How to Avoid a Wet Photo Emergency in Two Steps
A wet photo emergency is the terrible moment when you discover that your photos have been damaged by flooding, a leak, a burst pipe, or spilled coffee. You are freaking out and you also need to figure out how to save wet photos from being totally ruined.
Water-damaged photos were the topic of the frantic voicemail I received my client, Carl: “Jiffy, a water pipe burst and my whole basement flooded—you know my photos are down there.”
I’ve been in his basement multiple times over the past two years organizing his large photo collection and storing it safely to protect it from water and damage. So did the burst pipe matter?
No. “Don’t worry. None of the photos got wet,” I told Carl.
How to protect photos from water
All you have to do to protect photos from leaks and flooding, as well as humidity and high temperature damage, as can happen during southern summers, is take two simple, easy actions.
1. Move photos out of the attic, basement, garage, or barn and into the house.
Photographic images of all types should be kept in a dark location with stable humidity and temperature. Store everything off the floor. A perfect spot is the top shelf of a closet inside the house, away from the bathroom, basement, or laundry room, all of where there are pipes. You know that top shelf in your foyer coat closet? It’s a great spot (but only if there isn’t a bathroom or laundry room above, because a leak there can come through the ceiling!).
2. Put all your photos in big, clear, clean resealable bags and plastic tubs with lids
If you have loose photo prints or slides, put them in clear plastic bag, close the bag (leaving some air in) and stack the bags carefully on top of each other in the container. This will keep the photos flat and protected from water damage. Use a sharpie to note what is in each bag. If your photos are sorted and organized nicely, you can label the bags things like “wedding” or “trip to Florida.” If you still need help organizing your mess of photos, you can just label them approximately what you think they are (“grandma’s photos,” “old slides,” etc.).
Leave photo albums intact as they protect the photos from light and keep them flat. Slide albums into the plastic bags and securely stack them in the plastic container. Video tapes and film are also best protected from the elements when they’re stored inside a bag and securely stacked in the container. Close with the plastic lid, store in a high interior shelf in the dark, and you’re done!
Now that your photos are stored safely, you may be ready to edit, sort, and organize them. Read our guide to how to start that process.