What do you do when you love collecting things, but don't have the space? Collections of items can take up lots of room, both physically and mentally, or they can just mean more dusting on cleaning day! If you're downsizing, here's a great idea for turning a big collection into a single, memorable keepsake.

Whether you're decluttering, selling a collection, or simply packing it away for a while, photographing your collection can be a fantastic way of preserving a fun memory. There are many different approaches that you can take — an overall shot of a beautifully displayed collection as well as individual photos of each piece can be a great way to document a special collection.

For sentimental collections, creating a photo book of your images is a fantastic option. With well-shot photos and a little bit of binding, your collection is set in a format that can be enjoyed over and over again.

Etsy has a great guide to photography for its sellers. The same advice for creating interesting and beautiful photographs for items that are for sale can be applied to your personal belongings! What better way to honor an inherited spoon collection or, say, too many vintage cameras for your own good, like mine above!

Letting go of collections can be hard. But that doesn't mean they have to be forgotten.

First image: Cameras photo by Susannah Tucker / The Etsy Blog (Also, check out the many beautiful pics for sale at Susannah's Etsy shop, Second Image: Jessica Tata