You know how it goes…you’re on vacation and you see a beautiful sunset that you want to capture with your phone camera. You take a picture. Then another just in case. Then a third from the up-and-down position. Then one with family in it.

Now a funny family one! Just the kids next! And now the parents sharing a smooch while the sun sets!

Repeat this at every photo opportunity, landmark sighting, delicious-looking dinner and by the time you return from your vacation you have 1,800 photos from a weekend getaway. Overwhelmed by the sheer volume, you promise yourself you’ll get to them once you’ve unpacked and have the vacation laundry done.

The next thing you know it’s been five years and the photos remain on your phone, forgotten, and rarely looked at.

Travel photography experts agree that the first thing you should do upon returning from every vacation is index your best photos. Create a “Favorites” folder and selectively tag those that either hold a special memory for you or would be interesting to someone who hasn’t been to that destination.

I would add a third criteria…ones in which I look good - definitely save those.

Once you’ve whittled it down to a manageable number of pictures, here are some ideas on what to do with those favorites:

1. Photobook: Gone are the days of sending photos out to print and placing them in one of those photo albums with the sticky clear plastic page coverings. These days there are many services that will take your digital photos and walk you through an easy exercise to create beautiful photobooks without worrying about photos fading or falling out. There are so many great ones available -- ask your friends for recommendations or Google "photobooks" and try out a few until you find one that works well for you.
2. Blog post: If you have a blog, one of the best ways to share your vacation experience is in a detailed blog post telling stories and adding the photos to enhance the narrative. Share the link on your social media page and all of your connected family and friends can read and enjoy the photos without you breathing down their neck. You can create a free blog on WordPress or Google "create free blog" if you don’t already have one.
3. Make cards: The same sites that you can use to do your photo book also offer options to make postcards, greeting cards, thank-you cards. Any kind of card you’d like.
4. Turn them into wall art: If you have photos that are particularly beautiful or capture a very special memory, you might want to get them printed out as a piece of art. Size options range from very small to poster size, and you can print them with the intention of putting them in a frame, or getting them printed out on canvas, wood, or metal.
5. Actually, you can get them printed out on almost any kind of merchandise: puzzles, pillows, phone cases, tote bags, shower curtains, towels, clothing, dog toys, Christmas ornaments. If it’s a thing that exists, you can likely find a site that will print your photo on it.

Don't let your beautiful photos fade from your memory. Use one of these ideas to preserve and display them so you can get that vacation enjoyment, again and again, each time you see the pictures.

What are some cool or unusual things you’ve done with your vacation photos? Share in the comments below.

Finally, remember, to get great travel photos, you need to first go on vacation. Let a AAA Travel Advisor help you make that first step.