Photokive: How to Safely Pack and Ship Your Photo Albums & Prints
- Rodnesha Green
- Sep 17
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 9
Shipping your irreplaceable family photo albums and loose prints to be digitized can feel daunting. But with the right preparation, you can pack up your old family photos safely and send them off with confidence.
In this guide, we’ll walk through what to do with your photo albums and prints before sending them to Photokive. We'll include a list of materials, instructions on how to sort and label your prints properly, and shipping tips.
Gather Your Packing Materials
Before you start, gather the following items needed to pack your photos securely. Having the right materials on hand will make the process smoother:
Photokive Shipping Kit: This includes your crush-proof box, a protective sleeve, adhesive labels, and a return shipping label.
Soft Packing Material: i.e., bubble wrap, foam sheets, acid-free tissue paper. ** Avoid packing peanuts. **
Ziplock Bags | Containers | Rubber Bands: Use these to group photos and protect them from moisture.
A Pen/Sharpie and Packing Tape
Need to Order Your Photokive Box?
Organize Your Prints by Size and Theme
By organizing your prints, you’re not only protecting them but making the digitizing process smoother. This is the best way to receive your digitized images in a way that mirrors your original groupings.
Group by Events or Themes: Sort your loose photos into categorized stacks by event, year, or theme. (e.g., "Family Reunion 1975", "Jerry's 50th Birthday) Photokive will use these labels to create corresponding folders for your digitized photos.
Keep Photo Orientation Consistent: Make sure all photos in a stack face the same direction. Consistent orientation prevents inverted images and makes for quicker capture during digitizing.
Separate by Size: It’s best to group similarly sized photos so that large 8×10s aren’t bending around smaller 4×6 prints.
Remove Glue, Tape, or Sticky Notes: Peel away any Post-its, old tape, or bits of adhesive. Photos that have sticky residue can cause damage or get stuck to other photos in the stack.
Do Not Remove Photos from Photo Albums: The Photokive team will scan them directly without unbinding the album. If you happen to notice any photos that are loose or sliding out from the album pages, try to secure them neatly inside.
Bundle and Secure Your Photo Albums and Prints
With piles labeled and organized, it’s time to bundle them for shipment:
Use Rubber Bands (Loosely): Gently wrap a rubber band around each stack of photos. The key is to make it snug enough to hold the photos together, but not so tight that it bends them or leaves an imprint.
Utilize Containers or Ziplock Bags: If you prefer not to use rubber bands but want to keep your loose photos organized, place them in a Ziplock bag or sealed container. When using a ziplock, be sure to press out any excess air to optimize space.
Label Each Pile and Album Clearly: Put a sticky label on the front of your photo albums with a note of what’s inside. The same can be done with your photo stacks by placing the label on the outside of your bags or containers. This label will help the Photokive team know which photos belong together.
What About Fragile Items? For safety, we recommend that any glass-framed photos be taken out of the frame and sorted in the box. For anything going in the box, make sure it’s well-padded and lies flat.
Pack the Box for Safe Shipping
Some final tips to secure your photos for shipment:
Line the Box with Cushioning: Place a layer of bubble wrap or crumpled paper at the bottom of the Photokive box. This soft bed will absorb any shocks from below.
Layer Your Albums and Photo Bundles: Put in the heaviest items first (photo albums). Lay bundles flat; avoid standing photos upright, as that can cause them to bend.
Fill Extra Space: Fill all empty spaces with bubble wrap, air pillows, or rolled up paper. The goal is to have no room for items to jostle.
Avoid Packing Peanuts: Styrofoam peanuts or foam bits. They can settle and leave your photos loose, and the static can make little pieces cling to prints.
Add Photokive Form: The final step before you close the box is to place your Photokive info sheet on top of your secured items... and maybe one last layer of bubble wrap!
Seal the Box | Place Your Return Label: Don’t be shy with the packing tape – a securely sealed box protects your items while in transit. Once sealed, place your return label on the front of the box.
Printable Packing Checklist for Stress-Free Shipping
Before you send off that box, run through this handy Photokive packing checklist to make sure you haven’t missed a thing. Download and print the attachment below so you can check items off as you go!
Before you hand off the box, write down or take a photo of the tracking number on the label. This way, you can monitor the shipment’s progress online. Some customers elect to purchase shipping insurance for their box. If you wish to do so, check with your postal carrier about adding coverage for a declared value.
Once shipped, Photokive’s concierge support will update you when your package is received. They will also contact you as your order moves through each step of the digitizing process.
Now, go ahead and ship that box with confidence, and get ready to rediscover your treasured moments in digital form!
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