Archival Portraits: The Most Expensive Photo You Already Own

Don't Let Your Most Expensive Photos Vanish: A Guide to Archival Portraits

You’ve invested in professional photos to capture life’s most significant moments—your wedding day, the birth of a child, or a cherished family milestone. You loved the photos, shared them online, and now they're saved on a hard drive somewhere. But what happens next?

The truth is, those digital files are slowly but surely at risk of disappearing. Hard drives fail, files corrupt, and over time, even our most treasured images can be forgotten and lost forever. We are a generation more photographed than any before us, yet we risk being the one with the fewest tangible memories to pass down.

It's time to talk about archival portraits and why the most expensive photos you own are the ones you haven't printed.

The True Cost of Digital-Only Photos

When you hired a professional photographer, you invested hundreds or even thousands of dollars to document a moment you never wanted to forget. Your photographer spent countless hours perfecting each image, ensuring you had the best quality possible.

After the initial excitement of sharing them on social media, what happens to those beautiful files? They often sit on a computer, unseen and uncelebrated. Without a tangible copy, these memories are vulnerable. A simple hard drive crash or a misplaced external drive can erase them in an instant.

The Power of Printing

Printing your photos on archival materials is the single most important step you can take to protect your family's photographic history. The tangible experience of holding a print, flipping through an album, or seeing a beautiful piece of wall art is something that digital files can never replicate.

We are huge advocates of printing images on archival paper. Our archival portraits are designed to last over 200 years. They offer HD image quality, are printed with certified ink on acid-free, fine art paper, and are created without harsh chemicals or silver, making them safer for both you and the environment.

We also love our framed torn-edge prints for their classic, artful look, printed on your choice of watercolor or linen texture. To store and protect your smaller prints, consider our signature leather satchels and handcrafted heirloom keepsake boxes, which can be custom engraved for a stunning generational keepsake.

Your Action Plan for Protecting Your Memories

Don't let your most treasured memories slip away. Here’s a quick-list of tips to help you protect your family's legacy:

• Routine Backups: Create a routine for backing up your phone and camera files (e.g., at the end of each month or quarter).

• Automate It: Use automated backup systems to ensure your files are consistently protected.

• Multiple Copies: Keep at least two copies of your files. Store one on an external drive in a fireproof safe and another in a cloud-based backup.

• Organize: Establish folders by year, event, or family member to keep your digital files organized and easy to find.

• Print, Print, Print: Make it a priority to print at least a handful of images from each important event. These tangible copies are your best defense against loss.

• Invest in Archival Quality: When you invest in professional photography, budget for professional-grade, archival prints, albums, and wall art. These materials are designed to last and are often not available through consumer labs.

• Enlist a Professional: In addition to documenting your life, a professional photographer can help you organize, archive, and protect your family's photographic history for future generations.

Our team would love to help you protect your family's legacy. Contact us today to get started before those precious memories are gone for good.