Save Your Printed Photos from Disaster: A 3 Step Guide to Preserving Memories

Photos capture our most cherished memories, and losing them to a disaster can be devastating. Whether it’s due to natural disasters, accidents, or simple wear and tear, taking steps to protect your printed photos is essential. This guide provides 3 essential steps to save your photos and prevent your precious memories from fading away.

1. Make a Digital Copy to Backup Your Organial

The first step to preserving your printed photos is to digitize them. Scanning your photos and creating digital backups ensures that, even if something happens to the originals, you have a secure copy. Store these digital copies in multiple locations, such as an external hard drive, cloud storage, or a trusted photo-sharing service. By doing this, you'll not only safeguard your memories but also make it easier to share and organize them.

2. Save Your Photos and Prevent Fading of Memories

Many older photo albums, especially magnetic albums (those with sticky pages), are notorious for causing photos to fade or deteriorate over time. The adhesives and plastic coverings can damage the photos. Here’s what you can do to prevent fading:

• Remove photos from magnetic albums and store them in acid-free, archival-quality albums or sleeves.

• Avoid exposure to sunlight or excessive heat, which can cause colors to fade.

• Store photos in a cool, dry place to prevent moisture damage and mold growth.

By following these steps, you can slow down the natural aging of your printed photos and keep them looking their best for years to come.

3. Curate the Best Photos Using the ABCS Method

When organizing your photo collection, it’s important to curate the ones that hold the most meaning. The ABCS method is a simple yet effective approach:

• A - Album-Worthy: These are the standout photos you want to showcase in albums. They represent the highlights of your life, key events, and special moments.

• B - Boxed and Kept: Some photos may not make it into albums but are still worth keeping. These can be boxed and stored using archival-quality materials for future viewing or reference.

• C - Curated: Not every photo needs to be kept. This category is for photos you can part with, such as duplicates, blurred shots, or those with no emotional significance.

• S - Storytelling: These are the photos that might not be the most beautiful or perfect, but they tell an important story. Keep these because they hold unique personal or family history that would be lost without them.

  
  

Taking the time to sort through your photos using the ABCS method ensures that only the most meaningful ones are preserved, helping you avoid clutter while focusing on what truly matters. Overwhelmed by the thought of getting started on your project. We offer virtual and in person appointments to walk you through the process in detail.