Top 4 Ways to Label Your Photo Boxes

Stay organized by labeling your Persnickety Box keepsake box.

If you’re like me, your phone is bursting at the seams with photos, and even if you’ve done the smart thing and printed them (hello, real memories you can actually hold!), the next hurdle is organizing them. That’s where my Persnickety Box Keepsake Boxes come in. They’re cute and sturdy but I quickly realized something: if I don’t label the boxes, I’m right back to rummaging through piles trying to find Christmas 2017 or my kids’ first dance recital.

Labeling photo boxes might not sound glamorous, but trust me it makes reliving your favorite memories SO much easier. Plus, it gives your shelves or cabinets that satisfying “organized mom” look. Here are my top four favorite ways to label photo boxes. They are simple, affordable, and even fun to do!

START LABELING:

1. Sticker Letters

There’s just something fun about alphabet stickers. They come in every style imaginable, bold block letters, pretty cursive fonts, even sparkly ones for the kids’ boxes! Sticker letters are bold and easy to spot at a glance. They also make my shelves look intentionally decorated, which tricks visitors into thinking I’m way more organized than I really am. I also love it because then I am not as self conscious about showcasing my bad handwriting every time I get out a box.

I recently purchased these sticker letters from Elle’s Studio and love the look!

2. Embossed Sticker Labels

Raise your hand if you had a label maker in the ‘90s and loved it. 🙋‍♀️ The satisfying click-and-print of an embossed label brings back all the nostalgia, and now I use them on my photo boxes.

These little labels are sturdy, legible, and give my keepsake boxes a clean, polished look. The raised letters are easy to read when I’m scanning across the shelf, and the uniform look makes my whole photo storage system feel neat and intentional. Honestly, embossed labels are a game-changer if you want organization and aesthetics.

I love this label maker from Amazon, it comes with cute colors!

3. Month Stickers

Sometimes I don’t want to overcomplicate things, I just want to know when the photos were taken. That’s where month stickers come in. I’ll line up a row of keepsake boxes and label them:

• Jan, Feb, Mar… all the way through the year.

This system works especially well for moms who (like me) take way too many photos on their kids’ birthdays, holidays, or random Tuesday night ice cream runs. An entire month, all in one box!

I found these cute month stickers from Elle’s Studio! Find them here!

4. Hand Written Labels

Sometimes the simplest way is still the best. I love grabbing a permanent pen or marker and just writing directly on it. My handwriting isn’t perfect, but there’s something sweet about seeing your own penmanship labeling the memories you’re saving. Handwritten labels feel more personal, a snippet of my life through my penmanship at that time in my life.

And honestly? My kids think my messy handwriting is “cool” because it looks “vintage.” I’ll take that compliment any day.

Why Labeling Matters

Sure, you could toss all your printed photos into one big box, but labeling saves time, prevents frustration, and makes your memories more accessible. That’s why I LOVE the Persnickety Box system where each box is specifically designed for you to fill in little details to remember more about the photos inside. When I want to show my kids baby pictures, or when my mom asks for “that photo from our Yellowstone trip,” I don’t have to dig through ten boxes, it’s right there, labeled and ready to flip through.

Plus, having organized, labeled photo boxes turns family night into something special. We’ll pull down a box, sit on the couch together, and flip through prints. It always sparks stories, laughter, and sometimes even tears. Those moments are priceless and worth a little extra effort in the organizing department.

Labeling your Persnickety Box Keepsake Boxes doesn’t have to be complicated. Whether you love the clean look of embossed labels, the fun of sticker letters, the practicality of month stickers, or the heartfelt simplicity of handwriting, the important thing is creating a system that works for you.

At the end of the day, we don’t print our photos just to hide them, we print them to relive them. And when your photo boxes are neatly labeled and easy to find, you’ll actually enjoy pulling them out and flipping through the memories inside.

So grab your labels, put on your favorite playlist, and start organizing. Future you, and your family, will thank you.

print real photographs

Not already a Persnickety Box member? Sign up today and swipe your pics to receive real photographic prints.

Swipe 30 of your favorite photos in the app and receive quality 4x4” prints in an eco-friendly keepsake story box each month for $19.99. Need to skip a month? No problem, boxes stay open until you’ve filled them. No contracts. Cancel anytime. Start now! Swipe your story!