While most of us possess hundreds if not thousands of digital photos, most people still have countless printed photographs lying around the house.
In order to preserve these precious memories, it helps to know how best to organize and store them so that you and your family can keep them safe and easily accessible. It would be a shame to lose family portraits that have been passed down through the generations, which is why proper storage is so important.
Below are some suggestions for organizing and storing your printed pictures.
Keep climate in mind when choosing a storage space. Spaces such as basements and attics that experience major fluctuations in temperature are not the right places to store images. Instead, choose closets or cabinets that are in climate-controlled areas of your home.
Avoid the ground. Elements such as water become a concern when you store your pictures on the ground. Plus, there is a much higher chance of them being damaged by falling objects, people, pets, or pests.
Keep your portraits properly enclosed. Dust, sunlight, and pests can all damage your memories if they are not properly enclosed in a box, frames, or plastic folders.
Use dividers. Once pictures start aging, they can stick together, which leads to permanent damage once you need to pull them apart. While it might seem like extra work, place non-acidic dividers in between your pictures to prevent this from happening.
Do get rid of adhesives. If you have any pictures that are stored in albums that require adhesives, it’s best to remove them and place them in an album that contains acid-free sleeves or protectors to prevent damage in the long run.
Organize portraits according to dates and events. In the same way that you file your digital photos according to year, month, and event, do the same with your printed images so that you can easily find what you’re looking for. Stick an inventory list on the front of each photo box for ease of reference.
Spending time organizing and storing your printed pictures may not seem like the ideal way to spend a weekend but you will thank yourself for it later.
