When you send photos to someone in prison, write a short letter that gives each photo its story: who's in it, when and where it was taken, and why it made you think of them. Mail the letter in its own envelope under the facility's letter rules, and don't write on the photos themselves unless the facility asks for a name and ID number on the back.
Photos show your loved one what life looks like. Your words tell them they're still part of it. Here's how to write the letter that goes with them.
Write a separate letter, not notes on the photos
It's tempting to write a caption on the back of each print. At some facilities, that's a problem, and there are other reasons to skip it:
- Some facilities strictly control what's on the back of a photo. The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's rules, for example, require the person's name, booking number and CID number on the back of each photo and say "Nothing else is to be written on the photographs."
- Photos are often copied or scanned. At most federal prisons, the person gets a color copy of each photo, and Texas state prisons scan mail to tablets. Writing on the back may never reach them.
- InmatePics sends photo prints only. We address and pack each order the way the facility requires, but your letter travels separately, in your own envelope.
So write one letter that walks through the photos, and tell your loved one that the prints are coming separately so they know to look out for them.
A simple formula for each photo
You don't need to be a good writer. For each photo, answer three or four quick questions:
- Who's in it? Use names, even if they know everyone. "That's Aunt Rosa on the left."
- When and where? "Last Saturday at the park by the river."
- What happened? "Maya refused to come down from the slide for 20 minutes."
- Why did it make you think of them? "You used to push her on that same swing."
Because photos can arrive in any order, describe each one so it's easy to match: "the one with the red balloon," "the photo of the dog on the couch."
Example lines you can borrow
- "This is the first time Jayden rode without training wheels. He made me take the picture so you'd see."
- "Mom finally planted the garden you always talked about. The tomatoes are taking over."
- "We made your chili recipe for the game. It wasn't as good as yours."
- "Look how tall Lily is now. She asked if you'll recognize her. I told her you will."
- "Nothing special happened this day, but the light was beautiful and I wished you could see it."
Small, specific details matter more than big statements. They let your loved one picture the moment, not just see it.
What else to write about
The photos are a starting point. A good letter also includes:
- Everyday news: work, the neighbors, what everyone's watching, what the weather's doing
- Questions: How are you sleeping? What are you reading? What do you want to see in the next photos?
- Shared memories: "Remember the time we..."
- Plans: a visit, a call, what you'll do together someday
- How you're doing, honestly. You don't have to pretend everything is fine.
Ask what photos they'd like next. It turns your letters into a conversation, and their answer tells you what matters most to them.
What to leave out
Personal mail sent to a prison or jail is opened, inspected and may be read by staff. The Bureau of Prisons' correspondence policy says general correspondence is opened and inspected for contraband and content, and lets a prison reject mail that contains, among other things:
- Threats, extortion, obscenity or gratuitous profanity
- A code
- Plans for escape or illegal activity
- Sexually explicit material
- Material that could lead to violence
Many state and county rules list similar reasons. Because staff can read letters, keep anything you'd want private, such as details about a legal case, out of the mail.
Keep the letter itself mailroom-friendly
What you write on matters as much as what you write. Rules vary, but these are common:
- Plain paper and blue or black ink. Broward County's jails, for example, require blue or black ink on their postcards.
- Nothing attached. Florida's state prison mail rule bans stickers and says no item can be glued, taped, stapled or otherwise attached to a page.
- No perfume, lipstick, glitter or crayon. Broward bans postcards marked with crayon, stains, lipstick or perfume.
- Your full return address on the envelope.
- The right name, ID number and mailing address, the same way you'd address photos. Our how-to guide explains each part.
Some jails accept postcards only, so check the facility's rules before you write a long letter. Our post on jail vs. prison mail explains why rules differ so much.
Timing your letter and photos
Send the letter around the same time as your photo order so they arrive close together. If the facility limits photos per envelope or per day, InmatePics may split your order into several envelopes, so mention that a few envelopes are coming.
For birthdays and holidays, give both extra time. See our ideas for birthdays and Christmas photos.
A few tone tips
- Write like you talk. Perfect spelling doesn't matter. Just write clearly, since your letter may be copied or scanned.
- It's okay to be sad. Saying "I miss you" is not a burden.
- Don't wait for news. A short, ordinary letter beats a long one that never gets sent.
- Be consistent. A letter and a few photos every couple of weeks gives them something to look forward to.
Send the photos
With InmatePics you upload your photos, crop each to 4x6, and choose their facility from our facility directory. We print real photo prints and mail them the way the facility requires. Before you pay, we show you whether your loved one will get prints, a copy or a tablet scan. It's $0.99 per print plus $4.99 per envelope.
Frequently asked questions
Can I write on the back of photos I send to an inmate?
Usually it's best not to. Some facilities require only the person's name and ID number on the back and ban anything else. Put your captions in a letter instead.
Can I include my letter in the InmatePics envelope?
No. We send photo prints only, so mail your letter yourself in a separate envelope.
How long should my letter be?
As long as you like, within the facility's paper and page rules. A single page that explains a few photos is plenty.
Will staff read my letter?
They can. General mail is opened and inspected, and staff may read it, so write with that in mind.
