Use these strategies to get your photos under control — and make sure they'll be preserved for generations to come.

Edit ruthlessly.

As soon as you get pictures back from the developer, discard out-of-focus, unflattering, or redundant shots. Some developers will let you inspect photos and deduct the cost of any prints with technical problems.

Label everything.

If you can't put photos in an album or a storage box right away, label the developer's envelope or the back of each photo with a dull No. 2 pencil.

Choose storage with care.

Stow photos in acid- and, more important, lignin-free albums or boxes. Note that the labeling terms "photo-safe," "museum quality," and "archival" do not guarantee that a product is either acid- or lignin-free. Products that have passed the Photographic Activity Test are considered by experts to be safest. Good bets: Gaylord Keepsake album, $55, 800-634-6307. Light Impressions CardFile box, $8 for tan, $10 for black; use with Light Impressions Tabbed Index Dividers, $3 for a pack of six. All available at 800-828-6216.

Keep photos cool and dry.

Whether you store photos in boxes or albums, their fate lies in their environment. Heat and humidity are the culprits behind the deterioration of photographs, so never store photos in an attic, basement, or garage. The best rule of thumb: Store photos in the same environment you would find most comfortable.