Photo memories from the pre-digital era are precious treasures that are often irreplaceable, so in this article by our guest contributor Wendy Dessler, we’re sharing 8 great steps to preserving your collection of photo prints! Enjoy!
Sort Your Photo Prints!
Sorting through images and protecting them from the ravages of time is a worthy task, but there’s a lot to consider, so if you’re ready to take on this project, follow these eight steps to get started organizing and preserving your family photo prints.
1. Create a Working Space
First, create a working space for sorting and organizing your images. This area should be kept clear of food and drinks. You’ll also want supplies to label and sort your photos, such as archival-quality pens, photo boxes, and dividers.
Choose a cool and dry space without direct exposure to the sun. It’s best if it’s out of the way in case you need to leave the project and come back to resume later on.
2. Remove Photos from Old Magnetic Albums
If you have an abundance of old photo albums, it’s time to pull them out. While you may consider these prints sufficiently organized, they’re at risk of degradation. Many older peel-and-stick (a.k.a. “magnetic” style) albums aren’t suitable for long-term photo storage, and leaving your pictures in these could cause them to get discolored or break down over time.
Take images out of these albums and add them to your pile. Be cautious while doing this to avoid ripping the photos. You can use unwaxed dental floss and craft spatulas to gently work the back of the picture away from the adhesive. To remove sticky stuff that’s still on the photos, try Goo Gone.
3. Eliminate Unneeded Copies (i.e. Duplicates)
The thought of throwing out photos may feel scary or wrong, but it’s not uncommon to have too many copies of the same photo, and you don’t need to inflate your photo collection more than necessary. If you feel strongly about not wanting to toss out photos, check if someone else in the family might want copies.
Similarly, you likely have duplicates photos from the pre-digital era and more than a few over-exposed, under-exposed, or blurry images. Pick up a photo and follow your instinct about it. Don’t overthink it; just decide if you’re keeping it or not. If you have many similar photos, choose the right one. There is one exception to this rule: if you have a poor-quality photo of a special memory or a loved one who has passed away, keep it if it has sentimental value.
4. Choose a Filing System
Next, determine how you’re going to organize your family prints. There are several ways to categorize or sort your images for storage:
- By family or people – sort the photos based on the people displayed in each one.
- By event or occasion – group images by vacation, wedding, back-to-school, or whatever the reason behind the image.
- Chronologically – sort and organize your photos by time, grouping years together and subdividing by months or seasons.
Chronological sorting is by far the easiest, but there’s no right or wrong way to organize your photos. Choose the system that works best for you.
5. Store Photo Prints in a Friendly Environment
Store your prints in a photo-friendly environment. It’s important to choose good quality archival storage boxes so that your prints aren’t damaged long-term. Native Archival, Archival Methods, and Gaylord Archival all have quality boxes to choose from, but try to stay away from plastic storage bins because they lock in moisture (condensation) over time and don’t let the photos breathe. The boxes should be stored at room temperature somewhere where they are not in any danger of water damage.
Working on your printed photo collection is the perfect winter project!
6. Create Digital Copies (i.e. Scan the Best Ones)
The best way to keep your photo prints safe is to digitize them, so that you can have a backup and work with them in more ways. This process allows you to store your original prints safely and then share the digital ones instead. With digital copies, you can edit and restore your photos in multiple ways, and create more projects with them.
Be meticulous in sorting and organizing your digital copies as well, and if you need help, be sure to join us in DPO PRO: The Ultimate Photo Organizing Masterclass.
7. Display Winning Photos
As you go through the images, set aside or note the winning photos. These are the pictures you’d print on canvas or make custom-sized posters to display on your walls. Flag these for future use in gifts, home decor projects, etc.
If you find photos you want to display, make copies rather than displaying the originals. Framed photos are vulnerable to moisture and humidity, which can cause them to stick to the glass and tear. They also fade and crumble after prolonged exposure to sunlight through the windows.
8. Create and Share an Online Archive
Once you’ve completed your printed photo preservation project, consider creating and sharing an online archive, so that family members and friends can also enjoy your memories. This lets you access your photos from anywhere, and preserve them for future generations in a way that’s more user-friendly than a private archive – just be sure to use a photo service that is favorable in terms of privacy and digital rights.
Get Started Today!
Organizing your photo prints can be a really fun bonding experience for the whole family, and it’s the perfect project to work on during long, cold winters! Preserving and organizing your photo prints will ensure they last for generations, and benefit not only you, but those that come after you! Get started today, and let us know if you need help!
Featured Photo Courtesy of George Milton
