How to organize family photos – 6 ways professional organizers swear by

While so many modern family photos are taken on phones, many of us still have huge swathes of physical copies, often from our parents and grandparents, and even a few lying around from Polaroids.

While these mementos are precious, so is the storage space they take up. Our professional organizers and storage experts share six ways to store family photos without them getting in your way or being put at risk of damage including displaying them on a gallery wall, packing them chronologically, and making them into coffee table books.

That way you keep hold of your printouts without having to declutter sentimental items.

How to organize family photos

Family photos are one of the many home items decluttering pros say you’ll regret throwing away, so it is always best to find smart storage that minimizes their footprint in your home without having to throw any away.

1. Keep photos packed chronologically

One of the easiest ways to organize family photos is to tuck them into photo storage books or boxes in chronological order.

Tina Priestly, owner and CEO of Ready, Set, REFRESH says, ‘To stay organized, start by sorting photos by year. Whether it's baby pictures from the 80s, vacation snapshots from the 90s, or a cousin’s wedding in the 2000s. I suggest using the Simply Tidy Photo Storage Box, from Amazon, to keep everything neat and clutter-free.’

These storage boxes are a great way to organize sentimental items as they can be stacked and tucked away into closets and cabinets. Adding labels can make finding the period you need even simpler – perfect for embarrassing family members at parties and holiday gatherings.

All prices correct at time of publication.

2. Create a photo wall

Not all storage has to be hidden away. For your favorite family photos, consider storing them on display using gallery wall ideas or standing photo storage displays Tina Priestly, professional home organizer, continues. When doing so, consider sorting the photos by type, creating a life collage.

‘You can also organize by events like family holidays, birthdays, or milestones. Alternatively, sort by family member. Gather your child’s special moments, like first steps and school photos, into one collection. For displaying favorites like family vacations, the Adeco Wood Screen Style Collage Frame, at Amazon, works wonders,’ she suggests.

3. Keep precious memories in fireproof storage

Much like organizing paperwork at home, you can never go wrong with fireproof storage, especially for family photos that you do not have digital copies of.

Tina Priestly, professional home organizer, recommends, ‘Store printed copies of important images in the ENGPOW Fireproof Organizer, from Amazon, for extra protection. It’s fireproof and perfect for keeping those valuable memories safe.’

Consider investing in a storage unit that is also waterproof to protect memories from both fire and floods. Experts have warned photos are one thing they'd never store in a basement.

4. Cut clutter with digital storage

If you find yourself particularly strapped for storage space, need to get rid of paper clutter, and aren't too precious about keeping original physical copies, Tina Priestly, professional home organizer, suggests scanning your photos into a digital organizer to keep them on a hard drive or a digital cloud.

When storing family photos in digital formats, keep in mind that there is always a risk of file corruption before you get rid of all of your physical copies. If storing on a hard drive, invest in a good quality, highly rated product that is less susceptible to breakdowns.

If you store on an external memory drive, it's double-y safe to have a digital cloud back-up so if the hard disk perishes or corrupts, your precious pictures are not lost too.

The Seagate Portable External Hard Drive has 4 terabytes of storage (with listing options ranging from 1-24 TB), which is the minimum amount professional photographers work with. It will hold roughly 80,000 digital high resolution photos, but less if videos are in the mix.

5. Avoid damp spots

Photos, being paper, are very susceptible to damage from high humidity and fluctuating temperatures. For this reason, Robert Sabo, director of Elite Anywhere, warehouse storage experts, suggests only keeping family photos in areas with climate control, such as under-bed storage, and never in external storage units.

‘Storage units can’t always protect against temperature extremes or humidity, which can cause the paper to yellow, crumble, or even grow mold over time,’ he warns. ‘If these documents are valuable or irreplaceable, it’s safer to keep them at home in a fireproof safe or an organized filing system.’

6. Compile them into a printed coffee table book

If you want a more compressed version of a photo storage box that is on hand and easy to flick through, consider having a photo book printed. There are several companies online where you can upload your photos, arrange them in a book layout, and add captions ready to be printed into a professional-looking coffee table book that can be displayed around your home. This can be the perfect way to keep your photos accessible while minimizing how much space they take up.

Head of solved, Punteha van Terheyden does this for special holidays, birthdays and other occasions. 'This way I have a curated set of photo albums that tell a story like the time we took our daughter to Disneyland, or our honeymoon.'

Organizing your family photos is more than just tidying up, it is a great way to preserve memories for the generations to come. As you organize your pictures, don’t forget to think about how you can display your favorites – be it with a gallery wall, coffee table book, or digital slideshow frame to decorate with family heirlooms to add a truly personal touch to your home.