Correct handling and storage procedures to ensure the preservation of your valuable photographs

1. Photo Care
Protecting our precious visual heritage

2. Storage
Low temperature and humidity
No external walls
Keep dry
Boxes protect from light and dust

3. Handling
Handle photos on edges to avoid damaging fingerprints
NEVER use paperclips, pins, rubber bands, sticky tape or staples
If you must write on the back, use pencil and write lightly on edges
Handle in a clean environment

4. Enclosure
Paper is best for long term storage
Use plastic if photos are viewed regularly, they don’t have
to be handled as much
Use polyester or polypropylene (PP), but NEVER PVC
The National Archives of Australia tests products (PAT
test) and awards quality trademarks

5. Rehabilitation & Repair
Any treatment of an original photograph carries with it a potential to do as much harm as
good – Genealogy.com
5 forms of restoration – electronic, chemical, physical, copying, airbrushing
Never undertake any repair which is not reversible.
Copy first, then repair
Digitize

6. Slides
Do you still have a working slide viewer?
Do you still use it?
If not, time to convert those slides into a more accessible format!

7. What else can I do?
• Copy
• Digitize – scanning is easy, most home printers can do it.
• Share – try social media, history share sites (historypin.com), local history
collections
• Research – try the National Archives (naa.gov.au),
Australian Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Materials (aiccm.org.au)