Preserving Wedding Negatives

When it comes to negative handling there are three types of wedding photographers. The wedding photographers that keep the negatives, the ones that only shoot digital and the ones that give you the negatives. If you choose a wedding photographer that gives you the negatives you are responsible for their care.

Most couples do not know how to correctly care for their wedding negatives. In this guide I will cover how to correctly store, handle, and protect your negatives for years to come.

Storage for your Wedding Photo Negatives
All negatives should be stored in archival negative sleeves, like the ones that the lab gives you. If your negatives came in sleeves you still must replace them with archival negative sleeves. Adhesives from the manufacture of paper and plastics can be harmful to your wedding negatives in the long term. You can purchase them at any office supply store, such as Staples, and Office Depot, or at a professional camera supply store. These sleeves will protect your wedding negatives from fingerprints, dust, and scratches. To further insure their safe keeping purchase an acid-free box to place them in. Since it is acid-free it will not harm your negatives in the years to come. Regular non-acid free boxes are not recommended because over the years the acid in the paper will discolor and destroy your wedding negatives. (Wedding photos should also be stored in an acid-free box or wedding photo album.) If you buy a silica gel pouch, craft stores should carry in the flower drying section, and put one in the box this will protect your wedding negatives against mold and mildew. Plastic storage or Metal boxes made for negative storage can be used instead of the acid-free ones, however you still will need silica gel to prevent mold and mildew. Sealing your wedding negatives in any airtight container when the relative humidity is high will seal in a high level of water vapor. Silica gel and other desiccants is only suitable for short-term storage. The fine dust from desiccants can be abrasive to or reactive with stored the wedding negatives. Also desiccants require periodic reactivation.(To reactivate a desiccant dry it in an oven at about 350°F (175°C) for 1 to 3 hours. Then, close it in a metal container to prevent the re-absorbing of water vapor. Seal the container unless you are going to use the silica gel immediately.) Clearly label the box so you can easily remember the contents.

Wedding negatives should always be stored in a cool, humidity controlled room. Room humidity below 25 percent can lead to brittleness and room humidity above 60 percent encourages mold and fungus growth. For short term storage a cool humidity controlled room in your home is fine. Store containers at least 6 inches (15 cm) above the floor; avoid basements, attics, and places where leaks and drastic temperatures can occur. However, for long term storage the coolest temperatures are best. If you have a second refrigerator or freezer you could storage them in there; however you must seal them in moisture-proof storage envelopes to protect them from humidity. Moisture-proof storage envelopes can be purchased from dealers who specialize in professional photography supplies. It is not easy to provide long term conditions for your wedding negatives. So, carefully follow the instructions provided with the moisture-proof envelopes.
Do Not ever store your wedding negatives by windows, radiators, or vents.

Remember light can affect the dyes in color negatives and color black and white film. True black and white film is not affected as much. Ask your wedding photographer which type of film they used. Either way no wedding negatives should be stored in open light. Use metal file boxes, archival acid-free cardboard or an archival plastic negative box for storing slides and transparencies for storage if you don't store them in a refrigerator or freezer.

Handling your Wedding Negatives Safely
Your wedding negatives should NOT be removed from their archival sleeves. Remember dust, scratches and fingerprints can damage your negatives when you remove their protective sleeves. If for any reason you must remove your wedding negatives from their sleeves put on dust-free gloves. Do not let small children handle your wedding negatives they may accidentally bend or crease the negative. Once negatives are bent or creased they are permanently damaged! Medium format negatives are more easily damaged when handled.

With proper storage care you should have no reason to remove your wedding negatives from their sleeves. If you need to find a certain negative just hold the full sheet over a light to view. When you go to get your wedding photos printed from your negatives just take the full sleeve(s) to your lab. The lab can safely remove the negative(s) that you want printed for you.

Following the storage and handling procedures discussed will insure that dust, fingerprints, humidity, and light damage will not harm your wedding negatives, keeping them like new for years to come.