What to do if you're years behind on your memories
These days my Instagram feed is filled with ways to get my memories documented:
Chatbooks, Artifact Uprising, Shutterfly, Mpix, Milkbooks, Project Life, Mini albums, December Daily, and on and on.
There’s certainly no shortage of options for what to do with our photos, so why are so many of us “behind” on our memories?
And what are we supposed to do if we have years’ worth of photos sitting on our devices?
Is it possible to tackle them after so many years without investing boat loads of time and money into getting it done?
I say yes, absolutely.
Here’s how I think about being behind on memories and getting “caught up.”
You’re not actually “behind” on your memories.
I know this sounds trite, but I really believe it’s impossible to be “behind” on our memories since memories - by definition - are always behind us.
Let go of what you ‘should’ do with your photos
This takes a little bit of reframing, but it’s never too late to tackle your memories.
You just might consider doing something with them that’s a little less detailed.
Let’s say you purchased a bunch of scrapbooking supplies at one point with the intention of designing an elaborate and detailed album as a baby book.
If your “baby” is now seven years old and those supplies are collecting dust, it might be time to let them go.
Pass them on to someone who will use them and rethink how you want to document your little one’s first year in a way that’s less tedious and time-consuming.
Frequently, the feeling of being “behind” comes from the notion that there’s a way we’re supposed to document our memories.
There isn’t one way
There’s isn’t a “supposed to” way of telling our stories.
The best way to tell your personal story is the way that gets those memories off of your devices and into your hands - whatever that looks like for you.
It doesn’t mean detailed albums or annual photo books (although it might!).
If you have many years’ worth of memories to document, you’re not “behind.”
But it might be time to reframe how you think about your memories so you can do something meaningful with them.
Begin with the end in mind.
It’s natural when embarking on a memory-keeping project to start with the photos, but I recommend starting by thinking about what you want to hold in your hands.
Don’t start with the photos
When you start with your photos, the overwhelm can take over.
What if you captured 10,000 photos of your little one their first year? You can’t possibly print all of those memories, but when you scroll through them, they can all seem important.
So, rather than starting with the photos, begin by considering what projects or photo books you want to hold in your hands.
To borrow a phrase from Stephen Covey: “begin with the end in mind.”
Start with a simple goal
Consider the best way to tell your personal story:
Is it a series of photo books?
A set of albums?
Maybe one photo book documenting your family’s story so far?
Perhaps one photo book with memories from your childhood and another from memories in your twenties?
You absolutely do not have to document every year in a single book or every vacation with its own section.
Think big picture and begin with the projects you want to hold in your hands and work backwards from there.
Be highly selective.
The key to designing these big picture projects is to be extremely selective about which memories or photos you include.
Include fewer photos
This step in the process is by far the most difficult, but it’s also the most critical.
If you include too many photos in one book or project, you run the risk of diminishing their value.
You’ll wind up with dozens of photos on a series of pages. They’ll print quite small and lose their significance.
Instead, consider including far fewer photos. Choose the pictures that best tell the story.
Don’t overthink your photo selections
The key to this step is to not overthink the photos you’re selecting, Let it go.
Sure, you might have taken 260 photos of your trip to the Grand Canyon. But do you really need to print all of them?
Choose 10-12 from that trip (or fewer!). Choose the best photos you have. Choose a variety - close up, landscape, far away, candid, selfie - and include those in your project.
You’ll tell a compelling story and it won’t be overkill. No one (including you) needs 34 photos of the Colorado River in one photo book!
You won’t regret the photos you didn’t include.
You will regret not doing anything with your photos and letting them sit on your camera roll indefinitely.
If you fall in the “years behind” camp, you’re definitely not alone.
It’s never too late to decide you want to tackle your memories, and there’s no better time to get started than today.
I came up with a list of 15 “catch up” projects to help get your creative juices flowing.
This is for you if you’re…
Optimistic about the possibility of doing something with your memories (besides scrolling them on your phone)
Curious about how to tackle many years' worth of memories in one fell swoop (I've got you!)
Ready to try anything (because what you're doing - or not doing - isn't working)
I included project ideas for kids, families, couples, and individuals - there’s something for everyone.