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📸 A Family’s Guide to Preparing Photos for Digitization
Gather Your Family’s Visual Story
Highlight Your Family’s Most Treasured Moments
Relive & Sort the Moments That Matter
- Open the old albums, dig into that box in the closet, and gather all the pieces of your family’s story—loose prints, faded Polaroids, curled black-and-whites, and even those quirky outtakes that make you smile.
- Include any slides, negatives, or even framed photos you’d love to see digitized.
- Think beyond photos—are there letters, postcards, or handwritten captions you’d love to preserve?
Relive & Sort the Moments That Matter
Highlight Your Family’s Most Treasured Moments
Relive & Sort the Moments That Matter
- Spread the photos out with your family, and let the memories flow! You might hear stories you’ve never heard before.
- Sort in a way that makes sense to you—by decade, family member, life event, or even just "favorites first."
- Set aside duplicates or unclear images (but keep the ones that tell a story, even if they aren’t perfect).
Highlight Your Family’s Most Treasured Moments
Highlight Your Family’s Most Treasured Moments
Highlight Your Family’s Most Treasured Moments
- Some photos mean everything. Separate the must-haves—the ones that define your family’s history.
- Look closely at any photos with handwritten dates, notes, or meaningful details on the back. Write these down separately so they can be preserved with the image.
- Ask older relatives to help identify faces and places—this is a perfect opportunity to capture family history before it’s lost!
Carefully Ready Your Photos for Preservation
Highlight Your Family’s Most Treasured Moments
- No sticky notes—while helpful for reminders, they can damage photos and jam scanners. Instead, keep notes separately.
- Handle old photos gently, by the edges, to avoid fingerprints.
Lightly dust off photos with a soft, dry cloth—no cleaners or moisture, which can cause damage. - Group photos in labeled envelopes or bags to keep them organized for scanning.
Picture Your Memories, Organized & Preserved
- How do you want to organize your digital archive? Think about folders labeled by year, family branch, or event.
- Would you like to add voice recordings or written captions to go with certain photos? Now’s the time to note any details you want included.
- Do any photos need extra care—restoration, color correction, or repair? Let’s plan for that too!
Embrace the Storytelling Experience
- This is more than scanning—it’s about bringing memories to life! Take time to share stories, laugh over old outfits, and relive beautiful moments.
- Do you have an elder relative who can share the stories behind the photos? Consider recording their voice to go along with your digital collection.
- Make it a family event—this process is a chance to connect generations, whether in person or over a video call.
tAKING THE FIRST STEP...
What’s the first photo you want to digitize? Let’s start with that story!
At Promise of Youth Heritage Studio, we believe that every family’s history deserves to be cherished and shared. This isn’t just about digitizing photos—it’s about holding onto what matters most, ensuring that the laughter, love, and legacy of your family live on for years to come.
Want a printable version of this guide? Download our easy-to-follow checklist to keep your family on track as you prepare your memories for digitization. Let’s preserve your story together. 💛
