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So Great Aunt Mabel has finally decided that you're the one.  You're the one she wants to safeguard the family heirlooms in the form of a HUGE assortment of old family photographs into which she has poured every fiber of her being to keep for that special relation to carry the torch.  And it's you.  Gulp.

Before you panic, step back from the problem. You're not alone. It's a common challenge.
 
Before you do anything, think of that box as arriving in a genealogical emergency room and you're the doctor that has to triage the items.
 
Your First Three Tasks
 
Like a triage you can handle the most important three steps first before you even really dive into that pile of pictures. 
 
  1. Interview Mabel;
  2. Scan those pictures; and
  3. File them away for safe-keeping.
As you begin the process, take a deep breath and realize that a family photo collection is indeed a responsibility. When we agree and even embrace the role of family historian we investigate the lives of our ancestors and those pictures are key pieces of evidence of their existence. Throw them out? NEVER. Find them another home, perhaps.

Take the pledge. Care for the collection or find another descendant to be caretaker.  Either way, you're saving the past for the next generation.

If you need to talk through organizing strategies or preservation solutions, ask for a special 30 minute consult at the introductory price of $60.00.  Email me at photodetective@maureentaylor.com for more details.

My books Preserving Family Photographs and Photo Organizing Practices
are the perfect set for anyone faced with boxes of pictures.  Get the set for $35.00 now and save $9.00.undefined

 Victorian Hats: A Coloring Book!
Have you been bit by the adult coloring book bug?  It seems like everyone I meet these days is visiting the good old days of their youth with coloring books and fancy pencils for stress reduction.  If so, read on!  

Suppose there was a way to help people "see" their really old family photographs in color.  Our great great grandparent's loved colors--bright reds, brilliant greens, rich blues and a whole range of purples.  They were brilliant mix of colors from head to toe. You just don't know it to look at those drab pictures.





Buy the book alone:  $10.00 + shipping   undefined


 

Bundle it with Coloring the Past: The 1860s    $20 + shipping undefined


You can use these coloring books for an afternoon of fun with kids too! They'll love picking colors for the gorgeous clothes. 

The introduction of each book tells you exactly when our ancestors wore these outfits and accessories. They make a handy clothing dating guide too. 

Each book provides color guidelines using Prismacolor sets or those offered by Blick's. There are specific pencil numbers and colors listed in the introduction.  You can order pencils from Blick's or from Michael's .

 
Consult Options: New Ways to Chat Face to Face 
These new options for consults are so much fun!  More folks have been signing up for the Skype and Facetime.   It's like I'm in your house and you're in my office.  It's a personal visit without leaving home.  They even come with a recording!  And I still offer the phone based conference calls if you'd like to leave your hair curlers in while we talk!  

I know I mention it a lot : I love meeting with you and seeing your photos, but an in-person visit isn't always possible and I can only be at so many events in other locations (technology still hasn't fixed that issue).  One of the benefits of signing up for a consult from my office to your home is that I have my entire library of resources to refer to in preparation for our conversation.

So below is a complete list of several ways for us to connect the chat about your pictures.  Start by signing up for a time slot then pick one of these options.
  • Phone: We both call my conference line and you receive a recording of our conversation. You can pick a time slot on my website.
  • Skype: If you have access to Skype we can meet in a virtual face to face and if you haven't had time to scan your images and send them to me, you can hold them up to your webcam.  This really works.  When all the flights from my home city to a lecture got cancelled, I was still able to see photos that attendees brought with them.
  • FaceTime: Do you have an iPad or iPhone? We can talk face to face using this technology as well. I had a great time chatting with a woman in Australia last year.  The time difference was tough, but it was great to say hello to a person in another part of the world.

What do people have to say about the value of a photo consultation?  Here's one of my clients who wrote to me after I helped her with her family mystery.

 "The details that you were able to give me just by looking at a photo of someone you had never met was truly amazing.  I did not feel rushed and I really felt like all my questions were answered. I would recommend your service to anyone that has an old picture that they have questions about." --
Denise Nielsen

Thanks for the thumb's up review, Denise!   Sign up for consult today!  Three photos, fifteen minutes and a chance to unlock some of your family's mysteries.  $50.00 with a recording.

 
   Upcoming Events 
 
A list of my upcoming events appears on my Events page  at my website.  I have new lectures and webinar topics, please fill out a seminar request to secure your spot for next year.

  
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