If you have a box of dusty albums sitting in your attic or closet, it’s time to preserve old photos! Pictures are a great way to capture memories and preserve history. However, if they aren’t preserved correctly, they can quickly become damaged and faded. In this blog post, we will discuss eight different ways to keep your physical photos looking great!
Are Digital Photos Better Than Photo Albums?
One question that we often get asked is whether digital photos are better than print photographs when it comes to preserving old photos. The answer to this question depends on a few different factors.
Beauty
Print images inherently have some form of beauty that you can’t see on a mobile device or computer screen. Old family photos, particularly sepia photos look vintage and timeless. No matter their resolution, they tend to evoke a certain feeling of nostalgia.
Accessibility
First, it is important to consider how you plan on accessing and viewing your photos. If you want to be able to view your photos easily on a computer or phone, then storing them digitally is likely the best option for you. We recommend this for photos you might need impromptu, for example, work photos.
Sentimentality
However, for treasured photos that might hold deep sentimental value, it is no question that they belong in print. They contain family history that can be looked at when you want to travel down memory lane.
They also offer the opportunity to add notes and captions to your photos. This can be a great way to store precious memories associated with the photo and make it easier for friends and family to understand the context surrounding the photo.
Fun
Finally, albums are simply more fun to look through! There is something special about flipping through a physical album and seeing all of your old photos in one place.
How To Preserve Old Photos
If you have an old photo collection that is starting to fade or discolor, there are some things you can do to preserve the printed photos. With a little time and care, you can keep your old photos looking great for years to come.
Here are eight ways to properly keep your photo collection:
Store them in a cool, dry place.
Heat and humidity can damage photos, so it’s best to keep them stored in a temperature-controlled environment. That means not in attics or basements. They are damp, and hot and allow your pictures to lose their protective emulsion covering and stick together.
Protect Them From Light
Direct sunlight will also fade your pictures over time. If you must display them, do so in indirect sunlight or behind UV-protective glass. You can also store them in archival photo boxes, which are designed to keep out light.
Use Acid-Free Materials
Acidic materials will damage your photos over time. Be sure to use archival photo albums which are also acid-free and designed to safeguard old albums. You can find these at most craft stores.
Don’t Use Adhesive Tape
Adhesive tape will damage your photos over time and make them difficult to remove later. If you must tape something down, use archival matting tape.
Handle Them Carefully
Be sure to wash your hands before handling old photos. Avoid touching the surface of the photo itself as much as possible. If you must hold it, do so by the edges or use cotton gloves to avoid long-term fingerprint damage.
Don’t Stack Them
Stacking photos on top of each other will damage them, so it’s best to keep them in a photo album or box where they won’t be touching. If you must stack them, do so with acid-free tissue paper in between each one.
Frame your photos
One of the best ways to preserve old photos is to display them in frames. This will protect them from dirt, dust, and other harmful elements. Plus, it makes for a great decoration in your home or office!
Make Digital Copies
You should digitize your most precious family memories and store them away. This implies that you’ll need to scan, duplicate and save them online. If your original photos get lost, you will always be able to count on this archive to save them. You should also make sure to scan photos and keep them at a high resolution.
How To Fix Damaged Photos
If you have any old photo prints that are already damaged and you didn’t digitize, don’t despair! There are ways to restore them. You can use Photoshop or other photo editing software to fix tears, creases, and other imperfections.
However, photo restoration is a tough and time-consuming skill to learn. That is where we come in! We are MemoryCherish, the #1 photograph restoration company nationwide. With a little description, we can bring your images back to life, exactly how they used to be.
How Do We Fix Your Picture?
Our specialty is bringing damaged photographs back to life and restoring their sentimental quality! Our restoration artists will closely examine your blurred image, remove stains, mold, blur, refine and add more detail and color to each image.
No matter how many photos you want to fix, we won’t stop until they are in the best condition. We can handle any damage on any photograph!
Our commitment to producing stellar quality restoration service has even landed us on news reports by ABC, NBC, and FOX news.
What Do I Need To Do?
First, you need to make your print photos clean and ready for restoration. You can check out how to clean your old pictures.
Next, you need to carefully make photo scans of them. Then, you upload it and pick your restoration options.
You place your order, and that’s it. We would create our magic!
How Long Does It Take?
We would restore and send a digital copy of your sharpened image back to you by email within 24 hours. If there is anything you would like us to change on your restored image, revisions are allowed on every restoration, completely free!
We also offer nationwide delivery of restored pictures in prints!
Can I Contact Someone For More Information?
Our customer support is available 24/7 to answer any further questions. You can send us an email at: support@memorycherish.com.
In A Nutshell…
You’ve invested a lot of time and emotion into your old photos, so it’s important to take care of them. We’ve outlined several methods in this post, each with its own benefits.
Hopefully, one of these solutions will work well for you and your family. No matter what method you choose, make sure to start preserving your photos today! By doing so, you’ll ensure that future generations can appreciate the important moments captured within them.
If you have old family photos that require restoration, we would love to help you preserve your memory. Our team of experts has the experience and knowledge necessary to breathe new life into your photograph and help you keep those cherished memories alive.
