I recently completed Photo Album #59. It covers seven months of my life, from October 13, 2024 (when the family went “glamping”) to May 11, 2025 (Mother’s Day). Album #59 contains 330 photographs and eleven other things (postcards, brochures, maps of Maui) that have been inserted in the big (4” x 6”) storage sleeves. The album also has 165 mini-sleeves (1-1/2” x 6”), in which I have inserted 52 smaller (trimmed) photographs and 101 “captions” (e.g., to explain or supplement the photographs). 

I usually work on my albums a few times each year, taking advantage of the quantity discounts that Walgreens offers (e.g., half price if over 75 prints). Working on the albums is a good activity during the winter, on extremely cold days; or in the case of Album #59, on a hot and humid day in August. 

As you may have already deduced, I have finished fifty-eight other such albums over the years. The first picture in Photo Album #1 is captioned “Vanessa in Las Vegas – Easter 1991.” That appears to be about the time that the photo-printing industry moved from 3” x 5” prints – to 4” x 6” prints. My smaller 3” x 5” prints, dating from March 1971, are stored in a variety of other types of albums identified as OLD1-6, Trays A-D, and Book Sets E-R.

All these “physical” albums obviously take considerable space to store. Books #1 through #59 are all the same height but of different widths (2”, 2-1/2”, or 3”), reflecting what was available at the time I was shopping. Initially, I could find such albums in just about every drug or discount store in town, then just Walmart, and, as of late, just on Walmart’s online store. This change reflects the fact that most people are now saving their photos electronically (e.g., on their smartphones or on the “cloud”). Electronic storage obviously requires much less physical space. My collective photo albums currently require over 15 linear feet of storage – in two large barrister-style bookcases. 

I apologize (in advance) to any family members who will, after I die, have to decide what to do with all these albums. I can hear the voices now – “Oh my God, what do we do with all of these books?” A big dumpster would certainly be an answer to the question, but I hope some of the photographs (with or without the albums) survive and get to anyone who might for whatever reason cherish them.

When I first started to save my photographs, the technology was very different, and my photographs accumulated very slowly. Sometime around 1970, just out of college with a little money, I purchased a Minolta 101 SLR camera with a variety of lenses, adapters, and filters. In those days the pictures were captured on film – on 24 or 36 exposure rolls. I thought twice before snapping a picture; did an event or scene deserve to be photographed? Some time and expertise was also required to set the lens apertures and exposure times. I took my photography seriously.

When a roll of film was fully exposed, maybe over a few weeks, it was off to the processor (e.g., camera store, drug store, grocery store, or via the mail). Some time later, usually days later, the photographs could be picked up or came in the mail. Often, they were of poor quality (e.g., blurred, over or under exposed). As such, a lot of these photographs went directly to the trash can. Today, I use my iPhone, willy-nilly, to shoot almost everything. The iPhone/camera takes care of the exposure issues. The photographs can be easily edited and enhanced via the “camera.” Note: I usually refer to my iPhone  as my camera, as in “where did I leave my camera.” As such, album-worthy photographs accumulate quickly. I also collect, usually via text messages, many more album-worthy photographs from others.

My current photo collection process is admittedly overly complex and time consuming. I start by going through my iPhone and selecting the photographs that I want to print. I email the selected photos to my laptop, accumulate them in a folder, and then download that folder to Walgreens (after a bit more editing on their site). After picking up the finished prints, I insert them (including those trimmed for the mini sleeves) into the album, in something resembling chronological order. The last step is to write, type, and insert the captions (as deemed appropriate). A Microsoft Word document, with keywords, helps me quickly search for and locate specific photographs – in the albums – in the bookcases.

So, what does Photo Album #59 contain? What photographs and memories did I choose to save? The biggest block of pictures (83 photos) were associated with a wonderful trip we took to Maui in February. The whale watching from our third-floor, ocean-front condo, was amazing. Our outings with our son and his young family were even better. But the best photos in this album are associated with our four granddaughters – the 30th birthday of our oldest, the beautiful Quinceanera of another, the first year of school (kindergarten) for a third, and the (not so) “terrible-twos” of the youngest. In total (I counted) the album captured 250 pictures of these beautiful young ladies. The album also captured some not so beautiful or happy times (the funeral of an aunt, me recuperating in a hospital gown, the damage done when a water pipe broke in our house). The photographs depict life – the good and not so good. They tell a story.

Likewise, the older albums capture both fun and sad times. Our international travels are documented in albums #37-38 (Ireland), #39-40 (Japan), #43 (Isreal), #50 (Italy), and #55 (Great Britian). The funerals of my parents are in Albums #1 (Betty) and #19 (Charles); my wife’s parents in Albums #20 (Mitzi) and #21 (Mike). Even COVID-19 is documented (starting in Album #51).

So, why do I continue to physically store my photographs in photo albums? Why not move to the cloud? After some thought, I have three answers.

First, because it is what I have done in the past. Over the years I have resisted the urge to move to the newest storage mediums (e.g., floppy disk, mini-disc, hard drive, CD-ROM, memory stick, flash drive, the cloud). I have experimented with these mediums to some extent and have found them difficult to use in a consistent manner. And I find it nice to be able to walk over to a bookcase and peruse the contents of an album – maybe as some people prefer to read real books versus e-books.

Secondly, I enjoy both history and books. The photo albums are more than a collection of random pictures. They constitute more of a visual diary and, via the “captions,” they provide an ongoing narrative – the history of my family, my community, and my life. In a sense, they are just some more books that I choose to write.

Lastly, the albums help me remember; the photographs help me remember events and the feelings that occurred during those events. The photographs reinforce memories and feelings. Someday someone might plunk one of these albums in front of me and say, “See, this was your mother,” or “This is you when you were young,” or “This is your daughter – the one who lives in Arizona.” The photographs and captions may help me stay in touch with my fleeting past – a little longer. 

In any case, Photo Album #59 is done, and I have a good start on Photo Album #60 (84 more photographs and 32 more captions – through August 7, 2025). I’ve documented the youngest granddaughter’s third birthday and the creation of this website/blog. Now, all I must do is find more storage space – an ongoing but good problem.