Do not send a photo in a frame.

Pack the photo in such a way that the Post Office's machinery will not damage it, and no postman will be tempted to fold it to get it into his bag!

We recommend cutting some stout cardboard a little larger than your photo, for use as stiffening. Use two pieces to make the resulting package difficult to fold. Put the photo between the two pieces of stout card, and pop it into a padded envelope. You can buy padded envelopes in most Post Offices and stationery counters. Important - if the cardboard is waxed, printed or coloured, please protect the photo from the colour rubbing off, by wrapping it in clean writing paper, or putting it in an ordinary envelope.

Some customers use a small catalogue or leaflet as the stiffening. Ensure it is larger than the photo. Card backed envelopes in place of the padded ones work also, but offer less protection from sharp objects.

So you are aware of the problem, this is what might happen to your packet or letter during its travels through the postal system to us. Your sorting office will bag it up and toss the bag into a york (a metal cage on wheels) to begin its journey to Sheffield. If it goes by air or rail it will be tossed at the station or airport onto concrete, and later tossed onto the transport. On arrival, the mail bag is again tossed off the train or plane and tossed into the back of a van. Later it will be tossed onto a bench and opened. After local sorting your packet will be bagged again and tossed into a york for movement to our local delivery office. After another toss the bag is opened, and our postman brings it to us. Every time your packet is moved, it can get knocked but nobody can read your "Care please - Photos" because it is inside a sack!

Please pack your photo well. Once a photograph is folded it is impossible to un-crease it again.

One final point. If you are posting a photo and you have paid by PayPal please put your eMail address on the order with the photo, so we can find your payment quickly. Thank you.