Thursday, August 28, 2008

It's just too much

My pictures are taking over my house. I took this photograph to send to my sisters to ask them if it looked crappy. But then I decided to just throw it out there and ask you how you handle all your pictures.
I've been taking photographs for oh, probably 25 years or so. I never thought they were great, but some were good enough to frame and showcase in our home. So I've collected way too many pictures and to tell the truth, many many old ones are in boxes. In frames. Most of the frames aren't great, but enough already!
My pictures have even invaded my bookcases. This is only one of the bookcases. The other is back in one of the guest rooms. I barely have room for the books. And now that I look at it like this, on this page, I think it looks terribly cluttered!
There are pictures on my mantle, and on top of the TV cabinet. They're everywhere. And now that I'm taking pictures of things other than my children, and landscapes, my macro shots are piling up on the walls. I mean, I don't have many of them printed, mainly because I have nowhere to put them!
Note: we're getting rid of the clock. For lack of anywhere else to put it in the living room, we stuck it up over the mantle for now. Same with the pictures there, and the candlesticks. I took them out of a box and stuck them there just to get rid of the boxes. And there they still are. And that picture I had done at mpix.com is still sitting where I last took a picture of it for this post. Oy!

So, tell me. What do you do with all of your photography?

29 comments:

Mary said...

I love your bookcase! Whenever I go to anyone's house, I always love to see what is on their bookcase -- books AND pictures. :)

I always have such grand plans to frame a series of photos in similar frames and hang them in the hallways of our house, but I never seem to get it done.

I DO tend to rotate pictures -- put some away for awhile and showcase some different ones...

I suppose I could put them in albums, but who has time to do that?

I think your bookcases look great, and your photos too!
xoxo,
Mary

Dottie K. said...

HI Kate, I really enjoy seeing your photos. I love it when Google Readers show up with your blog. Why don't you put them in a scrapbook. Keep out the absolute favorites and create a keepsake for the rest. Then you'll have them to look at in a special place instead of just tucked away. Or you could put them in several collage frames and try and condense them. Just a thought. Good Luck! :)

Anonymous said...

There are not enough walls in the world to have enough room for my pics! I think yours look great and homey. I usually just change them out of the frames and rotate and have some digital frames. It's hard!

tj said...

...Hello Kate! I dunno, I am the same as you when it comes to books and pictures. I think your bookcase looks great! It reflects you, your interests, your family - I like it...

...Myself, I have lots of photos of family and now and then I rotate some, change frames on some, move them around the house and such... I couldn't have all of them out at one time, there just isn't the room so they get rotated. :o)

...I'm sure your home is just like you - charming and inviting...

...Blessings... :o)

Leslie: said...

I have pictures on/in my bookcase, too, and I could send you a shot of it. When I go on a trip, I pick out the ones I want developed and put together a photo album. I always think "Oh what if my computer crashes, I'll lose all my photos!" Also, I develop good ones of my grandchildren and each has his/her own baby book. Soon, I'll just put them in a "Grandchildren Album." I've been thinking of making calendars out of some of my photos for family Xmas gifts, but like you, what do I do with them all? Big question mark here!

Jo said...

I think your bookcase looks wonderful and eclectic. I love to see people's art work and photographs lined up against the walls on the floor, and on bookcases, and desks and pianos and all sorts of places.

Your room looks absolutely lovely. You have exquisite taste. I love to see a room done in good taste. It makes me want to curl up and visit. I can see the sun streaming through the window too.

Russell said...

I don't have any advice about what to do with photographs - photo albums are nice but often not looked at; saving on the computer is convenient but, well, who looks at them much there?, and so on.

I LOVE seeing lots and lots and lots of photographs in a home! Going into a home that is nice and neat and tidy with few pictures on the wall is, well, cold.

Seeing pictures of people, pets, places all over a room or house makes me feel great! I love it!!

My advice??? More, more, more!! Fill the rooms with photographs! That is what walls and bookcases were made for!! AND you can actually see your work when you display it in your home - and what better to look at than a beautiful image of this or that -- something that means something to us?!

You are JUST RIGHT doing what you are doing the way you are doing it right now!!!

Take care.

Country Girl said...

And here, I really thought it looked like crap. I am feeling so much better now.

And I especially love the decorating advice from Russell! MORE, MORE, MORE! I would have things hanging in the closet.

Hmmm. Now that's an unexplored territory . . .

~ C.G.

Unknown said...

I have several digital photo frames that rotate the photos at different speeds. My daughter had a great idea and literally covered one whole wall (as wall paper) with photos is the same small frames and it looks great. Here is a site that sells some framing items for large amounts of photos:

www.nextag.com/photo-wall-display

I do love the bookcase look though and I would be proud (and am) to display as many photos as you want. It is the story that is uniquely you.

Laura ~Peach~ said...

i have 11 photo albums sitting in my living room floor (they have been for at least a month) My pictures are stored in boxes in closets the shed and I just bought a new back up drive that stores them too but my very most favorite of all time picture I ever took has been made into a painting and is 16x20 and hangs in my bedroom on the wall.
I love pictures but have slacked way dowwn on what i print thanks to digital and many many of my favorites make it onto my blog... so I say BLOG MORE :)
hugs Laura
ps I like your book shelf

Mental P Mama said...

You can't be too rich, too thin, or have too many picture frames. That has always been my motto. Looks great to me1

Debbie said...

Hey Girl,Love you site.Try taking books off of bookcase,Just your pics and other items.You might try a trunk to put books in,Mantle, move candlesticks to end of one side,remember odd number ,3 items 7,items,Maybe take print over bookcase, and lean on middle of mantle,after removing clock.Well that's all for now.Love all your pictures

Marchelle said...

i've only been serious about photography for a few months now, but i am starting quite the collection! i've switched out most of the kids pics, as they change the older they get.

i don't think your home looks cluttery - just lived in and happy!

Anonymous said...

I have a "gallery" - two of them actually - one in our main hallway and another in a side entryway. I have framed most of my favorite pix and circulate them through there, changing a few out every six months or so. I also have two places in my office where I display my photos. Those get swapped more often. I find that I have a deeper appreciation for a photo if it's coming back to light after a brief storage period.

Staci said...

I don't have any decorating "advice", but I have to tell you I just love that cat on top of the bookshelf!

Anonymous said...

I have plans to put my photos in photo albums. I go as far as buying the albums and that's where I am right now. I need to start putting them in the albums. :)

Deb said...

First off, I love the look of home which is completed by the look of photos. However, if it bugs you, go out to Michael's and get one collage frame. They come in many different sizes from 3 photos to 40photos. My daughter has 3 of them and they look just great. I have a few and used one for my MIL. She is in a nursing home and by giving her a collage, we managed to free up some of her critical space.
I know you don't scrapbook, ah, at least that is what I thought you said on my blog. It is a lot of work and time consuming, but it is great therapy!

Adventure girl said...

I change out some frames, rearrange
and Love cluttered mantles, bookcases, shelves, piano's and end tables filled filled with loved ones and prized photo's.

I always get fresh idea's from: pottery barn and target!

Shimmy Mom said...

#1 I think your bookcase looks great. Secondly my photographs aren't good enough to frame(I frame yours), so mine are all on my computer.
I say embrace the "clutter" and be proud to showcase your beautiful work!
*hugs*

Joni Dixon-Stanger said...

Your bookcase looks fabulous. I love framed pictures. I can't have enough of my boys, their wives, or my grandkids. I always like to look at other peoples pictures that they have around their houses.

Coloradolady said...

Oh, I just love framed pictures. To me, you can never have enough.

But if you are feeling like you have too many. What about making a tabletop book and have all your pictures there. I know that there are sites on the web for that.

But I think I'd just keep them out, that way you can enjoy them

Debra (a/k/a Doris, Mimi) said...

Nothing says "home" like an eclectic array of photographs scattered around the house. If I had your photographic skills, I'd throw caution to the wind and display as many as I could. The more the merrier! Like many other commenters, I also like electronic photo frames that cycle a variety of photos in one convenient place. I like to see framed photos around the house as I walk from room to room. They mean something to me and I like the memories and feelings they invoke. It doesn't matter what someone else likes or doesn't like. It's your home, Kate. If you like it, keep it. In my opinion, your display of photos is lovely! However, George and I both agree you need to display more photos of him ;)

Rosezilla (Tracie Walker) said...

I think lots of photos look nice and people like looking at them. I wonder if you'd enjoy a digital frame, that's one way to show a lot. Everyone's ideas are good, changing them out for instance. And now there are some really unique frames that put things in different configurations. Do you have A.C.Moore? they have a really nice selection and they are always having sales.

Annie said...

Love that bookcase Kate...it looks like some of mine except much tidier and more artistic!

I also have heaps of photos printed in albums, as well as well, far too many to mention on the 'puter (as my grandaughter would call it)..my daughter had to burn 3 dvd's worth of photos for me to bring home from my 2 months in NY. Now she says I need to buy an external hard drive and a dvd burner to be able to read them and print them! mmm..but it is FUN.

Be yourself and do what is pleasing to you! Like so many others I would love to have a wall of photos, but not achieved this one yet! One day!

Annie

Egghead said...

I have some friends who have filled one entire wall from top to bottom with framed photos but only black and white. It is amazing looking and I can never get enough of looking at all the pictures.

Anonymous said...

we have WAY too many photos. I have some boxed up. Yes, in frames. Sigh. My husband even put up a ton of them all over the living room walls...which we're getting ready to paint and totally redo that room. I think he just wanted to see the kids' pics and other photos for a bit. They'll all come down. (well, most of them) when we rehab the room.

Anonymous said...

My problem is that most of my walls are floor to ceiling bookcases..The only rooms without them are bath and kitchen..books overflow everything with a flat surface so there's little room for my photos. I try to swap out the small space I have for photos on a regular basis. I make lots of digital albums on discs for family so they can see them thru their DVD players. Afraid I'm not much help..

Train Wreck said...

Well I'd be willing to take a few off your hands? Hey don't mention it! That's what friends are for!!
LOL!!
I lost you for awhile! I will have to add you to my favs. I am into this blogging thing a few months now so I know how to add people to my page now!! Missed your pictures! Gorgeous as usual!

Hilary said...

Ummm errrr well I haven't actually exactly printed any of mine in well over a year. I love the way yours are arranged on your bookshelf. It doesn't look cluttered.. it looks cozy.