1. A computer implemented method for rating images to facilitate image retrieval, comprising: a) storing a plurality of digital image files in a digital memory; b) displaying some of the plurality of stored digital image files as thumbnail images on an image display device; c) permitting a user to sequentially select thumbnail images and to select a user rating from a plurality of user ratings for a corresponding one of the thumbnail images including at least three different integer value ratings, wherein the user rating indicates the importance of its corresponding image to the user; d) storing the user ratings in the corresponding digital image files; and e) using the user ratings to facilitate retrieval of at least some of the plurality of digital image files including ordering the display of the thumbnail images on the image display device according to the user rating.