Now, that this school year is almost over and your High School Senior is almost done, you should have some new portraits on your wall, shouldn’t you? If you don’t, then we need to talk!

So, but if you do have professional photos on your wall, shelf or desk, they will eventually collect some dust. I’m not just talking about the frame or the glass, but about the print itself and whether you dust once a month or once every 10 years - yuck, I hope not! - you will want to do it right and not harm your print. So, here are a few tips:

Photo Prints

If they are behind glass, you can use your regular window washing items. Please, refrain from using the pressure washer though! Stick to a rag and water, vinegar, or Windex & co. If this is beyond your expertise, please call a Mom.

If your frame has acrylic instead of glass, make sure you use soft rags and water or gentle cleaners so that you do not scratch the acrylic.

If your print has no glass or acrylic, it is most likely coated with a protective spray. My suggestion is to simply use a dry microfiber cloth to dust it or if needed, use a slightly damp mf cloth and gently wipe your print.

Do you have a photo behind glass or acrylic and it’s been there a while and it’s looking like it’s stuck to the glass? That’s not good! See, for some reason, your photos and glass/acrylic can have some kind of chemical reaction – don’t ask me the specifics on this, I’m a photographer not a chemist! But if that’s the case and you can get your print out of that situation, DO IT! And then get yourself some spacers. They keep a gap between your print and whatever is in front of it.

(the links are suggestions – do your own research to find the product that’s right for you! I do not get any commission.)

If your print seems to be hopelessly stuck, consult a professional framer or photographer, or a historian, an archivist or a restoration expert. A photographer might be able to create a photo of your photo before any deconstruction is attempted. I’ve done that before. It was quite an interesting challenge since the pictures were behind curved glass, aka ‘bubble glass’. To create a photo without any reflection on the glass brought my MacGyver side to the forefront! Don’t you love a good challenge?!

So, now, what about metal prints, or canvas, or acrylic?

A clean dry soft microfiber cloth is your best friend when it comes to cleaning those precious portraits. Avoid anything that would scratch the surface. This includes chemicals which can cause a reaction with the medium your photo is printed on or adhered to. So, put that blue window cleaner away!

What do you do if...

... you notice imperfections on your print? Are the edges still tightly bonded? There are no bubbles anywhere on your print? The colors are just the way they were when you received the print? The canvas material is still nice and taut? There are no slack, waves, or wrinkles? If your answer is YES to all of these – fantastic! Give your photographer/printer/framer a 5-star Google Review! And if you look at your prints and you do have a concern, you should contact your photographer. The professional photo printing companies I work with guarantee their work which easily allows me to guarantee the products I sell to my clients. How cool is that?!

So, [slaps knees] if you got any questions or suggestions on this or you got some stories, share them in the comments. I want to hear from you!

... or just CONTACT US

This post was created with NI (natural intelligence). It might not be perfect but it's mine. Enjoy!

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