Caring for Photographs

By April Hann Lanford

The category of photography, while it sounds specific, can include a vast amount of variables. Since the late 19th century, photographs have evolved from Daguerreotypes to tintypes, albumen prints, to silver gelatin prints, and color photographs. 

Storage

Photographs should be handled with care, as their sensitive surfaces can be easily damaged from mishandling.  Photographs should be stored in a climate-controlled environment, temperature 68-70 degrees.  The relative humidity should be maintained at the range of 30%-40%.  Photographs are very sensitive to moisture and should never be stored in a basement.

Polypropylene Sleeves

Archival polypropylene sleeves are an affordable option to store images. The clear sleeves protect the images from direct handling and dust while accommodating a full view of each piece.  The sleeved images can be housed in an album or can be placed in an archival box.  Sleeves can be labeled with the photograph’s information. 

If an image has charcoal or pastel elements, it should not be placed in sleeves and should be housed in archival bookmats.

Archival Rag Board Mats

Photographs can also be housed in archival rag board bookmats.

Made of 100% cotton rag board, photographs can be mounted within a bookmat to allow for extra rigidity to support the print, and it also provides a nice presentation for the piece.  Collectors and museums often have the mats created in one size and which allows for the pieces to be easily fit and stored together into a corresponding sized archival box.  The mats can be easily labeled with information about the photograph it houses without having to label the piece itself.

Given the light sensitivity of photographs, they are often rotated on display. Storing them within mats, allows for the works to be easily installed in corresponding sized frames, and put on display.

Sage advice-Avoid directly labeling the piece itself.

When documenting the photograph, it is best to avoid adhering to a pressure-sensitive label to the back or writing directly on the surface.  Never use pens or markers.  Inks can bleed through the image, can smear onto a secondary piece, or can complicate conservation efforts in the future.

Even the pressure of a pencil tip can strike through the front from the back, resulting in disfigurement of the image.

Framing

Photographs are sensitive to UV light and are vulnerable to fading.  It is imperative that when they are framed and on display, they should always be housed with UV filtering glazing. Glazing options such as Museum Glass, Optium Acrylic, Conservation Clear Glass, and Acrylic, all block up to 99% of UV rays.  When framed, photographs should never be framed so that they are directly against the glass. A rag board mat or a spacer can be used to create a space between the surface of the photograph and the interior of the glazing.  A moisture-resistant backing board should be used to further protect the piece while on display in the frame.

When cleaning the glazing on a framed photograph, always spray the cleaner with a microfiber cloth and then clean the glazing.

Never spray cleaner directly onto the surface, as it could potentially damage the frame finish, as well as seep into the frame package and cause damage along the lower edge of the mat or the photograph.

The image to the left shows a classic example of damage caused by seepage from glass cleaner.

Please note that even when photographs are framed with UV filtering glass, they are still vulnerable to prolonged exposure to UV. Collectors should create a schedule to have such works rotate on display and allow time for the works to “rest” in storage, in order to enjoy the piece while ensuring its longevity.

Working with a specialist can confirm the optimal approach to the care and presentation of your collection.

If you have any questions about the care or framing of your piece, please call:

312-344-0331

[email protected]