Does anyone else struggle with organizing their photos after a trip? Seriously, what do you DO with all your photos? We just finished up the holidays about a month ago and many of you traveled and saw family. Like most people, you probably took photos during the trip and left them on your phone with plans to get to them later...and end up forgetting about them! I totally get it and admit that I recently finished making our honeymoon album and it took me OVER A YEAR to get to it!

That's why I wanted to share some tips that might make photo organization a little easier for you. Here are some time-saving strategies on how you can make a meaningful photo album efficiently and without breaking the bank!

1. Collect all your photos as soon as possible.

After your trip, try to collect all your digital photos in one place as soon as you can. The longer you delay, the less likely you'll get to them! Gather photos from your phone, your spouse's phone, and your DSLR or other camera if you used one, and store them all into one folder. Then make two subfolders, one called, "Backup" and another called, "Favorites" as seen in the photo below. Your Backup folder will be where you keep the original copy of your photos, and the Favorites folder will be the ones you want to print.

So now the question is: how do you narrow down your favorites? Read my next tip!

2. Choose 20% of your photos to print.

Personally I've found 20% to be a good rule of thumb to follow because it's just the right amount to tell your story without losing any details or being overwhelming. For example, if you went on a short weekend trip and took 100 photos, pick 20 to print. Or if went on a longer vacation and took 500 photos, choose 100 images. Why? Because less is more. You don't need to put every single photo in the album. It can become overwhelming and too long!

3. Buy a traditional photo album at Michaels, Target, or Amazon.

Y'all, if you're making an DIY photo album, I think making a traditional album is faster than making a photo book online (e.g., Shutterfly or Mixbooks). You don't have to spend time designing or editing your layout online, nor do you have to waste time waiting for the program to reload every time you swap out an image or make an edit.

For me, I went to Michaels to buy a classic album with the 4x6 slip pockets because they usually have decent supplies for DIY projects. They also offer coupons frequently, so I used my 50% off coupon and got this album for about $8! Target and Amazon also provide some good album options if you want to explore more designs.

This is the cover of the photo album I bought. I thought the travel theme was fitting!

This is what the album looks like on the inside. It includes 4x6 slip pockets, which I like for easy assembly and clean design.

4. Choose Mpix.com as your photo lab.

I've tested a lot of photo labs from consumer labs to professional labs, and I'd say Mpix is one of the best consumer labs for printing everyday photos. I printed my photos on the E-Surface Paper, which is their most popular photo paper. They describe the paper to have "accurate color, lifelike skin tones, archival quality and a traditional photo finish" and I can confirm that it's TRUE! My prints come out true to color, and the quality is comparable to the professional labs I use for client projects. I also like the traditional photo finish, which has a nice sheen as seen in the photo below.

If you're interested to sign up and try Mpix out, you can click here on my referral link and get a $5 coupon!

5. Display your photo album on the coffee table. 

So what do you do after you get your prints and album, and assemble it all together? I suggest keeping it on the coffee table! Trust me, people LOVE looking at photos! Next time you have a guest, see if they pick up your album...I bet there's a high chance they'll pick it up and tell you how much they love it!

Remember your photos are more than photos. They are memories. They are the moments in your life you don't want to forget. They are the ones that bring a smile to your face. Isn't that worth displaying in your house?

Now go on and print those photos, and keep those memories alive!

Do you have any tips to share? Share them in my NEW Facebook Group! It's a community for people who want to chat about photography and get more tips and education!

Nothing is more awkward than figuring out what to do with your hands in photos! Do you put your hands on your hips? Knees? Face? Hair? If you're lost, here are some easy tips on where to place your hands when you're being photographed.

Tip #1: Give a hug! 

When you give someone a hug, your hands will naturally go around another person AND it doesn't look stiff or awkward. It's a win-win every time! When you hug someone, you are communicating affection and connection in your photo (and I'm ALL about that!).

A sweet photo of a mother and daughter hugging. Photo taken at the American Tobacco Campus in Durham, NC.

Tip #2: Hand in pockets

Get a more casual and relaxed look by putting your hands in your pockets! Personally I think putting your hands in your pockets is such a fun way to give your photo a lifestyle feel to it. It adds personality and you'll look chic and modern!

Bonus Tip: I would also angle the body a bit so you're not facing straight-on at the camera. Unless you're a professional model, it's hard to get a flattering photo when you're facing straight-on! Angles create dimension, which adds depth and shape to your photo.

Extra Bonus Tip: Depending on how big your pockets are, you might find your pockets are too small to fit your whole hand. If that's the case, don't worry! Simply leave your thumbs on the outside and relax...and don't forget to rock it with confidence!

A portrait of a man before his deployment. I asked him to put his hands in his pockets for a casual, relaxed, and modern look. Photo was also taken at the American Tobacco Campus in Durham, NC.

Tip #3: Hands OFF the belly...unless it's a maternity shoot.

This is another personal opinion of mine, but there's no reason to draw your eye to the belly unless you want to emphasize that you have a (real) baby bump! If you are pregnant, then having your hands on and around the belly is beautiful and meaningful. There is a tender and intimate feel to a photo when a mother and father puts their hands on the mother's belly. If you're not pregnant, however, please save the hands-on-belly photos for the real thing!

A portrait of a mom with her hands on the belly, displaying affection and intimacy for their little one. Their baby boy soon came a few weeks later! Photo was taken at their home in Durham, NC.

Tip #4: Hold hands

This is probably my favorite tip. I LOVE it when my clients are holding hands! Just like hugs, holding hands is symbolic and communicates connection for your visual narrative. I especially love using this tip with children because they are so active, and holding hands will help glue the family together (at least for a few seconds!). It is also an easy direction for kids to follow. I try and avoid complex instructions and try to keep things simple.

A father and his five sons! We had the little ones hold hands to help them stay together for a few seconds. Photo was taken in Seattle, WA.

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If you're looking to book a Raleigh family photographer, please contact me here! I also serve the surrounding areas in the Triangle including Durham, Cary, Chapel Hill, and Apex, and often travel to Seattle, WA.

There's something special when it comes to black and white photography. It's timeless, classic, and can help you create a stronger image when you process your photos! Here are three tips I've found that has helped me determine when to process photos in black and white.

1. Color is a distraction to your story.

If you find there are too many colors around your subject AND there is a lot of action going on in your photo, try processing your photo in black and white. I think color can be a wonderful and powerful element, but sometimes it can detract your viewer from the story you're trying to tell. Ask yourself: will removing color strengthen or weaken my visual narrative? Will it add or take away from the story?

In the photo below, I wanted to emphasize the moment when the mother of the bride was helping her daughter get into her wedding dress. I found the colors of the wall and floor to be distracting (we were getting ready in a classroom at church). Changing the photo to black and white made the photo more refined and clearly puts the focus on the subject: the bride and mom.

2. You want to emphasize an emotion or expression.

Sometimes there's a cute expression or emotion that is happening in your photo, and again, you want to focus on that! Expressions, gestures, and emotions are all things that help make a photo interesting and meaningful (especially when it comes to family portraits).

In the photo below, I would use the color photo in a family album or slideshow because it would look consistent with the other images I took from the session. However, if I was framing this photo or presenting it by itself, I would choose the black and white photo. I really want to highlight the baby and his cute yawn!

3. You want to highlight interesting light, shape, or pattern.

You can apply this tip to so many genres of photography! Whether you are shooting portrait or travel photos, look for patterns or interesting light and shapes. If you're looking to go the extra mile, change your camera settings to black and white then shoot! It totally changes the way you see everything, and helps you become a master of light and composition.

In the photo below, my husband and I were on a boat tour in Chicago. As we were approaching the city, I saw the beautiful skyline and wanted to capture its grandness! I also wanted to capture the silhouette of the guests on the boat, and love how the contrast is emphasized in the black and white photo. Also, the shapes of the building stand out better, and if you look closely, the building at the center is the Willis Tower.

Now go out and experiment with black and white! Remember, ask yourself if using black and white will help strengthen or weaken the story you are trying to tell.

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If you're looking to book a Durham family photographer or Raleigh family photographer, please contact me here.