Best Ways to Keep Old Pictures and Save Fond Memories

“There is one thing the photograph must contain, the humanity of the moment.” – Robert Frank

When I was a child, I used to hate it when my mother interrupted my “fun time” just to take pictures. See, as a family, we loved going on trips and naturally, taking photos, too. As excited as I am to pose for pictures when I’m all dressed up, I am as upset whenever she calls and interrupts what I’m doing; whether it’s swimming or playing with my cousins, it will show in the pictures.

I say this because my mom sent me a photo of mine a few days ago where I was clearly brooding as I had to get out of the swimming pool to pose for a photo. She also sent me another picture of mine inside the car, visibly sulking for whatever reason. These pictures contain the humanity of the moment and until now I still feel what I felt as a child because it was captured, frozen and revealed how rich reality is.

My mother also told me that she wants to make sure that our pictures are stored properly to keep it from fading or molding, so she told me to look for the best ways to keep old pictures and at the same time save our fondest memories.

Keeping Old Pictures at Home

Keeping pictures at home is the simplest way to preserve our photos. We can look at them anytime we want to. But, did you know that there are a lot of things to consider when you keep your photos at home? The first thing you have to think of is ventilation. If the place you keep your pictures in is well-ventilated, then your pictures will be protected from mold and other organic substances that can damage your pictures. You also have to be careful of the temperature because the heat of over 75 degrees Fahrenheit can cause photo discoloration. Did you know that lighting can fade photos as well? That’s why it is advisable to store your photos in a dark place.

With all these things you have to consider, where should we store our photos? I strongly suggest storing your photos inside your cabinets or closets and under the bed. Since we all frequent these locations, chances are the temperature, lighting, and ventilation will all be controlled. Avoid putting them in your garage, basement, or attic because the temperatures change drastically over time which can cause damage to your photos.

Now, let’s talk about where to actually put them in. Our old photos were placed inside these wooden boxes that can easily be opened by just flipping the lid. I realize that is not the best choice as the pictures can easily spill out from the box. I am certainly replacing them with a sealed and waterproof box made of plastic. In addition, I will be placing dividers in order to make it easier for us to identify which pictures are which. It is really up to you and how you want to organize the pictures, the possibilities are endless! Just make sure that the photos are laid flat to keep the photos from getting folded or bent. Make sure that you don’t try to cram everything in.

Store Them Digitally

As much as we want to keep our original photos in pristine condition, sometimes, it’s just not possible. They can get lost or damaged. This is where technology comes right to the rescue. Storing old photos digitally is not easy. This will involve a lot of effort. Imagine scanning each picture or taking clear photos of them with your smartphone one by one. Crazy, right? This way of saving your old photos will require a lot of time and patience, but I can tell you that it is one of the most secure and effective ways to keep our old pictures alive. In fact, a friend of mine has started doing this as part of her passion project. She has been sharing old photos on her social media accounts and many have been expressing their support and joy over it.

You can keep your photos on your phone or laptops, but I suggest that you keep a copy in your hard drive or memory stick just so you know you won’t lose all that effort exerted when your device bites the dust. You can also try storing them in an online drive so you are sure that when your devices and memory drives fail, you still have one more back up.

Photo Book Them!

You may or may not have heard about photo books, but it is becoming increasingly popular among photo enthusiasts. For me, it is one of the best and most beautiful ways to keep your old pictures and save your fondest memories. In fact, photo books not only aim to preserve them but also make them more beautiful. As simple as its name, photo books contain your photos and will be put in a beautiful book made of luxurious material. If you are willing to invest in keeping your memories alive, this is the way to go. I firmly believe that nothing beats having physical photos to look at. Digital photos are fun to share online and all, but I still prefer pictures that I can touch and hold as my personal copy. That is why I always go with photo books. I have personally had photo books made and not once have I ever regretted it. Just make sure that your photo book creators are professional just like mine are.

Having photos we can look at makes us understand what our lives mean to us – especially when we need it the most. Sometimes, we fail to see that good in our lives and zoom in on what’s going wrong. Having something to remind us that life has been good to us even if current times say otherwise will help us look forward and focus on what the future holds for us. Some pictures will not be pretty, but I am certain that there will be beautiful ones ahead.

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