Decide whether this is an archive or a message

A family archive preserves material over time. A conditional message attempts to deliver selected material after inactivity. The two need different designs.

Keep the authoritative photo and video library in a maintained archive with independent backups. Use a ZeroLatch delivery for a curated letter, an index to the archive, family context and instructions that one trusted person should receive after the check-in and safety periods pass.

Choose material another person can understand

Useful contents include:

• a short opening letter and the reason the recipient was chosen • selected photographs with names, dates and context • family stories, recipes and oral-history notes • the location and recovery process for the main archive • copyright or sharing preferences • adviser or family contacts for sensitive material

Avoid unexplained file dumps. A thousand unnamed images are not a usable legacy plan.

Respect the privacy of living people

Photographs, recordings and stories may involve people who did not consent to broad distribution. Identify who may see the material and what should remain private. Do not use a posthumous message to reveal another person's medical, legal or intimate information without careful consideration.

The recipient should know whether the material may be copied, shared with siblings, published or retained only privately.

Test formats and keep independent copies

Use common file formats and verify the recipient can download and open them on another device. Keep at least one maintained copy outside the conditional service and record the archive's location.

Review the delivery after births, deaths, relationship changes or a move to a new photo platform. Replace obsolete instructions and confirm the recipient still controls the email address.