Tips for decluttering the thousands of photos on your device.
Our mobile phones have sadly become the final resting place for many of our family memories. Pictures of first days of school, fall adventures, family gatherings at home and other priceless moments in your family history never make it out of our mobile photo albums. The cloud gives us ample space to store thousands of photos – but it the number of images can quickly get out of control if not continually managed. If you take, say, 10 photos a day, every day for a year, that adds up to nearly 4,000 photos left to stagnate on your digital device.
But they don’t need to be lost and unseen. In fact, organizing and clearing your phone of clutter is similar to cleaning out a disorganized closet at home. When you’re cleaning, you will wonder what made you keep certain photos for so long, much like you might wonder why you kept a sweater from high school. No time is better than the present to sort out the mess on your phone.
Let Go of the Photo Clutter
We truly don’t need thousands of photos. If you scroll back in your camera roll, there may very well be duplicate photos, screenshots of recipes you never used or poor-quality photos. Delete these! You want your photos to tell a story about a memory you have and keeping photos that you will never use again only adds to the clutter. And clutter is the last thing you need when it comes to photo organization.
Beginning this process may be intimidating. It’s much like opening the closet you’ve been afraid to open for years, for fear that a ton of junk will tumble out. But you’ve got to let go of the junk to get to the memories that matter most.
Find Time to Delete
Spend time deleting duplicates and non-keepers while in line at the grocery store or set aside time once a week to delete photos. Just like the minimalist mantra, if something doesn’t bring joy, get rid of it.
Organize What’s Left
It takes time and computer know-how to begin the organization of your digital files, and this should also be an enjoyable process because you get to reminisce on past moments. Once you’ve sifted through which photos to keep and which photos to toss, you can begin placing the photos in folders or albums, either separated by year or by an event. This is exactly the process you might use when you are organizing your messy closet. Put winter items in one box, summer in another, and so forth.
Print them. Display them. Share them.
Next, you’ll want to get your photos off your phone and have some type of physical output made. I recommend printing your favorites and making copies for every family member who is part of the story. Of course, you can also create photo books, framed wall galleries and keepsake gifts.
https://camerashopmuskegon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2021/02/main.coverphoto.jpg321845Natalie Gunnhttps://camerashopmuskegon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2024/03/TCS_PRlogo_web.jpgNatalie Gunn2021-02-22 09:42:072023-10-25 19:32:25TIPS FOR MANAGING YOUR LIFE IN PHOTOS
PRINT WITH YOUR LOCAL PHOTO EXPERT FOR EXCEPTIONAL RESULTS
In this time of distancing, we are looking for ways to stay safe. Many of us are shopping online and using curbside or delivery service, when available. At the same time, most of us have placed a renewed emphasis on shopping local this year, supporting the businesses in our community as we all struggle with the challenges of 2020.
Did you know that we offer services such as online/phone ordering, shipping, pick-up/delivery and curbside? You are creating a lot of unique memories in your home and local area this year, why not trust us, your neighborhood photo printing business with preserving these moments?
Why choose us, a local photo expert?
We are owned and operated by real people from your community. Shopping here supports your local economy.
Our team is comprised of professional technicians with decades of experience in highly specialized photo, printing, design and correction services.
We are photo enthusiasts, offering premium services and top-quality workmanship. We are passionate about creating personalized and meaningful keepsakes and gifts that are held to the very highest quality standards.
Your memories are unique and so are your photo projects. Your options for how to enjoy and share your images are endless. We are creative consultants that can guide you through the process, providing assistance every step of the way.
Need something quickly? When searching for a last-minute gift or in need of unanticipated memorial support, don’t waste precious time searching online or pay extra for rush-shipping. Rely on our local expertise to quickly assist with your project and deliver it on time.
While online and big box competitors may boast larger selections, better technology and lower prices, they will not be able to provide personalized consulting services or custom options. An expert with decades of experience is likely not personally handling your project. You won’t be able to rely upon fast service times, nor speak to someone face-to-face about your concerns.
Shop local. Support your local economy. Befriend your neighbor. That’s us! Receive the very best service, options and quality that our industry offers.
https://camerashopmuskegon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2020/11/local-expertsmain.graphic.jpg312726Natalie Gunnhttps://camerashopmuskegon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2024/03/TCS_PRlogo_web.jpgNatalie Gunn2021-01-04 10:00:112020-11-20 15:23:37PRINT WITH YOUR LOCAL PHOTO EXPERT FOR EXCEPTIONAL RESULTS
We just can’t say it enough – 2020 has been quite a year! It’s likely that this year has brought you a few memories that you wish you could forget, as well as some very special moments that you want to cherish forever. As the holidays approach, and the year winds down, it’s time to commemorate the reality of 2020. Document this year with a custom photo book, an unforgettable keepsake.
A Year Filled with Memories
Pre-COVID gallivanting
Grocery and supply shortages (Don’t forget the TP!)
Shelter in place
Family lockdown fun
Rediscovered cooking and baking
Home and yard improvement projects
Outdoor antics
Pets getting extra attention
Virtual work and school
Zoom calls. Lots and lots of Zoom calls.
Masking up
Your first curbside food (or drink!) order
Your first restaurant outing
Marches and community events
Back to school (in any form)
Volunteerism and voting
Socially distanced holiday celebrations
Choose from a variety of formats and styles. Auto-populate your book or design it yourself, one image at a time. Consult with us, your local photo printing expert for a truly customized coffee table-caliber book.
Don’t stop there! Purchase additional copies for family members and friends as holiday gifts. Share the joy. Stay connected. Spread kindness.
https://camerashopmuskegon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2020/11/2020yearinreview.main_.graphic.jpg312726Natalie Gunnhttps://camerashopmuskegon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2024/03/TCS_PRlogo_web.jpgNatalie Gunn2020-12-18 10:05:082020-12-18 10:05:082020, A YEAR IN REVIEW
2020 has been quite the year, to say the least! For most of us, the holidays will feel a little different this year. Many of us will not be able to celebrate in-person with our loved ones. In this time of distancing, we are looking for a way to feel closer to our family and friends. This is the perfect year to send a joyful holiday greeting to stay connected. A personalized message, honoring the traditions that make the season special, will bring joy to every recipient.
Select Photos
Holiday card preparation is the best reason to spend time reviewing the memories you have captured over the past year. Select images that document special occasions and accomplishments, and those that best demonstrate the personalities of your family members – even the family pet! Choose up to a dozen images, and maybe even designate some favorites.
Holiday cards are also a great excuse to have a family photo shoot! This can be something casual that you do yourself with your camera or phone, utilizing a tripod and timer (or a selfie stick with a trigger). If you are looking for something more polished, call in a professional. Most photographers offer family mini sessions during the fall exactly for this purpose. All you have to do is decide what to wear!
Choose a Card
Photo greeting cards are available in a variety of styles to fit your family’s vibe this year. Choose from traditional or contemporary designs with multitudes of sentiments available in various sizes. Flat or folded? Horizontal, vertical or square? Or maybe a trifold, accordion fold or die cut (unique shapes/edges)? All of these are available with any number of photos, from the perfect single shot that you absolutely cannot wait to share, to the dozen that you just couldn’t narrow down.
Say hello and spread kindness with a warm, personal holiday card. Close the distance between you and those you love most in this incredibly unique year.
https://camerashopmuskegon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2020/11/Holiday.card_.main_.graphic.jpg321845Natalie Gunnhttps://camerashopmuskegon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2024/03/TCS_PRlogo_web.jpgNatalie Gunn2020-12-01 11:00:012020-11-20 15:02:14WHY THIS YEAR’S HOLIDAY CARD IS SO SPECIAL
Take pictures out of albums, frames and boxes so you are working with only loose prints. Choose the photos you want to keep. Remove duplicates and poor-quality shots. Keep only the most meaningful images and toss the rest if you are working to downsize or eliminate clutter. At this point, you could stop and move on to Step #3.
STEP 2: ORGANIZE
If you want to get your photo collection truly organized, then continue sorting. Separate pictures into piles by subject, people, theme or year. Whatever makes most sense to you. Then, label those piles in chronological order. This will pay off when you move on to Step #4 and eventually share copies of your images with family members. Advanced sorting will make specific photos easy to locate on a computer or device later on.
STEP 3: DIGITIZE
Box up your printed memorabilia and bring them to a trusted local photo preservation expert (like us!) for scanning. The key word here is “local”. We never recommend shipping your most precious possessions across the country! Each print will be professionally digitized and saved as high-resolution JPG files. We can even create labeled folders to keep your sorting efforts intact. Your newly digitized images will then be safely saved to a media device of your choice, a cloud storage location and/or to any other location that you request.
STEP 4: COPY + SHARE
At this stage, you’ll have various options for what to do with your digital image files – including how many copies to share. This is the fun part! Think about who would like a set of the scanned images – even if they may not completely appreciate them today. (IE: children and teens.) Once the images are scanned, duplicate media copies are extremely affordable – so be generous and share freely!
Your story is meant to be shared – and now is the perfect time to do it! Don’t wait until it’s too late to protect those photos of your grandparents, your high school prom and that family vacation to the Grand Canyon.
https://camerashopmuskegon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2020/03/Main-image.jpg3601125Natalie Gunnhttps://camerashopmuskegon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2024/03/TCS_PRlogo_web.jpgNatalie Gunn2020-05-01 14:31:562023-10-25 19:34:59FOUR SIMPLE STEPS TO PRESERVE YOUR FAMILY MEMORIES.
You probably already know that your computer’s hard drive isn’t the ideal location for your beloved images. For one, hard drives routinely crash, sending the data stored on them into dark oblivion. Furthermore, pictures stored locally often get very little eyeball time, and in today’s easy media-sharing environment, there’s no reason your photos should be collecting digital dust.
WHY DO YOU NEED A CLOUD STORAGE FOR PHOTOS?
Photo cloud storage is an online storage model in which data (photos) is saved on numerous servers distributed over the network. In other words, these are highly reliable servers that store photo and video files in a virtual environment that is protected from equipment failure, phone loss, or environment dangers. As long as you have an Internet connection, you can access your photos on the cloud.
A BACK-UP IS ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA!
While you may keep a copy of your photo files on a personal computer, laptop, phone or tablet – you never know when something may go wrong and wipe out decades worth of images. When you sync your mobile device with your cloud service – you’ll be able to view, share and access the images from multiple devices.
SHARED ACCESS WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
If a group of people enjoy viewing and accessing each other’s images, consider sharing your cloud storage account. This allows authorized users to add photos of their own and view images from others in the group. Family shared accounts are very common for this purpose. Create folders for special events and members of the group to help sort and organize your photos.
ELIMINATE MOBILE PHOTO CLUTTER.
We all have those images of receipts, movie tickets or duplicate shots of the same event. In the new year, spend a little time cleaning up those unnecessary shots and getting them off your system. Here’s how:
Slowly work your way through your image library and eliminate shots you don’t want to keep.
Your goal is to curate your collection and keep only the best of the best shots that are meaningful enough to keep.
Work on image de-cluttering while you’re in line at the airport, waiting in the carpool lane, on vacation or killing time surfing the web.
Make sure facial recognition is set up properly on your device so you can better sort images in the future.
Create and label folders or albums with dates, themes or subject matter. Doing this today, will be well worth the effort when it comes time to gather images for that graduation montage or a wedding video.
REMEMBER TO SHARE, ENJOY AND PRINT!
Today’s mobile photos have very high image quality – meaning they make great-looking prints. Recent phone model cameras can produce print sizes 16×20″ and larger!
https://camerashopmuskegon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2020/03/Main-Graphics.jpg3601125Natalie Gunnhttps://camerashopmuskegon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2024/03/TCS_PRlogo_web.jpgNatalie Gunn2020-04-16 14:08:512023-10-25 19:37:32ARE YOUR MOBILE PHOTOS SAFE + SECURE?
In 50 years, will you be able to reminisce?Will your grandchildren know if they’ve inherited your good looks? Will you be able to show them your childhood home? The answer to these questions is largely dependent on how you store and archive printed images today. After all, we’re not simply talking about pictures and home movies. We’re talking about your childhood, your wedding day, your entire family history – your life.
NO MORE CLUTTER
Storing a digital version of your memories takes far less space in your home. Plus, no more digging through closets and flipping through albums looking for a single photo! Archived images are easily searchable in their digital state.
PEACE OF MIND
Aging photo albums, boxes of prints and home movies are at risk for deterioration, misplacement and destruction in their current state. Archiving is also insurance for loss due to water damage, fire and other environmental hazards.
CONVENIENT ENJOYMENT
Once your photos and home movies are digitized, the files can easily be viewed on almost any device.
ONE LESS FAMILY BATTLE
Each and every family member can have their very own digital copy of the files. This is especially helpful in the case of a divorce or death in the family.
PASS IT ON
The digital files can easily be shared with family members around the world. Email specific files and store your new digital library in the cloud so that others can access them. For redundancy, we recommend ordering multiple copies of the digitized images for children, grandchildren or siblings.
WHAT’S YOUR PHOTO MANAGEMENT STRATEGY?
Make a plan for your story. How do you plan to preserve all the meaningful events in your life? If you don’t have one, don’t worry. We provide tools, training and assistance so you can tell your story for generations to come. We’ll pair your lifestyle needs with the right photo management solutions, making it easy to keep up with your collection as it grows. Archiving is an important but never-ending process, and The Print Refinery is here to help you preserve your family’s history for future generations to enjoy and remember.
https://camerashopmuskegon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2020/03/Main-Graphic.jpg3601125Natalie Gunnhttps://camerashopmuskegon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2024/03/TCS_PRlogo_web.jpgNatalie Gunn2020-04-02 13:53:322023-10-25 19:40:20WHY EVERY FAMILY SHOULD PRESERVE THEIR HISTORY.
In our digital age of ephemeral tweets, posts and emails, handwritten thank you notes have become a bit of a lost art. For that reason, they are incredibly impactful and sentimental ways to show customer appreciation. Nothing sounds more dull and impersonal than “thank you for your business.” So remember to keep your messages authentic, specific and individualized. Here are some additional tips and creative ideas:
Include package inserts.
Exceed your customers’ expectations and include a little pleasant surprise with their thank you note. Some examples are discounts/coupons for a future purchase, car decals and stickers, magnets or flyers.
Provide free gifts or samples.
Not only will they delight your customers, free samples allow you to showcase something that the customer hasn’t tried yet. Free gifts like promotional branded items spread brand awareness and add perceived value. Try to personalize the gift or sample for each customer and pick items that complement the purchase.
Create personal connections.
Video helps you stand out in the social media crowd by attracting likes and shares. In fact, 93% of businesses using video report it’s landed them a new customer. With the help of some pretty cool apps, you can create quick and personalized videos to thank your customers and engage them on social media. You can even use a QR code generator to send a barcode for the customer to simply scan and watch your video. Best of all, most of this can be done from the convenience of your smartphone or tablet!
Animoto – Create impressive videos in minutes with the drag-and-drop video maker.
Bonjoro – Boost customer engagement with perfectly timed personal videos.
Vidyard – Increase sales and delight your customer with an online video platform for your business.
Making your customer appreciation memorable is all about the finer details. The Print Refinery helps you create stunning marketing impressions that extend your customer relationships beyond the initial sale. When you lead with an attitude of gratitude, your team, brand and culture reflects it – and loyal customers always follow!
https://camerashopmuskegon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2019/10/and-attitude-of-gratitude.jpg321845Natalie Gunnhttps://camerashopmuskegon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2024/03/TCS_PRlogo_web.jpgNatalie Gunn2019-11-01 15:42:182019-10-29 18:02:22AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE
Looking for an easy and cost-effective way to visually enhance your office space? Adhesive vinyl is the hottest trend in wall decor, because it’s beautiful, functional and semi-permanent. The low-tac adhesive allows the vinyl to be repositioned, reused and removed without damaging paint or drywall. Adhesive vinyl works great on glass too and adds visual impact to store-front windows.
Celebrate your company history with engaging installations reflecting your brand story. Create energetic project boards and calendars to motivate your team and push goals forward. Or add instant color and character to a dull office space with a one-of-a-kind masterpiece on a focal wall. With the fantastic variety of shapes, sizes, and patterns, your design possibilities are limitless!
Whether it’s one wall or every wall, The Print Refinery helps you express your company’s voice and create custom, quality solutions that fit your brand communications!
https://camerashopmuskegon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2019/08/AdhesiveBlog1.jpg321845Natalie Gunnhttps://camerashopmuskegon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2024/03/TCS_PRlogo_web.jpgNatalie Gunn2019-09-11 11:00:062019-09-11 11:00:06INSTANT MAKE-OVER FOR YOUR OFFICE SPACE
There are over 10,000 trade shows held annually in the US, and standing out in the dense jungle of exhibitor booths is not an easy task. Here are some tips to maximize your visual impact and budget wisely for your next event:
Refresh your booth setup.
Check the condition of your backdrop, signage and furniture. Is it time for a cleaning, refresh or replacement? Avoid the unexpected by practicing your setup prior to the event. Remember any tools you’ll need to unpack, assemble and disassemble your exhibit booth. Getting setup in a timely manner will give you valuable extra time for networking and marketing.
Update your marketing materials.
Refine your positioning, features/benefits and pitch. Does your marketing communicate a clear and targeted message? Correct formatting issues, grammatical errors and outdated information. If you need help adding visual appeal to your marketing materials, The Print Refinery is here to make your brand shine!
Prepare promotional products.
Current design trends in branded promotional gifts are: popular retail brands, bright and bold colors and unique materials (like cork, wood grain and matte finishes). Cellphone accessories, insulated drinkware and wellness products are always top choices. A branded tchotchke or trinket that ends up in the trash is a waste of marketing dollars, so think “useful, creative and unique” when selecting promotional items.
From backdrops and signage to business cards and promotional branded items, The Print Refinery can fulfill all your commercial printing needs for your next trade show. So let’s create, collaborate and turn your vision into bold marketing statements!
https://camerashopmuskegon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2019/08/Tradeshow-Season.jpg321845Natalie Gunnhttps://camerashopmuskegon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2024/03/TCS_PRlogo_web.jpgNatalie Gunn2019-08-28 11:00:572019-08-19 14:01:03Are You Ready For Your Next Trade Show?
TIPS FOR MANAGING YOUR LIFE IN PHOTOS
Tips for decluttering the thousands of photos on your device.
Our mobile phones have sadly become the final resting place for many of our family memories. Pictures of first days of school, fall adventures, family gatherings at home and other priceless moments in your family history never make it out of our mobile photo albums. The cloud gives us ample space to store thousands of photos – but it the number of images can quickly get out of control if not continually managed. If you take, say, 10 photos a day, every day for a year, that adds up to nearly 4,000 photos left to stagnate on your digital device.
But they don’t need to be lost and unseen. In fact, organizing and clearing your phone of clutter is similar to cleaning out a disorganized closet at home. When you’re cleaning, you will wonder what made you keep certain photos for so long, much like you might wonder why you kept a sweater from high school. No time is better than the present to sort out the mess on your phone.
Let Go of the Photo Clutter
We truly don’t need thousands of photos. If you scroll back in your camera roll, there may very well be duplicate photos, screenshots of recipes you never used or poor-quality photos. Delete these! You want your photos to tell a story about a memory you have and keeping photos that you will never use again only adds to the clutter. And clutter is the last thing you need when it comes to photo organization.
Beginning this process may be intimidating. It’s much like opening the closet you’ve been afraid to open for years, for fear that a ton of junk will tumble out. But you’ve got to let go of the junk to get to the memories that matter most.
Find Time to Delete
Spend time deleting duplicates and non-keepers while in line at the grocery store or set aside time once a week to delete photos. Just like the minimalist mantra, if something doesn’t bring joy, get rid of it.
Organize What’s Left
It takes time and computer know-how to begin the organization of your digital files, and this should also be an enjoyable process because you get to reminisce on past moments. Once you’ve sifted through which photos to keep and which photos to toss, you can begin placing the photos in folders or albums, either separated by year or by an event. This is exactly the process you might use when you are organizing your messy closet. Put winter items in one box, summer in another, and so forth.
Print them. Display them. Share them.
Next, you’ll want to get your photos off your phone and have some type of physical output made. I recommend printing your favorites and making copies for every family member who is part of the story. Of course, you can also create photo books, framed wall galleries and keepsake gifts.
PRINT WITH YOUR LOCAL PHOTO EXPERT FOR EXCEPTIONAL RESULTS
PRINT WITH YOUR LOCAL PHOTO EXPERT FOR EXCEPTIONAL RESULTS
In this time of distancing, we are looking for ways to stay safe. Many of us are shopping online and using curbside or delivery service, when available. At the same time, most of us have placed a renewed emphasis on shopping local this year, supporting the businesses in our community as we all struggle with the challenges of 2020.
Did you know that we offer services such as online/phone ordering, shipping, pick-up/delivery and curbside? You are creating a lot of unique memories in your home and local area this year, why not trust us, your neighborhood photo printing business with preserving these moments?
Why choose us, a local photo expert?
While online and big box competitors may boast larger selections, better technology and lower prices, they will not be able to provide personalized consulting services or custom options. An expert with decades of experience is likely not personally handling your project. You won’t be able to rely upon fast service times, nor speak to someone face-to-face about your concerns.
Shop local. Support your local economy. Befriend your neighbor. That’s us! Receive the very best service, options and quality that our industry offers.
2020, A YEAR IN REVIEW
2020, A YEAR IN REVIEW
We just can’t say it enough – 2020 has been quite a year! It’s likely that this year has brought you a few memories that you wish you could forget, as well as some very special moments that you want to cherish forever. As the holidays approach, and the year winds down, it’s time to commemorate the reality of 2020. Document this year with a custom photo book, an unforgettable keepsake.
A Year Filled with Memories
Choose from a variety of formats and styles. Auto-populate your book or design it yourself, one image at a time. Consult with us, your local photo printing expert for a truly customized coffee table-caliber book.
Don’t stop there! Purchase additional copies for family members and friends as holiday gifts. Share the joy. Stay connected. Spread kindness.
WHY THIS YEAR’S HOLIDAY CARD IS SO SPECIAL
WHY THIS YEAR’S HOLIDAY CARD IS SO SPECIAL
2020 has been quite the year, to say the least! For most of us, the holidays will feel a little different this year. Many of us will not be able to celebrate in-person with our loved ones. In this time of distancing, we are looking for a way to feel closer to our family and friends. This is the perfect year to send a joyful holiday greeting to stay connected. A personalized message, honoring the traditions that make the season special, will bring joy to every recipient.
Select Photos
Holiday card preparation is the best reason to spend time reviewing the memories you have captured over the past year. Select images that document special occasions and accomplishments, and those that best demonstrate the personalities of your family members – even the family pet! Choose up to a dozen images, and maybe even designate some favorites.
Holiday cards are also a great excuse to have a family photo shoot! This can be something casual that you do yourself with your camera or phone, utilizing a tripod and timer (or a selfie stick with a trigger). If you are looking for something more polished, call in a professional. Most photographers offer family mini sessions during the fall exactly for this purpose. All you have to do is decide what to wear!
Choose a Card
Photo greeting cards are available in a variety of styles to fit your family’s vibe this year. Choose from traditional or contemporary designs with multitudes of sentiments available in various sizes. Flat or folded? Horizontal, vertical or square? Or maybe a trifold, accordion fold or die cut (unique shapes/edges)? All of these are available with any number of photos, from the perfect single shot that you absolutely cannot wait to share, to the dozen that you just couldn’t narrow down.
Say hello and spread kindness with a warm, personal holiday card. Close the distance between you and those you love most in this incredibly unique year.
FOUR SIMPLE STEPS TO PRESERVE YOUR FAMILY MEMORIES.
STEP 1: SORT
Take pictures out of albums, frames and boxes so you are working with only loose prints. Choose the photos you want to keep. Remove duplicates and poor-quality shots. Keep only the most meaningful images and toss the rest if you are working to downsize or eliminate clutter. At this point, you could stop and move on to Step #3.
STEP 2: ORGANIZE
If you want to get your photo collection truly organized, then continue sorting. Separate pictures into piles by subject, people, theme or year. Whatever makes most sense to you. Then, label those piles in chronological order. This will pay off when you move on to Step #4 and eventually share copies of your images with family members. Advanced sorting will make specific photos easy to locate on a computer or device later on.
STEP 3: DIGITIZE
Box up your printed memorabilia and bring them to a trusted local photo preservation expert (like us!) for scanning. The key word here is “local”. We never recommend shipping your most precious possessions across the country! Each print will be professionally digitized and saved as high-resolution JPG files. We can even create labeled folders to keep your sorting efforts intact. Your newly digitized images will then be safely saved to a media device of your choice, a cloud storage location and/or to any other location that you request.
STEP 4: COPY + SHARE
At this stage, you’ll have various options for what to do with your digital image files – including how many copies to share. This is the fun part! Think about who would like a set of the scanned images – even if they may not completely appreciate them today. (IE: children and teens.) Once the images are scanned, duplicate media copies are extremely affordable – so be generous and share freely!
Your story is meant to be shared – and now is the perfect time to do it! Don’t wait until it’s too late to protect those photos of your grandparents, your high school prom and that family vacation to the Grand Canyon.
ARE YOUR MOBILE PHOTOS SAFE + SECURE?
You probably already know that your computer’s hard drive isn’t the ideal location for your beloved images. For one, hard drives routinely crash, sending the data stored on them into dark oblivion. Furthermore, pictures stored locally often get very little eyeball time, and in today’s easy media-sharing environment, there’s no reason your photos should be collecting digital dust.
WHY DO YOU NEED A CLOUD STORAGE FOR PHOTOS?
Photo cloud storage is an online storage model in which data (photos) is saved on numerous servers distributed over the network. In other words, these are highly reliable servers that store photo and video files in a virtual environment that is protected from equipment failure, phone loss, or environment dangers. As long as you have an Internet connection, you can access your photos on the cloud.
A BACK-UP IS ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA!
While you may keep a copy of your photo files on a personal computer, laptop, phone or tablet – you never know when something may go wrong and wipe out decades worth of images. When you sync your mobile device with your cloud service – you’ll be able to view, share and access the images from multiple devices.
SHARED ACCESS WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
If a group of people enjoy viewing and accessing each other’s images, consider sharing your cloud storage account. This allows authorized users to add photos of their own and view images from others in the group. Family shared accounts are very common for this purpose. Create folders for special events and members of the group to help sort and organize your photos.
ELIMINATE MOBILE PHOTO CLUTTER.
We all have those images of receipts, movie tickets or duplicate shots of the same event. In the new year, spend a little time cleaning up those unnecessary shots and getting them off your system. Here’s how:
REMEMBER TO SHARE, ENJOY AND PRINT!
Today’s mobile photos have very high image quality – meaning they make great-looking prints. Recent phone model cameras can produce print sizes 16×20″ and larger!
WHY EVERY FAMILY SHOULD PRESERVE THEIR HISTORY.
In 50 years, will you be able to reminisce? Will your grandchildren know if they’ve inherited your good looks? Will you be able to show them your childhood home? The answer to these questions is largely dependent on how you store and archive printed images today. After all, we’re not simply talking about pictures and home movies. We’re talking about your childhood, your wedding day, your entire family history – your life.
NO MORE CLUTTER
Storing a digital version of your memories takes far less space in your home. Plus, no more digging through closets and flipping through albums looking for a single photo! Archived images are easily searchable in their digital state.
PEACE OF MIND
Aging photo albums, boxes of prints and home movies are at risk for deterioration, misplacement and destruction in their current state. Archiving is also insurance for loss due to water damage, fire and other environmental hazards.
CONVENIENT ENJOYMENT
Once your photos and home movies are digitized, the files can easily be viewed on almost any device.
ONE LESS FAMILY BATTLE
Each and every family member can have their very own digital copy of the files. This is especially helpful in the case of a divorce or death in the family.
PASS IT ON
The digital files can easily be shared with family members around the world. Email specific files and store your new digital library in the cloud so that others can access them. For redundancy, we recommend ordering multiple copies of the digitized images for children, grandchildren or siblings.
WHAT’S YOUR PHOTO MANAGEMENT STRATEGY?
Make a plan for your story. How do you plan to preserve all the meaningful events in your life? If you don’t have one, don’t worry. We provide tools, training and assistance so you can tell your story for generations to come. We’ll pair your lifestyle needs with the right photo management solutions, making it easy to keep up with your collection as it grows. Archiving is an important but never-ending process, and The Print Refinery is here to help you preserve your family’s history for future generations to enjoy and remember.
AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE
In our digital age of ephemeral tweets, posts and emails, handwritten thank you notes have become a bit of a lost art. For that reason, they are incredibly impactful and sentimental ways to show customer appreciation. Nothing sounds more dull and impersonal than “thank you for your business.” So remember to keep your messages authentic, specific and individualized. Here are some additional tips and creative ideas:
Exceed your customers’ expectations and include a little pleasant surprise with their thank you note. Some examples are discounts/coupons for a future purchase, car decals and stickers, magnets or flyers.
Not only will they delight your customers, free samples allow you to showcase something that the customer hasn’t tried yet. Free gifts like promotional branded items spread brand awareness and add perceived value. Try to personalize the gift or sample for each customer and pick items that complement the purchase.
Video helps you stand out in the social media crowd by attracting likes and shares. In fact, 93% of businesses using video report it’s landed them a new customer. With the help of some pretty cool apps, you can create quick and personalized videos to thank your customers and engage them on social media. You can even use a QR code generator to send a barcode for the customer to simply scan and watch your video. Best of all, most of this can be done from the convenience of your smartphone or tablet!
Making your customer appreciation memorable is all about the finer details. The Print Refinery helps you create stunning marketing impressions that extend your customer relationships beyond the initial sale. When you lead with an attitude of gratitude, your team, brand and culture reflects it – and loyal customers always follow!
INSTANT MAKE-OVER FOR YOUR OFFICE SPACE
Looking for an easy and cost-effective way to visually enhance your office space? Adhesive vinyl is the hottest trend in wall decor, because it’s beautiful, functional and semi-permanent. The low-tac adhesive allows the vinyl to be repositioned, reused and removed without damaging paint or drywall. Adhesive vinyl works great on glass too and adds visual impact to store-front windows.
Celebrate your company history with engaging installations reflecting your brand story. Create energetic project boards and calendars to motivate your team and push goals forward. Or add instant color and character to a dull office space with a one-of-a-kind masterpiece on a focal wall. With the fantastic variety of shapes, sizes, and patterns, your design possibilities are limitless!
Whether it’s one wall or every wall, The Print Refinery helps you express your company’s voice and create custom, quality solutions that fit your brand communications!
Are You Ready For Your Next Trade Show?
Check the condition of your backdrop, signage and furniture. Is it time for a cleaning, refresh or replacement? Avoid the unexpected by practicing your setup prior to the event. Remember any tools you’ll need to unpack, assemble and disassemble your exhibit booth. Getting setup in a timely manner will give you valuable extra time for networking and marketing.
Refine your positioning, features/benefits and pitch. Does your marketing communicate a clear and targeted message? Correct formatting issues, grammatical errors and outdated information. If you need help adding visual appeal to your marketing materials, The Print Refinery is here to make your brand shine!
Current design trends in branded promotional gifts are: popular retail brands, bright and bold colors and unique materials (like cork, wood grain and matte finishes). Cellphone accessories, insulated drinkware and wellness products are always top choices. A branded tchotchke or trinket that ends up in the trash is a waste of marketing dollars, so think “useful, creative and unique” when selecting promotional items.
From backdrops and signage to business cards and promotional branded items, The Print Refinery can fulfill all your commercial printing needs for your next trade show. So let’s create, collaborate and turn your vision into bold marketing statements!