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BETTER SAFE THEN SORRY
Make sure any albums, papers, envelops, boxes, matting or other materials that come in contact with your photos are photo safe, acid-free and lignin-free, Archival quality. Do not use white glue, rubber cement, Scotch or masking tape, staples etc... for mounting photos in albums or frames as they can all cause damage. Do not put newspaper clippings with photos unless they have been neutralized.

PRINTS
The best way to store prints is in clear Mylar (plastic) or polypropylene envelopes or acid-free envelopes or boxes. If a plastic has a strong smell then chances are the plastic has harmful chemicals, imagine that smell seeping into your photo.

SELF-STICK ALBUMS, NO... DON'T DO IT!
OK, so they are cheap to buy, but please, please, avoid albums with self-stick plastic-covered pages. The adhesive on the mounting pages can stain or damage photos. Your photographs will become increasingly difficult to remove after prolonged storage in these types albums. If you already have these albums and want to remove photographs stored this way, you can try inserting a thin knife under the edge of the photo and gently separating it from the page. Never ever curl or peel back a photo because it may end up permanently curled, cracked, or torn.

BETTER ALBUMS = BETTER PHOTOS
It is important to choose albums carefully. If you invest in good albums now it will pay off for years to come. Try to get albums that are made of a stable plastic, such as Mylar or polypropylene. And not PVC. Use albums with acid-free paper, and if possible use corners' made of safe plastic film to hold prints (these are not recommended for large or fragile photos.)

ALBUM STORAGE
Photo albums can be relatively bulky so be sure to sort out the poor, blurred, or less desired photos. Do not overfill your album. Adding bulky things like buttons, patches, Pressed flowers etc... can warp pages and the other photos within it, and some can stain. These items are best kept in acid-free envelops and/or in a good storage box.

• If you put your album(s) on a shelf horizontally, make sure they are fully supported and do not overhang or they may bend overtime.
• If you put your album(s) on a shelf vertically, make sure they are not so loose that pages or photos can curl, and not tightly closed causing too much pressure.
• NEVER put albums in a basement, attic or garage. They all have more fluctuating temperatures, dust, humidity, pest and moisture or possible flooding that can cause great damage.

WRITING ON PHOTOS
Write inscriptions on storage envelopes or along the borders or back of a print, Using an HB pencil and light pressure, Writing to hard can cause an indent seen on the other side. Ball-point or felt-tipped pens can bleed through and damage the image on the other side.

HANDLING PHOTOS
Always wash your hands and try to use lint-free cotton gloves if handling photos. Be careful of your clothing or jewelry so you don't scratch it. If you need to put a photo down, use a flat, clean, chemical-free surface, in low light and away from sunlight. (I like to put down a clean, cotton baby blanket.)

OLD ALBUMS
Removing photographs from old albums is a personal choice with different things to consider: Removing photos might cause damage. Old family albums sometimes contain interesting inscriptions or sometimes they just add to your collection. Some older albums may have pages with harmful dyes, acids and adhesives and some may not? There is a pH Test Pen that can help tell you if there is acid. An archival Mist that helps neutralizes the destructive acids... I think it is a personal decision that depends on many things and what you really want.

FRAMED PHOTOS
Try to keep framed photos away from UV Rays - direct sunlight or bright lighting to prevent fading. If possible get UV protected glass to help absorb ultraviolet rays and also prevent fading. Do not let the photo touch the glass, over time it may stick to the glass and any cleaning chemicals or dirt on the glass can cause damage it. Use safe matting, spacers and/or other mounting and framing materials.

SCRAPBOOKS
It is best to use all Acid free, Archival Materials. It is also recommended, that copies of photos be used. Then you can cut and glue the copies and not worry about destroying a priceless photograph. And copies are good too if you place newspaper clippings in because there are very acidic and can cause acid migration. You can also try this little mixture to neutralize the acid in newspapers.

Cleaning and Repair of original photos:
My advice is don't. Photographs, especially older ones where you do not have negatives are irreplaceable and can easily be damaged when cleaning if you don't know what you are doing. If you need extensive work on an original photograph, it should be referred to a professional conservator. Or you can make a digitally restored copy which is in most cases is less costly, and allows you to keep the original safe.

DIGITAL PRINTS
As with other photographs, improper handling can cause damage. Avoid direct contact with glass and use acid- and lignin-free matting when framing. Digital photos are more heat-sensitive than traditional prints, and should be kept away from extended heat, direct sunlight, and extreme fluctuations in temperature.

If you are unsure of something, don't be afraid to ask someone that knows. There are many books in libraries, websites, helpful people at museums, archives, framing stores... that can all give you great advice.