DIY Photo Organising

It’s no secret that we’re passionate about helping people organise their photos.
After years of working with hundreds of clients, recording over 100 episodes of the DIY Photo Organising podcast, and refining our framework, we’re so excited to officially launch our DIY Photo Organising Course!
In this episode, we share why we created the course, what’s included, and how the 5 Golden Rules provide a clear, flexible, and timeless structure to help you move forward with confidence.
Over the years, we kept seeing the same patterns: People overwhelmed and unsure where to start. People organising without backing up first. People jumping in without knowing their “Why.” People getting stuck and giving up.
We realised most people weren’t lacking motivation - they were lacking clear principles.
That’s why we created this course.

What you'll hear in this episode
Why we decided to turn the 5 Golden Rules into a structured course
The common photo organising mistakes we see over and over again
What’s included in the 8+ hour pre-recorded course
A walkthrough of each of the 5 Golden Rules: Back Up, Know Your Why, Create a Photo Hub, Sort & Organise, Do Something.
What the 40+ page workbook includes
Details about the two bonus lessons: Organise and Preserve Your Printed Photos and When Organising Photos Feels Hard
How the Live Intensive Workshops work - and who they’re for

Why it Matters
Organising your photos can feel overwhelming - until you have a clear framework. The 5 Golden Rules are timeless principlesthat work whether you have 500 photos or 50,000, helping you protect what matters, reduce the fear of loss, create clarity, and move forward at your own pace.

Links referenced
Link to the DIY Photo Organising Course and the Live Intensive
 
Related Episodes
Episode 002 Golden Rule 1 - Backup
Episode 003 Golden Rule 2 – Know Your Why
Episode 004 Golden Rule 3 – Create a Hub
Episode 005 Golden Rule 4 – Sort and Organise (Part 1 –Digital Photos)
Episode 006 Golden Rule 4 – Sort and Organise (Part 2 –Printed Photos)
Episode 007 Golden Rule 5 – Do Something!
Episode 023 5 Steps to get you Started NOW
Episode 033 5 Golden Rules Highlights
Episode 049 How to Stop Procrastinating about your Photos
Episode 110 Roadblocks in photo management and how toovercome them

If you have any photo-related questions we haven't answered yet in one of the previous episodes, please don't hesitate to share them with us via the Wishlist for Future Episodes!
 
We invite you to have a look through our DIY Photo Organising Courses so you can decide which of these courses might be what you need to help you move forward with your photo organising projects.

If you’d like to learn more about us, go to: www.diyphotoorganising.com.au

Fiona McLauchlan’s website: www.counsellingmemories.com.au or
Chantal Imbach’s website: www.photosinorder.com.au

If you are not in Melbourne and would like to explore having a Photo Manager help you, check out ww.thephotomanagers.com to find help closer to home.

As the year comes to a close, we’re inviting you to pause and reflect on what truly mattered. In this final episode of 2025, we share a simple, meaningful photo challenge to help you capture the heart of your year in just twelve images. It’s gentle, creative, and surprisingly powerful. Plus, we give you a little sneak peek at what’s coming next for DIY Photo Organising in 2026. 
 
What You’ll Hear in This Episode 
A simple end-of-year photo reflection: 12 for ’25 – Your Year in Photos 

How to choose one meaningful photo from each month 

Ideas for adding words, captions, or reflections to your images 

Creative ways to enjoy or share your 12 photos (if you want to) 

Easy tools and apps you can use (including a free Canva template) 

A preview of our upcoming DIY Photo Organising Course launching in early 2026 

 
Why It Matters 
Photo organising isn’t just about clearing clutter — it’s about connection. This episode helps you slow down, notice the moments that shaped your year, and honour them in a way that feels achievable and meaningful. By choosing just twelve photos, you create space for reflection, gratitude, and story — without overwhelm. It’s a beautiful way to close the year and step into the next one with intention. 
 
Mentioned Links 
Click here to be notified about the launch of the DIY Photo Organising Course 
 
Click here to access the FREE Canva template to make your own 12 for ‘25 - Your Year in Photos 

Related episodes 
Episode 008 Create a Yearly Photobook 
Episode 012 Fabulous Photo Gift Ideas 
Episode 027 Photo Gifts for Christmas 
Episode 032 New Year’s Resolutions with your photos 
Episode 054 How to Design your 2020 Year Book 
Episode 061 Photo Gift Ideas for Mother’s Day 
Episode 067 DIY Photo Organising Courses 
Episode 082 Planning Photo Projects 
Episode 104 Photo Project Ideas and a Real Life Example 
 
If you have any photo-related questions we haven't answered yet in one of the previous episodes, please don't hesitate to share them with us via the Wishlist for Future Episodes! 
 
We invite you to have a look through our DIY Photo Organising Courses so you can decide which of these courses might be what you need to help you move forward with your photo organising projects. 
 
If you’d like to learn more about us, go to: 
 
www.diyphotoorganising.com.au  
 
Fiona McLauchlan’s website: www.counsellingmemories.com.au or 
Chantal Imbach’s website: www.photosinorder.com.au  
 
If you are not in Melbourne and would like to explore having a Photo Manager help you, check out www.thephotomanagers.com to find help closer to home. 
 
*affiliate link

Do you ever look at your photos and think, “I really need to sort these… but not today”? 

Whether it’s thousands of images on your phone, boxes of inherited photos, or unfinished photo book dreams — procrastination can sneak up on all of us. 
In this episode, we explore the hidden reasons behind photo organising procrastination and why getting started often feels hard. From emotional weight and overwhelm to perfectionism and fear of doing it wrong, we look beneath the surface to understand what’s really going on. 
Together, we talk about how procrastination is often a protective response, not laziness — and why your brain might be gently saying, “Not right now,” even when your photos truly matter to you. 
 
What You’ll Hear in This Episode 
The psychology of overwhelm: why your photos feel “too big to start” 
When memories get heavy: how emotion, loss, and life transitions quietly fuel avoidance 
Perfectionism’s trap: the invisible pressure to get it “right” before you begin 
Pro-level procrastination moves: the everyday behaviours we all use to delay photo organising 
The creative side of avoidance: tea-making, pantry-organising, and other classic detours 
Your nervous system at work: why your brain sometimes says “not today” 
The mental health lens: how avoidance protects your emotional energy 
A gentle reflection: uncovering your hidden reason for putting it off 
 
Why It Matters 
Knowing why you procrastinate replaces frustration with compassion. Avoidance is often protection. With that awareness, your next steps become clearer and more manageable. Photo organising becomes an act of caring for your memories. 
  
Related Episodes 
Episode 003 Golden Rule 2 – Know Your Why 
Episode 023 5 Steps to get you Started NOW 
Episode 031 What to do with inherited photos 
Episode 032 New Year’s Resolutions with your photos 
Episode 049 How to Stop Procrastinating about your Photos 
Episode 064 Prepare for Emotions 
Episode 074 Dealing with photos that are difficult to look at! 
Episode 080 5 Essential Photo Management Tips 
Episode 106 How to move forward and stop procrastinating 
Episode 110 Roadblocks in photo management and how to overcome them 

If you have any photo-related questions we haven't answered yet in one of the previous episodes, please don't hesitate to share them with us via the Wishlist for Future Episodes! 
 
We invite you to have a look through our DIY Photo Organising Courses so you can decide which of these courses might be what you need to help you move forward with your photo organising projects. 
 
If you’d like to learn more about us, go to: 
www.diyphotoorganising.com.au  
 
Fiona McLauchlan’s website: www.counsellingmemories.com.au
Chantal Imbach’s website: www.photosinorder.com.au  
 
If you are not in Melbourne and would like to explore having a Photo Manager help you, check out www.thephotomanagers.com to find help closer to home.

Do you ever scroll through your photos and wonder why half of them are screenshots? From recipes and outfit ideas to reminders and funny memes — they pile up fast!

In this episode, we share practical ways to manage screenshots and “reference photos” on both iPhone and Android, so your camera roll stays clear for the memories that truly matter. 

We dive into Golden Rule #4: Sort and Organise, focusing on one of the biggest culprits of digital clutter — screenshots and random note-to-self images. Whether it’s a book you want to read, a recipe to try, or a receipt to keep, we’ll show you how to decide what to keep, what to move elsewhere, and what to delete. 
 
What You’ll Hear in This Episode 
Why screenshots and reference photos don’t belong in your main photo library 

How to find, review, and tidy your screenshots on iPhone and Android 

Simple steps to delete or relocate images you want to keep 

Where to store screenshots

Tips for hiding or securing albums you don’t need in daily view 

How to copy text from screenshots instead of saving the image 

Quick actions to stop screenshots from cluttering your library in the first place 

 
Why It Matters 
Not every photo deserves a permanent spot in your library. By managing screenshots and reference photos with a few simple habits, you’ll keep your collection easier to browse, lighter to manage, and more meaningful to revisit. It’s all about curating the memories that matter most. 

Resources Mentioned 
Chantal’s Get-It-Done Work Sessions – online co-working sessions to help you stay on top of your photo tasks 

Apple Photos Course for iPhone and Mac Users – a 3-session online program for simplifying your photo management 

 
Related Episodes 
Episode 005 Golden Rule 4 – Sort and Organise (Part 1 – Digital Photos) 
Episode 039 Photos that DON’T belong in a Photo Collection 
Episode 063 The Magic of Maintenance 
Episode 087 Transferring Android phone photos to a computer 
Episode 115 The AI Evolution of Apple Photos: What You Need to Know 
 
If you have any photo-related questions we haven't answered yet in one of the previous episodes, please don't hesitate to share them with us via the Wishlist for Future Episodes! 
 
We invite you to have a look through our DIY Photo Organising Courses so you can decide which of these courses might be what you need to help you move forward with your photo organising projects. 
 
If you’d like to learn more about us, go to: 
 
www.diyphotoorganising.com.au  
 
Fiona McLauchlan’s website: www.counsellingmemories.com.au or 
Chantal Imbach’s website: www.photosinorder.com.au  
 
If you are not in Melbourne and would like to explore having a Photo Manager help you, check out www.thephotomanagers.com to find help closer to home. 
 
*affiliate link

From recognising faces to sorting memories, AI is quietly transforming how we interact with our photos. What once felt like a chore can now feel intuitive, even enjoyable, if we understand how to make the most of the tools we already have. 
In this episode, we take a fresh look at Golden Rule #4: Sort and Organise, exploring how AI is reshaping the way we manage our digital photo collections, connect with our memories, and tell our stories through images. 
Our focus is on Apple Photos, and we’re joined by special guest Paul Einarsen, an expert in helping people organise and share their photos using Apple’s tools. 
Together, we unpack how artificial intelligence is transforming photo management within the Apple ecosystem, what’s new, what’s quietly powerful, and how you can work smarter, not harder, to enjoy your photo library. 

What You’ll Hear in This Episode 
How AI is making it easier to curate and enjoy your photo memories 

Apple’s privacy-first approach to processing your photos 

Simple ways to get started with People & Pets tagging 

How Apple Photos finds and merges duplicates while keeping the best version 

Why keywords are becoming less relevant, and captions matter more for storytelling 

Seeing your photo collection as a “living document” that evolves with you 

How automatic collections can ease photo overwhelm 

Practical tips to build enjoyable, sustainable photo-management habits 

 
Why It Matters 
AI is changing more than the way we sort photos — it’s reshaping how we connect with our memories. The good news? Your iPhone and Mac already have powerful tools built in. With a little know-how and small, consistent habits, you can keep your photo library organised enough to enjoy, because it’s about reliving memories, not chasing perfection. 
 
Mentioned Links 
5 Minute Photos - https://5minutephotos.substack.com/ - Weekly newsletter with tips and insights about photography in 2025 with a focus on the Apple Photos ecosystem.  
 
Bluewater Imaging - https://www.bluewaterimaging.com/ - Consulting, coaching, and done-for-you photo management services. 
 
Bluewater Imaging Photo Workshops - https://learn.bluewaterimaging.com/ - Do-it-yourself online courses for professional photo managers and everyday photographers 
 
New Course - FIND YOUR PHOTOS FAST: How to use the new Apple Photos on iPhone - https://learn.bluewaterimaging.com/p/find-your-photos-fast-using-the-new-apple-photos-on-iphone-1  
  
Related episodes 
Episode 004 Golden Rule 3 – Create a Hub 
Episode 005 Golden Rule 4 – Sort and Organise (Part 1 – Digital Photos) 
Episode 009 Understanding Photo Metadata 
Episode 018 Manage your photos using your iPhone 
Episode 063 The Magic of Maintenance 
Episode 096 The Apple Ecosystem with Paul Einarsen – Blue Water Imaging 
Episode 102 Is using only a folder structure outdated? 
 
If you have any photo-related questions we haven't answered yet in one of the previous episodes, please don't hesitate to share them with us via the Wishlist for Future Episodes! 
 
We invite you to have a look through our DIY Photo Organising Courses so you can decide which of these courses might be what you need to help you move forward with your photo organising projects. 
 
If you’d like to learn more about us, go to: 
www.diyphotoorganising.com.au  
 
Fiona McLauchlan’s website: www.counsellingmemories.com.au or 
Chantal Imbach’s website: www.photosinorder.com.au  
 
If you are not in Melbourne and would like to explore having a Photo Manager help you, check out www.thephotomanagers.com to find help closer to home. 
*affiliate link