Home Organizing Business Led By Del Ray Photographer Emerges During Pandemic

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Del Ray resident Amy Smucker used to do home organizing just for fun to help out family and friends. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a friend wanted some help with reorganizing and offered to pay.

"I always just did it because I enjoyed it and got to talk to people," Smucker told Patch.

But after nearly 20 years working primarily as a photographer, Smucker hung up her camera to start a home organizing business. She is in the process of fully transitioning from photography work to her business, Amy Smucker Home Organization.

Now, Smucker serves residents of various ages, from families with children to elderly residents and neurodivergent people. She will help with projects small and large, such as tidying up a home for a party or recurring home organizing. Her clients are mostly based in Alexandria and the DC region, but she has gone as far as Ashland, Virginia to help a client.

"I like the personal aspect of organizing. I really get a lot of enjoyment out of working with people," said Smucker.

Smucker has been a longtime member of the Del Ray Business Association as a photographer and continues to be with her home organizing business. She enjoys working in Del Ray, a place where her kids grow up and where neighbors support each other.

"It's just an unbelievable place to work and live," said Smucker. "I want to work with my friends, work with my neighbors, work with the shop owners."

Sometimes her work means helping clients decide what items to get rid of, as some are reluctant to give up items that have sentimental value. She says there is no one system of organizing that works for everyone, even the method made popular by Marie Kondo.

Instead, Smucker asks clients what their goals are and finds a system that works for each client.

As a resident of one of Del Ray's row houses, Smucker understands how to organize with the limitations of smaller homes. She offers one-time, intermittent and ongoing organizing services and has even helped a store with organizing.

"Any space whether it's small or large can be organized," said Smucker.

One point Smucker wants clients to know is that they shouldn't be embarrassed about clutter. She understands that "life happens," which means people may not get to put things away the way they'd like.

"I think some people feel really bad about their mess, and I want to help them out of that," she said. "It's just clutter."

For more information about Smucker and her home organizing services, visit www.amysmucker.com.