How to Store Photographs So They Last for Years

Do you have old photographs in your attic or basement that you’d like to save for future generations?

The first thing you need to do is get them out of either of those locations! AVOID attics (too hot) and basements (too damp).

Store them in a cool, DRY place. A first or second floor closet is best.

For the best way to store your photos (old or new), here’s a couple paragraphs from an article titled, How to Store Print Photographs So They Last for Generations from the New York Times:

Whether you prefer to stack photos in a box or arrange them in an album, it’s best to use a storage option that’s free of acid and lignin (an acidic compound that gives trees their rigidity). It’s also good to avoid dyes and recycled materials. That rules out shoe boxes. Instead, consider Archival Methods’ Short Top Boxes—they are stackable and made from boxboard, and they come in several sizes.

The same wisdom applies to photo albums. Avoid exposing your photographs to glue or other adhesives. Since you’re unlikely to find an album that has paper sleeves, you should look for one that has acid-free plastic sleeves, like the Pioneer Photo Albums 3-Ring Photo Album. The binder style has the advantage of being easier to reorganize as you add and remove pages.

Once you’ve chosen your acid-free boxes and albums, be sure to place them in plastic storage bins with lids to protect them from vermin, insects or flooding. I had a client who experienced a burst water pipe above the closet where she stored her photos. Unfortunately, all her albums were soaked and ruined. You can see the albums in the photo below. (They weren’t originally stored in the plastic container seen here. The client transferred everything from the soaked cardboard box to the plastic one to transport them to my studio.)

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Finally, if you have photographs that are faded or damaged in any way – please contact us for a free quote to restore them. You will be amazed at how we have saved hundreds of images with digital restoration. Click the blue button, below, to discover more!

For a no-cost, no-obligation appointment to examine your faded or damaged photographs and receive a free quote – contact us TODAY through this link.