Photos can connect us with our families in unique ways. However, photos are perishable. How do you preserve photos from that old shoebox or album before they start to fade or disintegrate? How else can you accomplish photo preservation?
Preserving Physical Photos
Here are tips for preserving printed family history photos:
- Keep them in a controlled environment. Avoid extremes in temperature or humidity.
- Handle them with care. At a minimum, wash your hands first. It’s best to use clean nitrile gloves to avoid getting skin oils or other substances on the photos.
- Use archive-quality supplies. Regular glue or adhesive tape, for example, can damage photos.
- Document your photos (names, dates, locations, and so forth) by keeping an inventory of your photos in a spreadsheet or similar document. Never write on the photos themselves, either back or front. Ink can damage photos.
- Scan your photos to create digital copies.
- Share your scanned photos with others on FamilySearch.org in your gallery or on the updated home page. You can also share them through social media, text, or email.
For more information, see "Care, Handling, and Storage of Photographs."
Preserving Digital Photos
Have you ever heard that you don't need to do anything to preserve digital photos? Unfortunately, that's not entirely true. Hard drives can crash, and cloud storage services can go away. Here are tips for preserving digital photos:
- Always keep a backup. For example, you may want to store your photos both on your computer and in a cloud photo storage service.
- Always add details about the photo (names, dates, locations, and so forth). It’s surprising how fast memory can fade. Most options for storing digital photos allow you to add this type of information.
- Share your digital photos with others.
Learn More from RootsTech Classes
RootsTech has dozens of free recorded classes on using and preserving photos in family history. Check out the classes listed below, or browse other photo preservation classes.
RootsTech Classes on Photo Preservation
More classes will become available with future RootsTech events. Keep an eye out each year for registration announcements to join RootsTech virtually or in person. You won't want to miss out!
What Is RootsTech?
RootsTech is a place to learn, be inspired, and make connections through family history. Hosted by FamilySearch and sponsored by other leading genealogy organizations, RootsTech has hundreds of expert classes, tips and tricks videos, and inspiring stories that can help you experience family history like never before. Visit our on-demand learning library, or make plans to join us for our next virtual or in-person conference event.
