And because 99.9% of us are using a digital camera (or phone) these days, it makes it even easier because we’re not paying the cost of developing them all.  But the cold hard reality is now most people just have loads of happy snaps (good & bad) on their computer.

This tip is designed to help you weed out the not so good, and keep a documented orderly record that will allow you to create a little history of your loved ones. And more importantly to enjoy them more frequently than just on your computer.

1. Ensure you have a complete Master Copy of all the images you’ve taken on a disc (see Tip 1)
2. On your computer where you have saved the original files, create a new sub folder under each month called Faves or something similar (eg. 1. Jan 2010/Faves)
3. Go back to your originals folder & look at each image you’ve taken. If it’s one you really love, copy & paste it into the Faves sub folder
4. At the end of the year (or when you desire), you’ll be able to create a rich history of all your favourites by looking at each of the Faves sub folders
5. Another good idea is to choose your favourite one or 2, and print them off so you can enjoy them now!

Please note – this tip is provided as a guide for the average household. It is not designed for a photography enthusiast, semi professional or professional!

Hopefully our tip below can help minimise the chance of you losing your valuable memories.

1. Set up specific monthly directories for your images (eg 1. Jan 2010, 2. Feb 2010 etc)
2. Copy your memory cards to your hard drive at least once a month to the appropriate directory (Do not format your cards yet!)
3. Use CD / DVD Burning software to burn a copy of the images onto a CD or DVD (label it the month & year – Master Copy)
4. Use the “Verify” option when burning to check the disc and ensure all images have copied across properly
5. Put the Master Copy of your images somewhere SAFE and CLEAN for future backup
6. Format your cards & shoot some more photos!