Organize, Relive, and Share Home Movies and Videos

New Year’s has always been a time for reflecting upon the past, and more importantly, resolving to follow through with changes we need to make in the coming year. Is getting organized one of your resolutions this year? If you answered “Yes!”, here are some ideas for organizing and sharing your photos, movie film and video memories. Organization doesn’t have to be scary.

Take baby steps.
Focus on recent memories. The holidays are fresh on your mind; start with organizing and sharing these memories first.

You've snapped digital photos and filmed video of cookie decorating, ice skating, singing carols, and present opening. Now what do you do with them all? We recommend choosing your favorite photos and videos and creating a SmileShow YesDVD. Present your family and friends with one final unique memento.

Time is the enemy.
Keep the momentum going and use the same organization process to tackle that box of aging home movies. Motivate yourself with a project goal and reward.


Goal: Set a realistic date to transfer your old media to DVD (give yourself a few months) and mark the date
on a calendar — making it “real” goal.

Reward: Plan a family movie night and relive those memories after the project is complete.


Wouldn’t it be nice to watch and relive birthday celebrations, your child’s first steps and other special moments captured on movie film, slides and videotapes? These memories have been packed away in boxes, you haven’t seen them in years and storage has taken a toll on these old film reels and videotapes. Heat, humidity, improper storage and time cause deterioration. By converting those old film reels, slides and VHS tapes to a digital format, you can effectively stop deterioration in its tracks. The digital format also allows you to use your computer to edit out the boring and blooper moments, add music, and make extra copies for your family and friends.

Protecting your memories.
Now that you have organized and transferred your old media to DVD, you should consider how you are going to store and protect these DVDs.

We recommend protecting your transferred media on MemorySafe, but there are other options.
Fireproof Safe - You can buy or burn a second copy every time you have something new to save.
PC Backup Service - You can pay for a backup service, upload and manage the large files yourself.
Expensive Equipment - You can buy a $200 external hard drive, backup your media and hope nothing tragic happens to your home.
No Backup - You can do nothing and not worry about backing up your media.

Priceless memories.
Now that you have successfully organized your memories, don’t wait for New Year’s 2011 to reflect upon the past; relive, enjoy and share your memories throughout the year. You might want to consider giving these priceless memories as gifts for Mother’s Day, Grandparent’s Day, Anniversaries and other sentimental occasions.