I no longer rely on a print portfolio. The last time I used one was for a teaching position I applied for—and got. Occasionally, I’d bring it to class to share with first-semester and graduating students, but its purpose soon faded. However, while the need for a physical portfolio has ended, the importance of preserving my work—whether created digitally or on film—has not. In today’s world, where photography primarily exists online, proper organization is essential, whether you work with film, digital, or both. Being able to access and upload your important work quickly is crucial.
Since my early days beta-testing Lightroom, it has been my go-to tool for cataloging and post-processing. It has evolved alongside me, much like my career in graphics and photography. Am I an expert? Some might think so, but I don’t claim mastery over anything except what I enjoy—like shooting with Hasselblads, traveling in my campervan, and organizing my work. This includes safeguarding my portfolio pieces for future use.
Do you know where your favorite photographs are? Are they properly organized and securely stored? This article explores how I manage the storage of both film and digital work, with an emphasis on film. While a well-organized and backed-up Lightroom catalog (or similar system) can effectively protect your digital assets, how do you ensure the safety and accessibility of your most treasured film frames or portfolio pieces? Let’s dive in.
Organizing Digital Assets
The topic of managing digital assets has been extensively covered. One of the resources I relied on early in my journey was Peter Krogh’s guide, which has been updated over the years. While some reviews note it might not be the easiest read, I found it comprehensive and invaluable when transitioning to digital. Whatever guide you choose, ensure it’s clear, relevant, and tailored to photography. Once you have a plan in place, you’ll be well on your way to securing and organizing your digital files.
With that foundation in place, let’s shift to what I really want to discuss: caring for your favorite film frames and portfolio pieces.
Digitizing and Organizing Film
Start by digitizing your favorite film frames and adding them to your digital catalog. If you don’t have the tools or time to scan them yourself, consider budgeting for professional services. This allows you to integrate your film work into Lightroom or a similar system, where it can be organized alongside your digital files.
For instance, I maintain a folder in my Lightroom catalog labeled PORTFOLIO, where I store my favorite images. I also assign each image a title and can sort them by title, date, or camera. Lightroom allows you to edit EXIF camera and lens information when using Negative Lab Pro for film post-processing. However, for many years, I have relied on the Photographer’s Toolbox plugin Capture Time to EXIF to add accurate camera and lens details (removing references to the scanner or camera used for digitizing) and adjust the date to reflect the original shooting date for my older film files. Here’s a two-minute video demonstrating its use. Keep in mind that the user interface has been updated over the years and, in my opinion, is now even more user-friendly.
Some photographers may choose not to title their images—which is perfectly fine—but I find it immensely helpful for remembering and referencing specific works. The key is ensuring your images are easy to locate when needed. Whatever organizational system works best for you, stick to it and make it a consistent habit. You’ll feel a sense of satisfaction knowing your portfolio of favorite images is well-organized and cared for, ready whenever you need it.
Storing Individual Film Frames
When it comes to film storage, the focus often shifts to individual frames rather than entire rolls. For me, shooting film is about finding those rare gems—perhaps one or two frames from a roll of 120 that truly stand out. Over time, my approach to storing these valuable frames has evolved. I started with Print File pages designed for full rolls of film, but as my workflow changed, I switched to pages with individual pockets for slides and cut negatives. This became essential once the film was cut for wet darkroom printing, and I grew tired of using glassine envelopes for individual film storage.
Handling different film formats presents unique challenges. 4×5″ film is relatively easy to store and manage with its larger size and the availability of dedicated archive pages, while 135 film, when mounted in slide mounts, is similarly straightforward. However, 120 film sits in the middle, requiring more thoughtful solutions. As I transitioned to scanning my film, I recognized the need for a dedicated archive specifically for my favorites and portfolio pieces. To improve handling and preservation, I began mounting individual 120 frames in slide mounts. This practice has greatly enhanced how I store, retrieve, and manage these frames. The Print File page designed for holding Instax prints (33-12P) holds the 6×7 slide mounts in my binders, and the 225-12HB page holds my 6×6 and 6×4.5 film in slide mounts. I do not have any 6×8 film to store, but the 6×9 film I do have is stored in strips in 120-4B pages.
One trend I’ve observed is that advancements in digital technology or changes in storage standards often compel me to revisit my film archive roughly every five years. Whether I’m re-scanning images with superior equipment or updating my digital storage methods, having my portfolio pieces organized in slide mounts has been invaluable. These mounts not only protect the film but also simplify access, ensuring my most treasured frames remain preserved and ready for the future.
Tools for Archiving
I use Matkin medium-format slide mounts to archive all my favorite 120 transparency and negative film frames. These mounted frames are stored in binders specifically designed for archiving, which I label as PORTFOLIO. Each frame is also digitized and added to my Lightroom catalog in a dedicated folder labeled PORTFOLIO.
The tools I use for digitizing make the process of camera scanning slide-mounted film straightforward and efficient. The Skier Sunray Copy Box, for example, includes film holders with a feature that accommodates slide-mounted film on the reverse side of its 120 and 135 film holders. This setup ensures that my mounted film is easy to handle, scan, and preserve for both digital and physical archives.
Closing Statement
Preserving your favorite film frames and portfolio pieces is as much about the organization as it is about care and foresight. By digitizing, mounting, and archiving your most treasured images, you not only protect their physical integrity but also ensure they remain accessible in a rapidly evolving digital world. Whether your images live in a Lightroom catalog, a slide-mounted binder, or both, the time and effort spent on proper storage will keep your portfolio ready for whatever the future holds.