Edit & Organize

What kind of photographer are you? Do you have a discernible 'style'? How about a favorite subject? Maybe you are the family documenter. Whatever your specialty is, you are accumulating lots and lots of it -- right? With digital photography being so easy to use we are snapping at everything, having no fear of "wasting" film anymore. Its more and more important to edit your images. There is a saying that we learn in school that is " A photographer is as good as his or her worst shot". Think about that... If you go through your photos after your vacation, and remove all of the duplicate photos and un-necessary images then you are left with the creme de la creme. Imagine how impressed your friends will be when you invite them all over to view your new vacation photos, in slide show format on your new flat screen monitor and they are only seeing the best of the best of your photos.
In doing this after each photo session you will begin to decipher your own style. Without having the excess images to wade through you will be more free to develop your photographer's eye. You will also keep your viewers from becoming bored!

A friend and I went on vacation together and both of us took photos of the experiences of our trip. When we got home we made doubles and exchanged the copies so that we could have a more complete version of our time. I noticed right away that our shooting styles were very different. My images were all traditionally composed, rule of thirds, bla bla bla. Her photos were easily identifiable because she liked to shoot on angles and her subject matter was often different. There were more photos of feet, as I recall. It was wonderful to see the same locations shot with such a different approach.
This also brings up a good point. I'm encouraging you to shoot out of your comfort zone. Its a nice surprise when you can see the same old thing in a new and exciting way.

HOMEWORK
Clean up! Get into your photo files and clear out all the extra and unnecessary photos. You'll have a whole month to do this. Who ever frees the most space on their computer will receive a gift. Plus your computer will love you.