How to care for your heirloom albums
Here at Melissa Fitzgerald Photography, we take great pride in making high quality, heirloom albums that are meant to be cherished for a lifetime by our clients. However, the album must be cared for under the right conditions to ensure its longevity. We’ve put together some information to help prevent any issues with our books and also to inform you on what to do if something ever does happen to the album. Enjoy the tips! For more details on purchasing an heirloom album from your recent session, check out the ‘Products’ tab or click the link here.
LAY THE ALBUM FLAT ON ITS BACK
Laying the book flat (and preferably in its original box & pouch) is best for your album. Because our albums have heavier pages than a standard book, they are at risk of sagging over time if you stand the album upright.
USE THE GREY POUCH
The grey pouches that come with your album does serve a purpose. It protects your album from regular wear and tear when handling/viewing the album. Additionally, if you have a lighter color cover material, or opted to go with a silk or linen cover, the black felt lining inside the album box holder can sometimes rub off onto your album cover.
KEEP ALBUM IN A TEMPERATURE CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT
There are many places to store your album that is cool, dry, and away from direct heat/sunlight. You can keep it on the bookshelf, on your coffee table or beneath it, in the closet, or under the bed. Please do not leave the album on the window sill, in the trunk of your car, or anywhere else that it can be exposed to extreme conditions.
BASIC CLEANING AND ALBUM CARE TIPS
Use lint-free, dry cotton cloth to wipe or clean your album.
Use a piece of scotch tape or a can of compressed air to remove dust particles, specks, and other types of marks on the album.
Never use water or liquids to clean the cover or the pages of the album.