Organizing your Photos with Albums

Let’s see a show of hands. How many of you have browsed through hundreds of pictures looking for a specific family picture that you wanted to show?

At that point, you say, I have to organize my pictures so that I can find the photos I’m seeking.

The primary way to organize photos in the Photos app is to create and place photos into albums.

This Nugget will show you the basics on how to create albums and add photos to your albums.

Access Albums

Launch the Photos app and tap the Albums icon at the bottom of the screen.

Album Collection in the Photos app

Here is a review of what you will find under Albums.  

 

Default Albums

The Photos app has a number of preset default albums that are already set up for you.

that you can see by tapping the Albums icon at the bottom of the Photos app screen.

The default albums include:

  • All Photos or Camera Roll (if iCloud Photo Library is not activated)
  • Favorites
  • People & Places
  • Media Types – Individual albums for different types of photos like video, selfies, Slo-mo and more.
  • Other Albums
    • Hidden
    • Recently Deleted  (Allows you to retrieve photos that you accidentally deleted)

My Albums

You can create additional albums to organize the photos in your life. You might have albums dedicated to vacations or family events. You might create albums to share a special set of photos you have taken.

Album Storage

When you take a photo with the Camera app will create one photo stored on your iPhone in the All Photos album. If you have not implemented iCloud photo sharing, the primary album is called Camera Roll.

When you add that photo to another album, the Photos app does NOT create another copy of the image. Nor does it remove that photo from the All Photos album.

The Albums  in My Albums are virtual lists of photos that use no additional space no matter how many albums a photo is placed in. Photos can be linked to multiple albums.

Step-by-Step

Create a new album

Launch the Photos app.

Tap on the Albums icon.

Tap add icon to create/add a new Album

Enter an album name.

Tap Save to create the album.

After tapping Save, you are given an opportunity to Select pictures for the new Album. The process will take you your collections of photos where you can select photos by location or date. Tap the photos you wish to add to the new album and tap Done

Adding Photos to an Album

There are two primary methods for adding photos to an album:

  1. Individual photos – one at a time.
  2. Batch select – select a group of photos

Individual Photos

Launch the Photos app and display any photo.

Tap the Share icon. 

Scroll right on the bottom row of Share icons.

Tap Add to Album.

Scroll to find the desired Album and tap. Notice the cute animation that depicts the photo moving to the folder.

Batch Select & Add to Album

Launch the Photos app.

View photo thumbnails in any Album or Collection.

Tap Select

Tap individual thumbnails to place a check mark by the photo.

Continue to tap thumbnails to add checkmarks.

Tap on Add to.

Browse the Albums and tap the Album you wish to include the photos you have checked. Notice your screen shows the number of photos that will be added to the album for confirmation.

Additional Information

The Senior Tech Club recommends the following additional resources for members that wish to pursue additional and/or advanced information on this recipe:

iPhone User Guide – Photos App

iPhone User Guide – Camera App

Senior Tech Club Recipes and Nuggets on the Camera and Photos apps:

NumberTitle
The Basics of iPhone Photography - Let's Point and Shoot
450The Basics of iPhone Photography – Let’s Point and Shoot
Beyond Point and Shoot with iPhone Photography
451Beyond Point and Shoot with iPhone Photography
Read QR Codes with your iPhone
N1Read QR Codes with your iPhone
Swipe left on the lock screen to launch the camera app
N21Quickly Launch the Camera App to Capture the Kodak Moment
Get More Photo Information
N25Get More Photo Information
Camera Grid Helps with Rule of Thirds Composition
N24Camera Grid Helps with Rule of Thirds Composition
Tap the Heart to Favorite or un-Favorite Photos for your Brag Book
N28Create a Brag Book with Photo Favorites
Organizing your Photos with Albums
452Organizing your Photos with Albums
Double Tap on the map to get more details
N26Tips and Tools for Finding Photos
Show your Photos with a Slideshow
N29Show your Photos with a Slideshow
Add Text or Drawing to a Photo
N27Add Text or Drawing to a Photo
Turn off Live Photos
N30Turn off Live Photos
Crop & Edit Photos with the Photos App
453Crop & Edit Photos with the Photos App
Share Photos with iCloud Photo Sharing
454Share Photos with iCloud Photo Sharing
Seven Ways to Release the Camera Shutter
N22Seven Ways to Release the Camera Shutter
A Tour of the Camera App
N23A Tour of the Camera App
Checkmarks and Add To to batch add photos to albums
N38Organizing your Photos with Albums
How to Scan a QR Code in a Photo using Google Lens
N39How to Scan a QR Code in a Photo using Google Lens
How to Trim an iPhone or iPad Video
N57How to Trim an iPhone or iPad Video
How to Set Up and Use the iCloud Photo Library
N53How to Set Up and Use the iCloud Photo Library
How to View and Manage Burst Photos
N58How to View and Manage Burst Photos
LIVE! #14 - Taking Better iPhone Photos  - Part 1  Camera Basics
LIVE! #14 – Taking Better iPhone Photos – Part 1 Camera Basics
LIVE! #15 - Taking Better iPhone Photos  - Part 2 Beyond Point & Click
LIVE! #15 – Taking Better iPhone Photos – Part 2 Beyond Point & Click
LIVE! #16 - Taking Better iPhone Photos  - Part 3 Get Creative with Advanced Modes
LIVE! #16 – Taking Better iPhone Photos – Part 3 Get Creative with Advanced Modes
How to Delete Photos on your iPhone or iPad
N69How to Delete Photos on your iPhone or iPad
How to Order Photo Prints using the Walgreens app
N70How to Order Photo Prints using the Walgreens app
Reduce Sleep Inhibiting Blue Light with Night Shift
N71Reduce Sleep Inhibiting Blue Light with Night Shift
How to Take a Screenshot on your iPhone
N72How to Take a Screenshot on your iPhone
Tap the Heart to Favorite or un-Favorite Photos for your Brag Book
N28Create a Brag Book with Photo Favorites
A Tour of the Camera App - Older iPhones
N23A Tour of the Camera App – Older iPhones
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