Digital Photo Overload … the overwhelming accumulation of too many digital images and videos across devices, leading to anxiety, disorganization, and difficulty in managing or enjoying them.
It’s estimated there are 1.81 trillion photos taken every year – that is an astounding number and it just keeps climbing!
And no wonder it’s that high. With a camera in our pockets, it’s easier than ever to take photos of everything. But what is the cost to this drive to photograph everything?
I recall a trip hubby and I took many years ago. We attended a live outdoor show and, in an effort to capture the essence and the excitement of the action, hubby was furiously taking photos attempting to grab just the right shots at the right moments.
Trouble is, he was missing out on the show. We ended up agreeing that his enjoyment of the show was far more important than trying to get all the pictures. So, he put down his camera and watched the rest of the performance.
Lesson learned. These days he takes far less photos than he used to. Sure, we now have less photos, but the upside is the hubster gets to enjoy more of life happening around him, and I have far less photos I need to manage (because you know it’s me that organizes them 😊). You can’t put a price tag on that.
How to prevent Digital Photo Overload. Here are a few tips to help reduce and prevent photo overload …
Stop photographing everything.
This is an easy one. Be selective about what you want to capture.
Cull as you go.
Delete blurry and near-duplicate photos shortly after taking them. If you wait to do it, it won’t get done.
Stop Hoarding.
Accept that not every photo needs to be saved. Adopt a “keep the best, delete the rest” approach.
Curate Regularly.
To get caught up on the backlog of photos, spend a few minutes weekly culling and organizing your photos. Doing a few at a time makes the task manageable.
Taking photos IS important, but don’t get so caught up in capturing the moment or moments, that you’re missing out on real life. Be selective about what you’re going to take photos of. Take them with intention.
Just for laughs. Here’s a fun take on photo overload from comedian Jim Gaffigan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyMgNZHtdk8
What is one moment of digital overload that affected your life?
