The easiest way to get all those family snapshots organized is to get some inexpensive photo storage boxes.  I recommend picking one brand/style and sticking to it, so you can label the fronts and keep a uniform appearance going.  I’ve found that storing photos in whatever mix-n-match containers and boxes I have laying around just leads to a lack of cohesiveness and organiztion.

I recently inherited 20+ years of family photos from my parents.  These photos were not organized at all…most were still in their original envelopes from processing!  I purchased 6 photo storage boxes (clearance for $3.50 each at Target…often on sale for $2.99 each at craft stores…there were ones I liked better on Amazon but those were $12 each so I went the cheap way….later on I will cover what I got in fabric so they’re all matchy-matchy and pretty).

I’m currently using the boxes to help me sort.  I’ve labeled them as follows:

pre-1972
1973-1980
1981-1990
1991-2000
2001-today

I’m sorting as I go, the best I can, as some pics aren’t dated.  I’m also reserving in a separate box (just a plastic storage box) the ones that I want to put in frames, albums or scrapbook.  That way I won’t have to go back through the boxes of pictures anytime soon (though I can if I want).  Once I finish, I can wait for a great sale on scrapbooking stuff and put together some books that the kids and other family can enjoy.  I may even scan the choice photos and make a memory book to give my dad.

This task is slow-going, but I need to do it for my own kids’ and family’s photos too so I’m trying to hustle…and Tom and I have pics going back to 1993 or so.  So that will be one more project! 🙂