Beginner photography tips / How to keep your photos safe / How can I make money with my camera? /
Five steps to perfect portraits / Tips for storing photos and negatives

How to keep your photos safe:
free storage tips to prevent fading

Our photos preserve some of our best memories. They usually are taken during the happy moments of our lives and we can relive the good times just by flipping through them. Unfortunately, we can also destroy them by not looking after them properly.

Did you know that most photo albums are actually harmful to your pictures? Sure, they may keep them organized and handy, but as the years fade away, so will the pictures until you are left with sad remnants of what were once beautiful photographs. The reason? Paper and plastic used in most albums and scrapbooks contain harmful ingredients that will damage the photos.

Paper contains acid that will yellow or otherwise discolor the sensitive pictures you own. Simply by putting your pictures into an album, you can cause them to turn strange colors. To prevent this problem, you can look for albums that have 6.0 or higher acidity. 6.0 is neutral acidity and will not contribute to the problems faced by your photographs. But acid comes from other places as well. The ink in pens can actually destroy your photos. So, when you go to write on the back of a picture, make sure the pen is acid-free. Often items are labelled acid-free, but may still contain some harmful acids, even if just a trace. It will take it's toll on your pictures. Postcards and other paper items that you may want to include in the album contain acid. To keep the photos safe, it's best not to include these momentos in your album, or to enclose them in a safe plastic sleeve.

Which brings us to the plastic side of things. You will find that pictures left in plastic albums will discolor as well. Why? The plastic actually gives off a gas that erodes the photo. Your best bet would be to find an acid-free paper album.

Paper containing lignin (and all paper does unless it's removed), will eventually turn yellow and spoil the look of your scrapbook. It's a terrible price to pay and easily remedied by seeking out lignin-free scrapbooks and albums. If you aren't sure about an album, it's always better to leave the photos in their original packaging in a cardboard box until you find a safe scrapbook. Otherwise you may find your memories fading away and turning odd hues.

Don't underestimate the need to document the information about the pictures either. Whether you scribble a note on the back or write it in the album, make sure the story that goes with the picture isn't lost when you start losing your memory or after you die. Your legacy can live on through your photos if they are properly cared for.