How to Safely Store and Preserve Printed Photographs

There is one thing as a professional organizer I come across in every clients home…photos. In boxes, in drawers, stuffed in closets and basements and attics. I’m guilty of it too. Along with grandma’s china some of us inherit family photos. Generations of family photos to be exact. A century ago, even 50 years ago photos were not something that were taken on a daily basis. So having any from that time period is a treasure. 

When I was going through photos at my parents house,  I found photos from both sides of our family in old albums, in old trunks, in a very hot attic. There were a couple of albums I was afraid to touch as I thought the photos would crumble in my hands. I know they need to be digitized to make sure they are safe and we will talk about that another time. But right now I know I need to get them out of that attic but then what? What is the best way to preserve these memories? 

I asked Isabella Ripley of Isabella Ripley Photography the basics and she more than delivered!

1. Where is the best place to store photos?

Photographs do best in a cool, dry, dark and stable environment.

A good storage spot might be:

• An interior closet.

• A cabinet in the main part of your home.

• A climate-controlled room.

• An archival photo box on a shelf.

Avoid storing photographs in places with heat, humidity or big temperature changes, such as:

• Attics.

• Basements.

• Garages.

• Sheds.

• Non-climate-controlled storage units.

• Laundry rooms.

• Anywhere near direct sunlight, heaters or water pipes.

Heat, moisture and sunlight are some of the biggest threats to printed photographs.

2. What is the best way to store photographs?

For long-term storage, use materials labeled:

• Acid-free.

• Lignin-free.

• Archival quality.

• Photo safe.

• PAT passed. (Photographic Activity Test meaning it has passed testing to ensure it won’t cause photos to degrade over time)

Archival photo boxes, photo-safe sleeves and acid-free albums are great options. If you have very old or fragile photographs, archival tissue paper can help protect them.

Avoid storing photographs with:

• Rubber bands.

• Paper clips.

• Tape.

• Sticky album pages. (Hello all my childhood albums!)

• Regular cardboard boxes.

• Newspaper.

• Non-archival envelopes.

If you want to label photographs, write very lightly on the back edge with a soft pencil or, even better, label the sleeve, album page or divider instead.

3. Are plastic photo organizers safe?

Some plastic storage can be safe, but not all plastic is created equally.

If you use plastic containers, look for ones that specifically say they are photo safe or archival. Safer plastics include polypropylene, polyethylene and polyester. Avoid plastics that contain PVC, which can break down over time and damage photographs.

Many craft-store photo organizers are helpful for sorting, but unless they are labeled archival or photo safe, I would not use them as my only long-term storage solution.

I see this one from Michaels in particular at a lot of client homes. It does meet the criteria for safe photo storage and is a great starting point for sorting through your photos with 16 individual photo cases.

4. Does print quality matter?

Yes, absolutely.

How your photographs are printed matters for color, detail and longevity. Quick consumer prints from drugstores or discount labs can be fine for everyday snapshots, but they may not have the same consistency, quality or lifespan as professional photographic prints.

For meaningful family portraits, heirloom images and photographs you want to preserve, professional printing is the better choice. Professional labs use higher-quality materials, better color management and processes designed for longevity.

This is one reason I believe so strongly in finished photographic prints, albums and wall art. Digital files are convenient, but printed photographs are what families actually hold, display and pass down.

5. Where should you start when organizing decades of photos?

Start simple. Do not try to organize everything perfectly on the first pass.

Begin by gathering your photographs into one place, then sort them into broad categories:

• Keep and preserve.

• Display or frame.

• Scan or digitize.

• Duplicates.

• Let go.

You can also sort by decade, family member, event or side of the family.

Start with the most important photographs first: older family photographs, images of loved ones who have passed, childhood photographs, wedding photographs, baby photographs and anything irreplaceable.

Once you have your most meaningful images identified, consider scanning them, making professional-quality copies and storing the originals safely in archival boxes.

A few final preservation tips.

As you organize, write down the stories. A photograph becomes so much more valuable when future generations know who is in it, where it was taken and why it mattered.

Label what you can:

• Names.

• Dates or approximate years.

• Locations.

• Relationships.

• Short stories or memories.

And most importantly, do not let your favorite photographs stay hidden forever in a box. Choose the images that mean the most and turn them into something your family can enjoy every day, whether that is a framed portrait, an album or a beautiful collection of photographic prints.

Photographs are part of your family legacy.

I know I am guilty of a few of these improper storage techniques and have some work to do. The first step is to get them safe. I linked some products above that Izzy gave the thumbs up to to get us all started. The second step is to make them last and for the majority of us…get them off our phones!! Stay tuned for Part 2 in this series where we dive deeper and explore the digital side of photos and storage and as usual we are here if you need us!