Living in Florida, we know heat. Yes, the sunshine is beautiful, and we get to have more perfect days than the rest of the country. But that wonderful sunshine and extreme warmth have a dark side. It can destroy anything from furniture to photos if they aren’t properly prepared for it. 

Growing up in Florida, a lot of us have learned to bake cookies and cake on foil outside. It doesn’t take long. That’s how hot it can get. Now imagine not being outside where there is wind and air flow. Imagine being in a closed-up garage, or better yet, a closed-up bag, inside a closed-up box, inside a closed-up garage or attic!

Things melt and are oftentimes destroyed forever.

So, when we want to preserve photo memories for a long time, we have to make sure we are storing them properly. Here are a few simple but very important tips for where and how to store your photos.

The 3 main considerations are HUMIDITY, TEMPERATURE AND LIGHT.

Humidity- any place over 65% humidity will encourage mold growth and will also make photos stick together. On average, Florida stays around 74% humidity. Our driest, least humid month is still up at 60%.

Temperature- lower temps are best since they discourage bugs, but a consistent temp of around 75 degrees or less is ideal.

Light- Extended time in bright places will cause photos to fade with time. Darkness keeps the ink preserved in the photo paper and will keep the photo’s colors vibrant.

So, where and how do we accomplish this? Here are some ideas:

What to store photos in…

An airtight bin or photo archival box/album. You can find these on various sites, including Amazon. Here are the top choices for 2023: https://www.popphoto.com/gear-reviews/best-photo-storage-boxes/.

Where to store your photos…

A climate-controlled area such as an inside closet or climate-controlled storage unit. Some people have a climate-controlled attic which works too. Anywhere that is 75 degrees or less and less then 65% humidity, and little to no light.

When to convert your photos to digital…

Anytime. The sooner the better. Especially if the above conditions are too challenging to store your current photos safely. Once they are digital, you have them forever.

Contact Golden Triangle Tampa today and get started!