Photo Boxes on the Right, Scrapbooks on the Left?

Where to buy: Small handled clear case, $13; and Library flat file, $10: containerstore.com. Kolo Noci Mini photo albums (with ribbon), $13 each, aifriedman.com. Clamshell-lid negative/print storage box (similar to 1992 box shown), $13.25; and glassine envelopes, $14 for 100: universityproducts.com.Wait, no, not according to Real Simple. Because left brained people like to squirrel things away, photo boxes seem like the best solution for them. And they are a great solution for Funs who tuck photos away in boxes and remember where they are. But its nice to look in a book and see all the photos in one place, especially with the big push into the digital world, where those boxes only take up space on your computer, or external drive.

But even with digital (and as people who deal with a lot of stuff, we say jump to the digital world) Real Simple’s advice is sound for anyone who doesn’t have time to make scrapbooks or put together photo albums. “Boxes with photo labels are great for single-subject sorting (one for each child, say). They can hold discs, too, so you can unify your digital and print collections. Flat archival boxes protect larger prints and vintage photos. Small albums are perfect for individual trips or events.”

Boxes are a great idea, but I don’t think they’re best for the left brained types — Funs and Classics. While not as visually oriented, they are the types most likely to pick up scrap booking. It’s a practical art form, and everyone loves to look at the family album, regardless of organizing type. Funs might have more trouble finishing this project, but not if there’s a deadline (say a birthday or holiday gift.) And both Funs and Classics are uniquely qualified to organize and put away all the little odds and ends involved with the craft of scrap booking. (As an right brainer, the idea of scrap booking makes me want to kill myself. More detail?! Now, as you will see in the paragraphs below, I need to let go of my perfectionism, which is the Freedom part of my Organicness, and just get them done already.)

Where to buy: Gustav box (left), $12, organize.com. Soho Photo Boxes, $15.50 each, katespaperie.com. Telescoping stand/card holder HomArt, $36, areohome.com. Tape, $34 for 10 rolls, happytape.com.So, for the right-brainers, Real Simple advocates the visual solution: “Load pictures into bright boxes (which are easy to spot), and buy some scrapbooks. (Stash decorative tape, photo corners, and labels nearby.) When you have a few minutes, stick a couple of photos into a book, jotting down the corresponding memories. Use broad themes, like “kids” or “parties,” so there’s no pressure for detailed sorting.”

Bright boxes (what as if we’re brain dead and can’t see a pastel?) Okay, fine I DO tend to like bright colors, but so do those detail oriented Funs, and yes I can see that broad themes might work, but personally I tend to like chronological albums because that’s what my mom did. Will I ever actually do this? I have no idea. I have done my photo albums from 1999 through to 2003. I think I actually organized the photos chronologically for another year or two. But that’s it. My husband (right brained Smart Freedom) will just make books randomly with the photos he has on his computer (which is a lot) but I want to have a TOTAL RECORD.

I think this is probably off topic and not related to personality type. Seriously. It’s a project that my Organic Structure mom undertook for many many years. 1967 through 2005? Now they’re all on her computer, (dutifully organized of course, because that’s what Organic Structures and Smart Structures do, they’re visual AND organized.) She doesn’t make books anymore, just relies on a computer display and digital frame, and she likes the randomness of it. So perhaps one day I will let go of my ridiculous expectations for perfect order (almost impossible for the Organic Freedom by the way unless they’re on a bent.)

So. Organics are going to desperately need these photo albums. Organic Structures are going to actually be able to finish them, Organic Freedoms? Not so much. Maybe, one day. But my grandmother died with tons of one day photos in disorganized boxes in her front room desk. Smart Structures will get it done too, maybe less flourish and less attention to beauty but they will get it done, hiring it out if possible. Smart Freedoms will randomly make albums depending on cash flow and available photos at the time. This is why we have ANY photo albums at all in my house, and both of my left brained children LOVE to look at them.