I take too many pictures …

No Lion!

In the fall of 2005, I traveled to South Africa. It was AMAZING! I took over a hundred photos of a trip to a lion park alone. Even after attempting to pare down, I still printed 80+ lion prints. This is not realistic. No one, outside perhaps a wildlife biologist should take this many pictures of lions! I have to believe that you may have done something similar to this - here's what happens in my LOM system:

1. I slip the best (yes, all 80) into my storage binders. I stack these pictures 4,6 or even 8 deep in each pocket.
   
2. I browse and select from my storage binders, pictures to use in various projects.
   
3. After living with these pictures in my storage binders for several years, I decided to pull a handful to file in my category drawers (more info on category drawers in upcoming lessons)
   
4. Eventually the Fall 2005 storage binder is emptied completely. Most of my leftover lion pictures get thrown away, however a few get stored in "cold storage" boxes - just in case!
   

Note: I used 3 lion pictures in my 8x8 South Africa highlights album (see SS July/August 06.) Two lion photos are in a little frame in my music/memory room and I created a fun little storybook photo album last summer with 41 pictures inside. It resides upstairs in our bookshelves, so I can share it with my children during reading time.

The Take Away: I scrapbook half or less the pictures I take. I refuse to let the piles of photos drive my scrapbooking. Not only is that approach guilt inducing, it will never produce truly authentic results. I have many, many meaningful scrapbooks and theme albums and I do NOT feel behind - in other words, It's OK!