Wills and Trusts Are Just the Beginning: Let’s Talk Photo Estates
We all take the time to put together our estate - our wills, our trusts, and our wishes for end-of-life. We align our assets and designate a home for them. We identify Guardians and appoint Trustees. We figure this out for the assets that have a very tangible dollar value attached.
But what about the parts of our “estate” that can’t be measured in dollars? The special mementos passed from one generation to the next? Or, perhaps the most meaningful… our photos?
Taking the time to organize and distribute your photo collection is just as important as preparing your financial assets. This is the legacy you’ll be leaving behind. These are the moments and memories that truly matter - and they deserve a place in your estate plan.
What exactly is legacy, and why does it matter?
According to Dictionary.com, a “legacy” is: noun, plural leg·a·cies.
1. A gift of property, especially personal property, such as money, by will; a bequest.
2. Anything handed down from the past, as from an ancestor or predecessor.
So when we talk about your legacy, your photos should absolutely be part of that. Think about the photos that have already been passed down in your family. Your photo estate is more than just a collection of images - it’s a visual narrative of your family’s story, your traditions, your milestones, and even your everyday moments.
And, it’s not just about the image itself, either, it’s about the context: the who, what, when, where, and why. Without those details, the meaning behind the photos gets lost over time. And just like other meaningful family heirlooms, our photos deserve to be preserved and passed along with care.
But here’s the truth: just like our kids don’t want to inherit a house full of “stuff,” they also don’t want to be handed tens of thousands of unorganized photos - digital or printed. It’s up to us to do the work now - to collect, preserve, and curate the images that matter most, and make sure those stories are saved alongside them.
Our kids don’t want to inherit a house full of “stuff”
So where do you start?
One essential step in preparing your photo estate is organizing your collection. Chances are, your photos are scattered across phones, old computers, dusty albums, cloud accounts, and shoeboxes in the basement or attic. It can feel overwhelming, but a simple system can make it all manageable.
Here are 5 Steps to Creating a Meaningful Photo Estate:
1. Sort
Use the 80/20 rule: Keep the most meaningful 20%, and let go of the rest.
A helpful method is the ABCs of Photo Organizing:
A photos are your absolute favorites - the ones you know you want to keep.
B photos are the “maybes” that need a second look.
C photos can likely be let go.
2. Backup
Use the 3-2-1 method: Keep 3 copies, on 2 different types of media, with 1 stored offsite (or in the cloud). Your photo estate should be protected just like any other important asset.
3. Document the Stories
Capture the details that bring your photos to life. Use a voice recording app or jot things down in a notebook or notes app. A name, a date, a memory. These little things make a big difference later.
4. Add Metadata
Think of this as the digital version of writing on the back of a printed photo. Use universal software tools to embed key information like names, locations, and events into the image file itself.
5. Create Something Tangible
This is the best part! After all the work, you get to showcase your memories - maybe in a leather-bound legacy album, or through a family photo website. The goal is to share it with those who matter most, in a format they’ll actually enjoy. Seeing it all come together makes every minute worth it.
Organizing your photo estate might feel like a huge task, but it doesn’t have to happen all at once. Break it into small goals, chip away at it, and remember, it took decades to collect these memories. It’s okay if it takes time to sort through them.
Just like setting up your financial estate might involve meetings with family members, advisors, or attorneys, building your photo estate may include talking with relatives, digging into family history, or learning some new tools. Give yourself grace.
It’s a gradual process, but a meaningful one. Because in the end, what you’re really preserving is not just images, it’s the heart of your family’s legacy.
Sign up for our mailing list for photo book tips, organizing tricks, and all sorts of other fun and useful content.