If you have a large collection, covering many years, like I do, which ones to copy first will be evident. Many of my color photographs from the 1960's and 1970's are quickly fading. Copies of these should be first priority, as color fades much more quickly than black and white. Poloraid pictures fade even faster, so put them on a first to copy list. Not knowing much about photography when I took some of them, the quality of the paper used was not of good quality, and further sped up the process of deterioration. So, your eye will tell you which ones to copy first.
As you look over these pictures, you may want to decide if there are some valuable enough to pay to have them repaired. It is also a good idea to get negatives made for those missing them. However, if you are like me, you have saved all manner of photographs, even the very poorly shot ones. So, the preservation process may not be as stringent for them.
Finding a good professional film processor is important. As this project of mine will take years, depending on my expendable money. I plan to build a good relationship with a local shop.
The next step is to put the returning photographs in archival storage. The originals and negatives need to be kept safe. They will be infrequently viewed. Enemies of photographs are light, heat, humidity, rodents and insects. So, store them in a cool part of your house that is dark and not subject to extreme changes in temperature. The basement and attic are not good for these conditions, and are more apt to have rodents or bugs wandering about. A cool closet, away from heaters, the kitchen, or bathroom is your best bet.
Negatives should be returned to their sheaths, and photographs stored so they are not touching each other. Archival storage envelopes or plastic pages with slots can be used for that purpose. If you purchase pages from a photography shop or office supply, make sure they are of archival quality. They should be made of polyester or polypropylene, and not PVC. Genealogical Storage Products will give you an idea of the storage products available.
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