How to Look After Your Photos Once They're Delivered

Once your gallery lands in your inbox, it's tempting to save a few favourites to your phone and leave the rest for later. But phones get lost, laptops stop working, and online galleries aren't meant to be a forever home for your photos. A few simple habits will keep them safe for years, so here's what I'd recommend.

Back up your digital files straight away

Download the full gallery in full resolution as soon as you can, not just a handful of screenshots. Then keep at least two copies in different places, for example one on a computer or external hard drive and one in cloud storage like Google Photos, iCloud or Dropbox. Give the folder a clear name with the date and the occasion, so you can find it easily in ten years' time. Every now and then, check your backups still open, as old drives can fail without any warning.

Print the ones you love

Digital files are great, but prints are what actually get looked at. Always print from the full resolution files rather than images saved from social media, as those are compressed and can look soft or blurry on paper. A proper photo lab will usually give you better colours and nicer paper than a home printer, so it's worth it for your favourites.

Keep your prints out of harm's way

Hang framed prints away from direct sunlight, which slowly fades colours over time. Avoid damp rooms and spots right above radiators or fires. Hold prints by the edges, as fingerprints can leave marks that are hard to remove. For albums and loose prints, store them flat somewhere cool and dry, ideally in acid-free sleeves or boxes.

Share without losing quality

When you share photos with family, send them the original files rather than forwarding them through messaging apps, which often shrink the image. That way, if grandparents want to print one for the fridge or a frame, they'll have the best possible version.

If it's been a while since your last family photos, have a look at the Book Online page and pick a date that suits you. Or if you'd like to treat someone else, a session makes a lovely present, you'll find everything on the Gift Card page.