One of the biggest challenges we face when going to a crop is what to take. Often times, out of pure frustration we try to take everything. When we arrive at the crop and start unloading things the realization that we have too much and we didn’t bring the one thing we really needed results in that dazed “deer in the headlights” look and a firm resolution “I need coffee, I think I’ll go to Starbucks before I get started.”

While coffee may help to clear your head, your crop case will still be in a daze when you return. If you want to maximize your productivity and minimize the amount of time it takes you to get going you’ve got to start the organization process before you even send your photos off to be developed. For complete details on photo organization, click here.

To get to the crop and be efficient you need to Stage Your Pages.

1. Set a goal for how many pages you want to accomplish at the crop or event.

2. Choose your photos. Select the photos you will actually be using on each layout. Leave the rest behind, Store them away, Give them away, or Throw them away, but don’t leave them to clutter up your workspace.

3. Separate the photos into individual page layouts or double page spreads. Put these “layout groups into a 12x12 Storage pocket.

4. Gather the memorabilia you will use for that particular page. Add it to the storage pocket.

5. Choose background and matting papers. Add those to your storage pocket.

6. Choose Embellishments and add them to the pockets. If you’ve got your supplies organized into the 4 Section System this is an easy task to accomplish.

7. Complete your Journaling Notes and include them in the pocket page as well.

8. Put all the of the 12x12 pocket pages into your TravelPack Plus or other crop tote.

9. Pack up the basic tools, inks, and markers you will need to complete these pages. Don’t forget a pad of “Post-It” notes. If there are things you want to add to the pages when you get home, you can make a note on a “Post It” and stick it to the page.

10. When you arrive at the crop, you will have just one tote, well organized and ready to go.

11. As you complete the pages at the crop, use the 12x12 storage pages to store your completed work until you get home and put it in the album.