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HomeLifestyle8 Tips for Storing Photos Without Damaging them, According to Pro Organizers

8 Tips for Storing Photos Without Damaging them, According to Pro Organizers



Even though most of our photos these days are stored on our phones, there are unique physical images of family members and ancestors that will probably never be digitalized. Since photo printing has changed so much in the last decade, it can lead to some confusion over how to store physical copies for longevity.

To help demystify this process, we asked some professional organizers for their tips for preserving photos.

meet the expert

  • leora seltzer is a certified KonMari Method professional organizer and founder of It’s What You Keep Organizing Blog.
  • diane ann quintana Is a professional organizer and founder of DNQ Solutions organizing company.
  • Laura Asher is a DIY and lifestyle influencer, and the founder of Our Oily House Natural Home Blog.

Set a specific time and pace yourself

westend61/Getty Images

Sorting through years of printed photos can be an overwhelming task, but it’s a necessary step to preserve those that matter most. The best thing to do is to set aside a manageable amount of time, ideally a few days.

“This is not a project that can be completed in one go,” says professional organizer Leora Seltzer. “So pace yourself and make sure you give yourself some time after sorting.”

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Set a goal or intention for your photos

Whether you’re trying to downsize and make more space or you want to create a new photo album, Seltzer suggests setting a goal for your photos before you start. This will help you best determine what can be saved and what should be thrown away.

remove all duplicates

Nico De Pasquale Photography/Getty Images

Once you’ve decided when and how you’ll sort your photos, professional organizer Diane N. Quintana says the next step is to look for duplicates or near-duplicates.

“Keep one and throw away the rest,” she says.

The same applies to anything blurry or too dark to see. Don’t toss something you’ll regret.But if it doesn’t make sense to save it (and that includes keeping duplicates), it can go.

prevent damage

DIY influencer Laura Asher says the three biggest threats to printed photos are sunlight, temperature, and moisture. To help prevent damage from these elements, she puts silica gel packets in her photo storage boxes, and avoids storing photographs in them. basement, garageOr attic.

“Although it may be convenient, those locations are notorious for temperature fluctuations and high humidity, which can lead to discoloration, distorted photos, and fading,” Asher says.

For the same reasons, Seltzer says she prefers waterproof cans. But if you must store your photos in a less desirable location, avoid placing bins or boxes directly on the floor.

“There are many stories where people lost all their photos because they were in cardboard boxes that didn’t survive a flood or a burst pipe,” says Seltzer.

Use Acid Free Photo Boxes and Albums

ISO3000/Getty Images

If you don’t need something as big as a watertight bin for your photos, or you want extra protection, Quintana says acid-free boxes are a must.

“These boxes are made specifically to keep photos safe,” she says.

Asher agrees, and says that along with acid-free boxes, she also prefers acid-free albums.

She says, “I find that simple acid-free albums, when well labeled, work well and are often budget-friendly.”

These boxes and albums are usually stackable, making them easy to store In closets or cabinets, as well as in waterproof bins.

label everything correctly

However you decide to store and save your photos, it’s important to label everything. Be sure to label the backs of photos as well as the outside of your storage bins or boxes.

“Use a pencil to label all the information about the photo on the back of the photo,” says Quintana. “Who is featured in the photo, where it was taken, and the date.”

keep a digital copy

Gary Yeowell/The Spruce

Now is a good time to scan your photos and convert them into digital copies so that they can be truly preserved. This helps keep your photos safe and gives you the option to create a beautiful photo book in the future.

Repeat this practice annually

To avoid yet another pile of printed photos, Asher suggests repeating this process annually. You can also apply this to your digitally stored photos.

“Besides being the perfect excuse to reminisce about old memories, it’s also a great opportunity to remove duplicates, add labels, and make sure your system is still working for you,” she says.

As your process evolves, you can also add a high-quality scanner, external hard drive, and cloud storage to preserve your memories in multiple formats.



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