Where can I store photos?
Published: 21.04.2020
Family photos are decades of memories. That's why it's natural for people to cherish these memorable pictures. But few know where to store photos to protect them for future generations. We hope that our tips will help preserve memories in their original quality and color.
We take a lot more photos than our parents did. But we can't boast about having a proper organization of family photos. We gather megabytes of memories in the memory of our phones, laptops, and flash drives. But, in the grand scheme of things, we have nothing to leave to our children. After all, no one will look at the password to the smartphone with the photo gallery as a family history.
Where to store digital photos
Flash drive, computer memory, memory card
The simplest way to store photos. But also the most unreliable. You can be sure of the safety of digital photos if you have several copies of each image. And the copies should be in different places.
Storing photos in digital format is associated with a particular problem. Storage formats are constantly changing. Some people may still have 3.5-inch floppy disks in the back of their drawers. There are definitely photos on them. But to view the pictures, you'll have to go searching for a device.
The memory card is designed for short-term data storage. Do not store a photo archive on it. Make it a rule to transfer files from the memory card after each shoot.
Create a Light album from cool photos. You don't need to print the photos separately. We will print your photos directly on the pages of the Light album. Upload images to the free editor Mapi7 and create a themed Light album. You can upload photos from your phone.
The changes affect not only storage methods, but also operating systems, software, and file formats. In order to store photos in digital format, it will be necessary to timely move data to new storage systems before the old ones become unreadable. Alternatively, files may need to be converted to other formats that will become dominant.
Cloud storage
Cloud data storage is great for backups. You can get several terabytes of internet storage for free or for a small fee. A special program automatically synchronizes data between the internet and your hard drive. And even if the hard drive fails, the files in the cloud will remain intact.
Where to store printed photographs
For many people, not only the older generation, viewing photos is convenient and best done in printed form. Parents are used to admiring pictures of their children and grandchildren every day. Not on gadget screens, but from frames on shelves or album pages.
Our parents carefully preserved the family archives. In most cases, the printed photo archive is lovingly glued or placed in pockets of albums. That's why many continue the tradition and print photos.
Albums
Printed photos that are lying in envelopes or stacked on a shelf should be placed in a photo album. Keeping photos in albums is common. The only issue is that it is not always possible to arrange a specific chronology, as printed photos are rarely labeled.
The advantages of this storage method:
- The photographs are gathered under the cover of one or several albums,
- When there are dates on photos, they can be arranged in a specific order or chronologically.
- Long-term use with compliance with storage conditions (no contact with moisture, direct sunlight, well-ventilated room).
Cons of photo albums:
- loss of photo quality due to improper storage conditions.
- falling out of pocket-files,
- worsening of color reproduction and damage to photographs when pasting them onto pages,
- high cost of the final product (printing photos + cost of the album + time for arranging/pasting photos).
When choosing an album for photos, avoid products with a fabric cover. Fabric attracts moths. To ensure that your photo album lasts longer, choose a cover made of leather.
Cool photos deserve unique framing. Print your cool photos in a Polaroid style. Fans of instant photography from the 90s may experience familiar feelings when holding a photo in the Polaroid style. For those unfamiliar with traditional Polaroids, square images with space for captions will be appealing.
Photo container
Not many people get around to old photos. At best, retro photos end up in shoe boxes. It's better than nothing. But remember that shoe boxes are not waterproof. So keep them in a place where moisture will never reach or use photo containers.
A photo storage box is airtight and waterproof. Inside the container, there should be rigid dividers to separate the photos. This prevents the photos from getting deformed.
Large containers can be used to store photo albums. Before placing them in a special box, wrap each album in tissue paper.
Advantages of photo containers:
- Photos are well preserved when all storage conditions are followed.
Cons of this type of storage:
- Photos are not always at hand, as the containers themselves must be kept in a dry and dark place.
- It is difficult to create any sequence of images.
Print or digital?
Digital photos are increasing every day. Viewing images on phones and laptop screens seems convenient. But digital technologies devalue photography. The huge number of images on memory cards and flash drives diminishes the concept of a precious moment. Many forget why they took photos of certain events in the first place. And some shots can surprise people later on. People don't remember when or why they were taken.
We suggest storing photos in Light albums. Pockets and corners for inserting photos are a thing of the past. We print photos directly onto the pages of the Light album. Images can also be placed on the cover with a personal caption underneath. Light is an album for any occasion and number of photos.
Album Light - a new way of photo printing and significant savings.
There is no need to print photos and separately purchase a photo album.
Upload photos to the free automatic editor Mapi7 and create Light yourself.
If there are a lot of photos, then our articleHow to choose photos for an albumAnd thematic covers will help you choose the photos for Light. Spending a few minutes, you will become a happy owner of a colorful and reliable photo storage.
Hundreds of selfies, dozens of identical images are buried in the overloaded memory of a smartphone or laptop. Such photos are forgotten or deleted to free up space for new megabytes of pictures.
But many shots were not taken just like that. A certain impulse was the push to press the camera button. The feeling of tenderness from a child's face smeared with chocolate or a quickened heartbeat at the sight of a red sunset. Often the desire to take a shot occurs at a subconscious level, at the command of the soul.
Do not lose precious memories. Keep your photos in Light albums. Create family photo archives from digital photographs. Make valuable images a legacy for future generations.
