day just like a magician.

Does this sound good to you? Reach out to start the conversation.