What’s the best way to store photos?
Physical photos including prints, slides, negatives, and albums are precious and personal. We love scanning and preserving memories digitally, but there’s something special about tangible photography you can hold and touch. But what’s the best way to store photos?
When you store physical photos, the three greatest risks are light, heat, and humidity. These factors can cause fading, discoloring, and mold. To keep your physical photos as safe as possible for as long as possible, we recommend choosing archival storage with these attributes:
Acid-Free
Choose paper and cardboard where acidic substances have been removed and buffering agents have been added to achieve a pH of 7 or slightly higher.
Lignin-Free
Naturally-occurring acidic substance in wood pulp should be removed to minimize deterioration including yellowing, brittleness, and cracking.
Good Plastics
To minimize the threat of water damage, including floods, leaks, and humidity, you should store your physical photo archive in plastic sleeves and containers made of polyester, polypropylene, or polyethylene. Do not store your family photos in containers made of PVC (polyvinyl chloride).
Unfortunately, many photo storage products are labeled “archival” just like many foods are labeled “all natural.” In other words, most of the marketing of these doesn’t mean anything. If you purchase archival storage materials at low prices or from big box craft stores, they probably aren’t truly photo safe. The materials you use for long-term storage of your physical photos matter, so make sure you use materials with these attributes to be confident your photos are stored properly.
Interested in working with Chaos to Memories?
If you’re near Chicago and ready to get started, come visit our Wheaton Studio Monday – Friday, 10-5. Please bring your memories with you.
If you live outside the Chicagoland area, we’re happy to send you a Project Form and Contract, along with shipping instructions, so you can get started on your project.
Contact us for more information.