I envy people who are organized. I truly fly by the seat of my pants every day, all the time. In fact, if you were to take a peek in my dresser drawers, you may mistakenly think someone broke in and ransacked the place.
When it comes to photos, however, I do have my act together. Memory Manager Software (US|Canada) rocks my socks off - its sorting and organizing features are sweet, the timeline functionality makes me giddy and the fact that my photos are in little virtual power sort boxes, sorted out any which way I want them to be, well... that's just genius. Even my fiance, who happens to be a professional photographer, sorts and organizes his photos for storage using Memory Manager. Psst - by the way, Nick Kelsh is a big fan, too! :)
So... I realize that we're now into February, and that most people set up and start executing their new year resolutions on January 1, but really - it's never too late to resolve to get your photos organized. Even if you've got 70,000 photos (yes, Leanne Bailey really does have that many photos!) jump in and get started. Easily sort and tag them by events, seasons, who's in the photo, or any other way you prefer to sort them. Each photo can go into multiple categories, the software uses the photo's "taken on" date to create an automatic timeline for you, and you can include journaling with any photo.
As if all of the above wasn't enough reason to love this software, it's also got photo manipulation tools like red-eye remover, cloning, color adjusting, cropping, rotating and even that funky technique where the whole photo is black & white except one little section. Oh, and you can share your photos right out of Memory Manager on over to your Storybook Creator software (US|Canada).
Before I sign off, there's one other super coolio feature this software has that I don't think nearly enough people are aware of - you can lay out the photos for an entire Picfolio Milestones, Picfolio Minutes or Picfolio Mini Album (US|Canada) right in the software, then order up the whole batch of photos and they get mailed out to you IN ORDER. Yes - after you use this functionality and order the photos, open the packet of photos, slide them into your album, and viola. Instant album.
I finished a 258-photo album in about 4 hours. Here's a blog post where I talked about this the first time. And yes, I'm still so excited about it - I'm bringing it up again :)
Have you yet discovered this magical wonder we know as Memory Manager? If so, how does it rock your socks off? :)
- Jenny
I purchased Memory Manager last year. I wish I could say I love it but haven't gotten there yet. I too have THOUSANDS of pictures which I had pretty well organized with another program. But I liked a lot of the features offered by MM. Unfortunately I obviously didn't do a good job at reading all the directions and when I started transferring things over, things wound up in places I never intended for them to be! I'd like to just delete the files and start over. Guess I need to spend more time watching some of the "how to" videos!
Posted by: Debbie Smith | 02/09/2012 at 08:25 PM
Jenny, I would love to send you a photo with my story! Here is how MM "rocks my socks":
Last year, as my teen-aged daughter raced out the door for school one morning, she stopped for a moment and exclaimed, "MOM! I need that photo of us when we got stuck in It's A Small World, and I need it by 2nd period!!" Normally, that would have sent panic through my body and a sarcastic comment from my lips, but because of MM I was able to locate and email that photo to her within minutes! MM saved the day! =)
Posted by: Lori Hagen | 02/08/2012 at 07:20 PM
I like all the features and my favorite is the one where I can pull up a picture of a flower and a picture of my daughter and rub my mouse over my daughter in picture one and add her to the center of the flower. It was SO Easy! THAT BLEW MY MIND! Also, I believe this is $10 off! If you sign up for Rewards Club you also get $10 to spend and 15% off for being a club member! Perfect time to buy!
Posted by: Heather | 02/08/2012 at 05:58 PM
I LOVE Memory Manager! Even if I don't have time to get the photos into folders the time line organizes them for me. I do try to write the story with the photos because like others have said we do tend to forget things. Plus I love that I can search on what I wrote in my story. I love the 5 star feature too. The first time I look at my pictures after I download them from my camera any that I look at know I love it I immediately give it a 5 star. That way I can always find the ones I liked the best with one click. All I can say is this is an amazing organizational program.
Posted by: Cheryl | 02/04/2012 at 09:07 AM
I agree with Lisa, being able to tag the photos with stories that go with them is wonderful. I'm always amazed at the details that I write if I do it right away when I look later, because if I wasn't reading it right there in front of me, no way would I have remembered all that. Best photo organizing software out there. :D
Posted by: Paula | 02/03/2012 at 07:18 PM
Ditto, Jenny! I think MM is a FABULOUS photo organizing tool!! LOVE it!
Posted by: Colleen Springer | 02/03/2012 at 05:33 PM
I LOVE Memory Manager! I put notes in the "tell the story" tab because even though I think I'll remember those details I seldom do! Too bad CM doesn't have organizing software for other parts of our life ;)
Posted by: Lisa Graham | 02/03/2012 at 05:20 PM