Taking Better Pictures Photos are best stored in moderate climates. High humidity is most harmful and high temperatures accelerate the deterioration. The emulsion surface of a photo can be easily scratched by writing too hard on the back of a photo with a sharp writing instrument, like a ball point pen. Where you have your photos developed can be as important as what album you place them into.
Inferior processing can cause photos to age prematurely.
That doesn't mean that you cannot find a good quality one hour photo processor, it does mean that you should shop carefully though. Whenever I want photos developed in one hour, I always seek out a one hour photo that uses the Kodak Colorwatch System. The Kodak Colorwatch System is a series of quality control tests that ensure a processors machines are calibrated correctly on a daily basis. Professional photos will be the most durable photos in your collection because they are printed on high quality paper that is unavailable to us a amateurs. Photo paper can be acidic.