This is one of the most common things I hear from new clients.
And the truth is—you don’t need to overthink it.
You don’t need to organize.
You don’t need to sort.
You don’t need a system yet.
You just need to start.
A Simple 5-Step Plan (No Stress Required)
1. Pick a Gathering Spot
Clear off a table, a counter, or even a corner of a room.
This is your staging area.
Everything you find goes here. No exceptions.
2. Walk Through Your Home
Go room by room.
Check:
- Closets
- Garages
- Under beds
- Storage cabinets
You’re looking for:
- Photos
- Albums
- VHS tapes
- Slides
- DVDs
- Memory cards
Don’t skip the random spots.
I’ve had clients find entire collections in laundry rooms and hall closets they forgot existed.
3. Don’t Sort — Just Gather
This is where most people get stuck.
They start organizing… and never finish.
So don’t.
No counting.
No labeling.
No sorting by date or person.
Just gather everything in one place.
I’ll handle the sorting later—that’s my job.
4. Check with Family
Call or text your:
- Parents
- Siblings
- Grandparents
Ask if they have photos, tapes, or slides.
This step usually doubles the project.
Family memories are almost always scattered across multiple homes.
Bringing them together into one collection?
That’s where this becomes really powerful.
5. Take a Photo and Send It
Once everything is gathered, take a quick photo of the pile.
Send it to me through my contact form.
I’ll:
- Review what you have
- Give you a starting estimate
- Help you figure out next steps
That’s It
Five steps.
No overwhelm.
No perfection required.
Just progress.
What Happens Next
Once everything is gathered, we move into the next phase:
What to scan first, how to prioritize, and how to build a system that actually works.
Want It Printed?
If you want a simple, printable version of this checklist, I’ve got one ready.
Fill out my contact form and I’ll send it over.
➤ Start here: plcphotos.com/contact