A trip produces hundreds of photos and, often, very little story. Back home, the camera roll is full of landmarks and empty of the moments that made the trip feel like yours.
Before you start: make sure your phone is backed up. Deleting is easier when nothing can be lost.
We don’t take more photos than we used to. We just look at them now.
Ana, a reader since the first year
Keep it simple
Think of each day as a short chapter. A beginning, something in the middle, and an ending.
The people you travelled with matter more than the places. Make sure they are in the pictures.
- Delete the obvious misses: blurs, pockets and thumbs.
- Star one photo per day, even on dull days.
- Pick the cover last, once the month has a shape.
Try it this month
Back up before you delete anything. It takes a minute and removes the fear that stops people from clearing out at all.
If you miss a month, do not try to catch up all at once. Start again with this month and fill the gap later if you feel like it.
| Print size | Smallest file | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Square page | 1800 × 1800 px | Single photos |
| Full spread | 3600 × 1800 px | Landscapes and groups |
| Quarter page | 900 × 900 px | Small moments |
A few small rules
Keep the phone charged and the lens clean on days you expect to matter. It sounds small, but a flat battery or a smudged lens has cost more good pictures than any missing piece of equipment.
We tried the one-photo-per-day rule last month and it made picking so much easier. Thank you!
Ha, the box in our loft is full of strangers as well.
Same here! It got easier after the second month.
Thank you, that really made our day.
Agreed, this was the tip that worked for us too.
I never thought about the light from the window. Moved the high chair and the difference is huge.
I never thought about the light from the window. Moved the high chair and the difference is huge.
Thank you for not telling me to buy a new camera.