S.A.V.E. Your Photos: A Guide to Protecting Your Family's Memories  

Last month, while my husband and I were sorting through papers at his mother’s house, I stumbled upon a box of old photographs. Black-and-white portraits, faces I didn’t recognize, yet each one radiated a life fully lived. On the back of one, in faded handwriting, were the words: Betsy Brightwell, 1901. I held it like a treasure. Without that name, without that date, she may have been just another forgotten face in time.

It made me pause. How many of my own photos, birthday candles blown out in a blur, an amazing vacation sunset, will one day lose their stories if I don’t tell them? Thousands of tiny pieces of our lives live in drawers, on phones, and across hard drives. But here’s the hard truth: memories can vanish. Prints fade. Hard drives crash. Phones get lost.

September is Save Your Photos Month. I’ve been thinking about what it truly means to protect our memories. It’s not just about organizing pictures, it’s about preserving a legacy. And the simplest way I’ve found to begin is to S.A.V.E.:

S – Safeguard Your Prints

There’s something irreplaceable about holding a printed photograph. Yet they’re fragile, vulnerable to water, fire, and the quiet erosion of time. I’m grateful my mother-in-law, or someone before her, labeled many of them; because of that, I know the names and faces of people who lived over a century ago.

I’ve gathered her scattered prints into archival-quality boxes, now resting in a cool, dry corner of my home, with a few chosen to frame, daily reminders of the lives that came before us. My husband sat with her, photo by photo, asking, “Who is this? What’s their story?” Sometimes she remembered; sometimes she didn’t. But every name she recalled transformed a picture into a piece of family history.

No box, however, can protect against everything. I haven’t started scanning yet; life is full as we continue sorting, but I know it’s the next step. Each scan will be like tucking a moment into a time capsule, preserving it for my daughter and her children.

A – Arrange Your Digital Archive

Most of our lives today exist on screens. I’ve got thousands of photos from vacations, milestones, and everyday moments stored on my phone and computer. But a cluttered hard drive is as risky as a dusty attic.

The Photo Managers recommend a simple, reliable system:

•  Use clear folder structures (Year > Month > Event)
•  Name files descriptively so they’re easy to find
•  Back up using the 3-2-1 rule: three copies, on two types of media, with one stored offsite or in the cloud

Taking these steps ensures that when you want to relive a memory, or pass it on, it’s right there, safe and ready to share.

V – Value Every Moment

Why are these photos important? Because they tell a story.  The value of them is the people, place, and/or situation that was preserved in this moment. 

It's essential to share the story of why we value each photo.  Better to have fewer photos with stories shared than dozens that have no context. 

E – Exchange Your Legacy

Memories aren’t meant to be tucked away; they’re meant to be shared. In my guest room, I have dozens of framed black-and-white photos to honor the generations who came before us. When someone asks about them, I can smile, point, and tell their stories.

Preserving your photos doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Start small. Pick one old box, one forgotten folder, one story. Protect it. Name it. Share it. Because one day, someone you love will hold a photo you saved, just as I’ve held my mother-in-law’s, and they’ll be thankful you kept the story alive.

This Save Your Photos Month, I invite you to explore the resources available. The Photo Managers are offering free classes to help you organize, protect, and celebrate your family’s story. (This is a partner link—thank you for supporting resources that help families preserve their memories!)