The Best Way to Safely Label Photos

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We tend to assume that future generations will always know who people are in photos, but (as you may have learned) that’s not always the case. So it’s important to understand how to safely label photos to preserve the information in them.

This is a common problem for our readers. One wrote in that, “Before I knew any better, all my family photos are marked on the back in ballpoint pen. Will this damage them? Will the ink eventually seep through? I now have an archival marker for pictures going forward.” Another wrote: “It seems that all the articles about photo restoration say not to write on the back of photos with anything other than a soft-lead pencil. Several years ago, I wrote names, etc. on the back of some of my photos using a waterproof and permanent ink marker that I purchased at a photography store. The pictures are still in perfect condition today. Is there any reason I shouldn’t be using this marking pen?”

Both of these questions address a similar issue: How do you safely label photos to identify information in them for future generations? Photo-safe products on the market can help you—as can these three tips for marking photos.

8 Steps to Organize and Preserve Your Family Photo Prints

Is your collection of family photos less than picture-perfect? Turn your piles of pictures into a model of photo organization in eight steps.

1. Write on back of photo using a soft lead pencil

If you can, use a soft lead pencil to write information—including who’s in a photo, the date it was taken, the occasion, and where it was taken—on the back of a photograph (where the information will never become separated from the image). Soft lead is important because hard lead pencils will leave an indentation. Place the photo face down on a clean, dry surface and write with light pressure.

Consider writing some of the following details on the back of the photo:

name(s) of the individual(s) pictured, as well as their birth or death dates
when and where the photo was taken
where you found the original image, or who has/had custody of the image

2. Use soft-tip markers for photos with coating

Unfortunately, pencils won’t work on the coated papers used for today’s photographs. Instead, purchase an odorless (when dry), waterproof, soft-tip marker. Just be careful to let the ink dry completely before you stack or store the image, because it is permanent.

Ballpoint pens and regular felt-tip markers are not good choices for labeling photos: Ballpoint pens smudge and leave indentations in the photograph, and felt tip markers can bleed through the image. The good news is there are lots of choices for safe labeling tools in art supply stores and craft shops.

3. Scan photos that have damage

What to Do When You Find a Damaged Family Photo

Time can take a toll on old photographs. From humidity to water damage, here are our tips for how to fix your damaged family photos.

If you have photographs marked with ballpoint pens, any damage is already done. Previous generations didn’t have access to the photo-safe tools we have today. Don’t worry too much about it. You can scan the photos to preserve the image and digitally repair ink smudges, and make sure that you use appropriate products when identifying your photographs.

6 Tips for Organizing Your Digital Genealogy Files