Hi friends,
When my mom died, I had to clean out 3 houses, including one that had been in our family for five generations. That meant closets full of linens older than I am… and boxes upon boxes of photos. I’m talking blurry Polaroids, vintage studio portraits, tintypes, and a whole mess of church picnic photos.
And guess what?
I organized them all wrong.
I sorted them by decade (??), instead of by person or event. The result? A time-traveling photo salad of birthdays, trips, and blurry Christmases.
What I really needed? A photo manager.
Scenes from the Photo Managers Conference
Last week, I represented PALS (the industry group I co-founded for after loss professionals) at the Photo Managers Conference. It was a joy to be surrounded by people who understand the chaos—and the importance—of managing a lifetime of memories.
These pros aren’t just scanning and sorting.
They’re preserving legacies, one JPEG at a time.
Why This Matters (a lot)
We’re all carrying digital time capsules in our pockets. Thousands of photos, hundreds of videos, and no real system. Preserving and organizing your photos isn’t just about clearing clutter, it’s about telling your story and making sure your memories are findable, shareable, and safe.
📂 Where to Start
Start With What You’ve Got:
✅ Google Photos and Apple Photos are already on your phone. Use them!
✅ Turn on facial recognition to easily search by person.
Want a little extra help? Check out these tools & services:
- Artifcts – Organize photos and the stories behind your stuff
- EverPresent – End-to-end digitizing, scanning, and organizing for any format
- Pixorium – A trusted Atlanta-based service for scanning, organizing, and preserving your family photo legacy
- TidyHaus – Digital organizing made simple
- The Photo Managers – Outside of Atlanta? Find a certified pro to help with organizing and archiving
🛠️ Quick Tips for Organizing Photos Like a Pro
📅 Organize by event or person, not just year
📁 Use albums or folders by theme (e.g., “Vacations”)
🏷️ Tag people and places for easier searching
🗑️ Do a monthly photo purge—think of it as digital laundry
📤 Share via shared albums instead of endless group texts
💾 Back. It. Up. (Cloud + external hard drive = peace of mind)
📦 Keep physical photos cool, dry, or digitize them
🙋♀️ Overwhelmed? Hire a photo manager and thank yourself later
✨ Legacy Planning Isn’t Just Paperwork
The truth is, legacy planning isn’t just about documents—it’s about memories. And organizing your photos is one of the most meaningful (and manageable!) steps you can take to preserve them.
Let’s make sure your stories don’t get lost in the cloud.
📘 Late to Your Own Funeral Turns One Month Old 🎉
Time flies when you’re trying to convince people not to leave their loved ones with a legacy of chaos.
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the idea of organizing your estate, digital life, or legacy… you are not alone—and you are exactly who I wrote this book for.
Late To Your Own Funeral: How to Leave a Legacy and Not a Logjam
It’s a practical (and slightly irreverent) guide to making sure your people aren’t left digging through shoeboxes, binders, or mystery logins while also grieving you.
📰 In the news:
- The top 3 excuses people make to put off estate planning — and why they’re all wrong
- 4 Estate Planning Myths That Could Be Stopping You From Building Generational Wealth
- The hidden ‘Tariffs’ families face without proper estate planning
🛒 Grab your copy:
Paperback, hardback, and eBook versions are available now!
You can grab your copy here or wherever books are sold.
🎧Audiobook coming soon!
For all my audiobook lovers—you won’t have to wait much longer. Stay tuned for details.
