Hello -
Alphy - I did a big picture project about five years ago. First I divided them into large groups - my childhood, my husband's childhood, pictures from my first marriage prior to children, pictures after children, pictures since my second marriage, then for each of us, pictures of our ancestors, pictures of various relatives and friends. The boxes we get at work that hold 500 business size envelopes work great for this process.
Then I decided where I wanted to go with them. I created several albums: Our Roots, (which is pictures of our ancestors, both mine and my husband's childhood, our wedding picture, etc.) Other Folks and Other Folks' kids (this is where I have photos of cousins, friends, etc.) My Husband's Kids (this one contains photos of his kids and even pictures of his first wife) one for The Grandchildren, one is my DD, and one is my DS.
Next step was to put the pictures in chronological order. Big brown clasp envelopes are great for this - within each album category do one for the 40's, 50's, 60's, 70's or do individual years, whatever works for you. Decide which pictures you want to display in albums. You don't have to put them all in! If it's an ugly, poorly composed or focused picture pitch it! If you can't bear to part with the picture at least you have them organized in envelopes.
One thing I did was we had all these neat old studio pictures that were in these cardboard folders with the studio name on - instead of removing these pictures from the folder in order to display them in an album I took them to a Kinkos and had the pictures color copied as they appeared in the folder, and then displayed the copy in the album. I even took an oval framed picture of my DH and I on our wedding day and had them copy it right in the frame. That way that picture can be in our album as well as on our headboard.
I used the albums that have the acetate lift off "magnetic" pages. That way you can put any size picture or pictures on the pages. You can also put in things like graduation announcements next to the picture of the graduate. In the album of my DH's kids I have his DD's wedding invitation, a napkin, etc. along with the photos.
I also did albums of the regular 4 x 6 snapshots in chronological order. These I put in those tall narrow albums with sleeves made to fit that size picture. I have about 12 of those all numbered so I know what order they should be in!
Alphy, this project took me about 2 solid months. It helps to have a place where you can lay things out and have it not disturbed between work sessions. One other thing I did is create captions using Word - I used a certain color and font for each album. Of course, save your work so you can create more later when the album expands! It was tedious to cut them all out and position them, but it looks so much better than writing them by hand.
Sorry to be so long winded, but as you can see, this was a project I really got my teeth into! I still have boxes of pictures in storage, but they are all extra pictures and originals like the ones in the folders. The boxes are labeled as to what they are, so they are still organized. I wish I could drop in and help you, but maybe some of these tips will help. Good luck!
On the big news front here, our bathroom countertop was installed today. Now we will need another visit from the plumber to hook up the sinks and faucets. The living room carpet will be installed Monday. We have lots of work to do before that, we have to empty and room and paint!