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Do you have old photographs lying around in a shoebox or plastic container? In envelopes shoved into drawers? Or, heaven forbid, one of those old-school sticky magnetic albums? When storing old photos, you want to be sure they will last for decades without damage. Let’s consider a few things . . .
The three main culprits that can cause damage to your photographs are light, humidity, and high temperatures. When storing old photographs, it is best to find a place that is dark, dry, and cool (NEVER store your photographs in the attic or basement!). If photographs are not protected from the elements in this way, they could suffer from faster-than-normal deterioration. Temperature and humidity fluctuations can cause your photographs to curl, warp, crack, or stick together. Exposure to sunlight will cause your photographs to fade (especially color photos).
Also, think about the materials that could be touching your photographs. If you use a matted frame, photo book or box, ensure that the materials say that they are “archival safe” or “acid free.” If they are not, they could emit gases that can damage your images over time. Adhesives (such as labels, tape, or the sticky part of album pages) are especially photo-unfriendly and are best avoided. If you store your photographs with newspaper clippings, I advise to photocopy the clipping onto acid-free paper, as the acid in the newsprint can be damaging.
If you write on the back of your photographs, do this in pencil. Do not use pens, markers or adhesive labels unless they are specified to be archival safe (these can usually be found in the scrapbooking section of your local hobby store).
Custom frames are safer than “off the shelf” frames. Again, watch for labels that say “acid free”, or ask the store owner which frames off the shelf will be safer for your photos. UV filtered glass will also protect your images and give them better longevity. I provide UV coating directly onto my clients’ prints, which helps to combat the fading issue from sunlight.
While this may sound like a lot of effort, it is a worthwhile step to preserving your precious memories. These archival safe and acid free materials are easily obtained at local and online retailers such as Michael’s, Hobby Lobby, Exposures (I personally LOVE these art boxes), or even Target stores. For more specific technical information, please refer to this site at the National Archives or speak with an expert at your local framing shop – they are qualified to help answer your preservation questions.