I use a combination of methods. First, I'm trying to get all my photos in one electronic spot on my hard drive(s) that I manage with software. I back up these photos onto a second - and sometimes third - drive, and store selected ones on CD/DVD. This usually requires scanning the phots individually, which is often done during football games. The good part is it allows me to clean up the photo as I work.

The originals are put into acid-free slide-in style albums and put up on a shelf for safekeeping. Some were in the old glue style albums, but I've liberated all of those. Most were fading dramatically and would have been lost in a couple more years. Some were irretrievably stuck, so I scanned the page and did as much correcting as possible.

I have some photos waiting for processing in an acid free box, but it lacks organization.

Current events taken digitally are online in a private photo gallery. These are shared with participants in the event by sending them a link to said gallery. In general, I don't share photos online publicly unless 1) it was a public gathering, like a fair of some sort or 2) the people in it are dead (I'm a genealogist).

My usual practice is to share good photos as much as I can and is appropriate. I'm keenly aware how vulnerable those photo albums are to damage, and am more relaxed knowing the 1890 photo of my great grandfather is in the possession of several other people who prize it as much as I do.

Instead of leaving albums on the coffee table, I try to make a photo book of special events and send the book to people as gifts. These seem to be more appreciated then going through a book of random photos on the coffee table. Unless the photos are 80s photos of kids' parents...that's always good for a giggle!

Good luck! I look forward to the responses for additional ideas.

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