Moving can bring excitement and new beginnings, but packing cherished family mementos can stir up worry and sentimentality. Our snapshots and relics are irreplaceable reminders of our families’ stories. With the right approach, you can protect these treasured belongings. Let’s walk through how to pack family photos and keepsakes for a move.
Step 1: Gather Supplies
Start by collecting everything you’ll need:
- Sturdy boxes
- Acid-free paper
- Bubble wrap
- Packing tape
- Markers
- Foam sheets for cushioning
Specialty materials may seem like an added cost, but they protect irreplaceable items. Next, gather your photos and keepsakes from drawers, albums, storage bins, or shelves. Don’t overlook digital keepsakes, such as discs, USB drives, or memory cards. Keep them separate but accounted for in your packing list.
Step 2: Sort and Categorize
Organize your items by type—framed photos, loose prints, photo albums, children’s artwork, or fragile keepsakes like pottery. Grouping by category simplifies packing and unpacking.
As you sort, consider digitizing important photos. Scanning them ensures that, the memory remains if something is damaged during the move. This also reduces the number of items you have to pack and unpack.
Step 3: Pack Photos and Albums Carefully
Photos are sensitive to heat, moisture, and pressure. Take photographs out of frames to protect them, and wrap the frames in bubble wrap. Use acid-free paper or archival boxes to avoid discoloration and sticking. Stack photos between pieces of cardboard inside snug, secure boxes to prevent bending. You could also put them in a temporary photo album while you move!
For albums, insert loose photos into sleeves and fill gaps with acid-free tissue to keep pages from shifting. Store them flat to avoid warping.
Step 4: Protect Artwork and Fragile Keepsakes
Children’s artwork and handmade keepsakes hold the most value. Wrap each piece individually, using bubble wrap for drawings with 3D elements like glued-on decorations, and double-wrapping delicate ceramic sculptures or ornaments.
Fill empty space in the moving boxes with packing paper or foam sheets to prevent jostling. Finally, mark them boxes as fragile so movers handle them with care.
Step 5: Preserve Loose Photos and Documents
You can put loose prints in archival photo boxes or between heavy books for protection. Use archival folders or plastic sleeves for irreplaceable documents, such as marriage licenses, handwritten letters, or birth certificates. Then, place them in flat, sturdy containers.
If you’re wondering how this differs from how to properly store your antiques and art, the principles are similar. Use climate-conscious materials, support fragile structures, and limit exposure to light and moisture.
Step 6: Celebrate Your Move
No matter where you’re headed, be confident in how to pack family photos and keepsakes for a move. Whether relocating across town or heading out of state, your mementos can arrive intact and ready to grace the next chapter of your story. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, enlist professional help. Some moving services specialize in organizing, digitizing, and securely packing sentimental items.
