What to Know About Digitizing Your Photos
You can do it yourself with a scanner or smartphone app, or hire a mail-in service or local pro to do it for you
Cathi Nelson
March 7, 2017
The shift from film to digital photography in recent decades has given our memories protection. However, many of us still have older photos that we have not yet scanned into digital form. Printed photos are susceptible to floods and fires, but most often the culprit of destruction to our photos is time. The longer our old photos sit in photo albums and boxes, the quicker they will decay.
There are three routes you can take when you decide to scan your photos for further safekeeping. You can do it yourself by purchasing or renting a scanner, ship your photos away to a scanning service, or hire someone locally to scan your photos.
First you need to determine how many of your photos need to be scanned. In addition to photographs, you may also want to scan the original slides or negatives, old newspaper articles, artwork by your children, and any other memorabilia. Let’s assume that you have an average-size collection of 3,000 to 5,000 photos. Here are your options.
There are three routes you can take when you decide to scan your photos for further safekeeping. You can do it yourself by purchasing or renting a scanner, ship your photos away to a scanning service, or hire someone locally to scan your photos.
First you need to determine how many of your photos need to be scanned. In addition to photographs, you may also want to scan the original slides or negatives, old newspaper articles, artwork by your children, and any other memorabilia. Let’s assume that you have an average-size collection of 3,000 to 5,000 photos. Here are your options.
Do It Yourself
You may already own an all-in-one home printer, which probably includes a scanner. If you plan to scan only a few hundred photos, this is an excellent option. However, if you are going to scan your entire collection, software glitches typical to these home printers could make finishing your work troublesome.
You could invest in a flatbed scanner, which often scans your photos at a high resolution for best results. Ensure that the resolution for scans rests at 600 dots per inch to achieve this. I use the Epson V600 ($229.99), which also scans slides. I also use the Flip-Pal mobile scanner, a battery-operated, portable scanner. I use my Flip-Pal ($149.99) to quickly scan photos in scrapbook albums for instant sharing to social media.
You may already own an all-in-one home printer, which probably includes a scanner. If you plan to scan only a few hundred photos, this is an excellent option. However, if you are going to scan your entire collection, software glitches typical to these home printers could make finishing your work troublesome.
You could invest in a flatbed scanner, which often scans your photos at a high resolution for best results. Ensure that the resolution for scans rests at 600 dots per inch to achieve this. I use the Epson V600 ($229.99), which also scans slides. I also use the Flip-Pal mobile scanner, a battery-operated, portable scanner. I use my Flip-Pal ($149.99) to quickly scan photos in scrapbook albums for instant sharing to social media.
Photomyne
Smartphone apps like Photomyne and PhotoScan allow you to use your smartphone’s camera to scan and save your pictures. Both apps offer further organization through cloud storage options. You can download a free trial of Photomyne or pay $4.99 to experience the full extent of tools available through the app. PhotoScan is free. These apps may be insanely cheaper than buying or renting a scanner, but cellphone cameras will not produce the quality that a scanner guarantees, and it will take longer to scan your photos because you will probably have to scan one print at a time for the best results.
If you have a large collection of photos, you can rent a professional high-speed scanner that scans up to 800 photos an hour. E-Z Photo Scan starts its rental packages at $295. If you set aside a weekend, you can complete your project efficiently and affordably.
Is DIY Photo Scanning Right for You?
If you have a large collection of photos, you can rent a professional high-speed scanner that scans up to 800 photos an hour. E-Z Photo Scan starts its rental packages at $295. If you set aside a weekend, you can complete your project efficiently and affordably.
Is DIY Photo Scanning Right for You?
- Pros: Taking on the task of photo scanning yourself can be a fun way to reconnect with your memories. Because you are in control, you can curate your collection during the process to avoid creating a digital mess of your photos.
- Cons: Finding the time and motivation to get the job done has proved difficult for many. Technology glitches are time-consuming and test patience.
Ship Photos to a Scanning Service
You can also send your photos to a professional scanning company. As you are researching and selecting a company to use, you should look for the number of years they have been in business and if they send your photos elsewhere for scanning. You must ensure that the company you ship your photos to holds itself to the highest level of commitment when it comes to digitizing your photos, as these may be your only copies. Reputable companies include FotoBridge (for which I am an adviser), EverPresent, Forever and Charter Oak Scanning.
Is a Mail-In Company My Best Option?
You can also send your photos to a professional scanning company. As you are researching and selecting a company to use, you should look for the number of years they have been in business and if they send your photos elsewhere for scanning. You must ensure that the company you ship your photos to holds itself to the highest level of commitment when it comes to digitizing your photos, as these may be your only copies. Reputable companies include FotoBridge (for which I am an adviser), EverPresent, Forever and Charter Oak Scanning.
Is a Mail-In Company My Best Option?
- Pros: Mailing away your photos is often cost-efficient, with prices ranging from 4 cents to 59 cents a photo. Many companies also offer a range of upgrades, such as color correcting, slide shows and cloud storage.
- Cons: Many people are afraid to put their valuable photo collection in the mail. And, if you ship a box of unorganized photos, you will get the same mess back in digital form.
Hire a Local Professional
Despite the several options outlined above, many of us struggle to find the time to begin the process. The growing trend of digitizing our massive amounts of prints lying around in dusty shoe boxes has allowed for the emergence of professional photo scanners and organizers. There is a growing niche for people interested in creating a business by organizing a family’s history, and a major part of the business involves photo scanning. Personal photo organizers reside around the United States and in other parts of the world.
Is a Local Pro the Most Helpful to Me?
Despite the several options outlined above, many of us struggle to find the time to begin the process. The growing trend of digitizing our massive amounts of prints lying around in dusty shoe boxes has allowed for the emergence of professional photo scanners and organizers. There is a growing niche for people interested in creating a business by organizing a family’s history, and a major part of the business involves photo scanning. Personal photo organizers reside around the United States and in other parts of the world.
Is a Local Pro the Most Helpful to Me?
- Pros: Professional photo organizers and scanners save you time, and many will pick up the photos from you if you don’t have a moment to drop them off. Some have the tools to scan right in your home, and they will organize your collection before they scan so that they can duplicate this organization digitally.
- Cons: Professional photo organizing is still a growing business, so there may not be someone available in your area. Also, not all photo organizers are certified through an organization, so you will want to choose your professional with care. Don’t hesitate to ask for references and interview the individual to ensure that you are comfortable handing over your precious photo collection.
While there are advantages to DIY photo scanning, getting your photos scanned by professionals — including individual photo organizers, local retailers and mail-in services — will offer you convenience and time savings. You’ll also know that your family history will be scanned with quality and archived effectively for you to have as a keepsake forever.
Resources: You can find professional photo organizers in your area on Houzz and through the Association of Personal Photo Organizers, which certifies photo organizers after they pass a series of tests, provide letters of recommendation, learn best practices and ethics, and complete a minimum of 20 hours of paid service.
More
You Can Do It: 6 Steps to Organizing Your Loose Photos
Great Home Project: How to Organize Your Digital Photos
Resources: You can find professional photo organizers in your area on Houzz and through the Association of Personal Photo Organizers, which certifies photo organizers after they pass a series of tests, provide letters of recommendation, learn best practices and ethics, and complete a minimum of 20 hours of paid service.
More
You Can Do It: 6 Steps to Organizing Your Loose Photos
Great Home Project: How to Organize Your Digital Photos
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Margo, you can try AutoSplitter to digitize these scrapbooks. It's been made for scanning of standalone photos but maybe it would work with the scrapbooks as well.
First, just use your cell phone camera or tablet to photograph everything. Do albums without any prep, just as they are, photos attached to the album. Photograph a page at a time and then each photo on the page, separately - one at a time.
Once you do this, and assuming you are using a photo ap like google pictures, your photos will be on your device and automatically backed up to the cloud. You have now done the most historically critical step quickly and by yourself. And, the cost was essentially ZERO!
This step can be done without a lot of planning, time, cost or outside help. Procrastination won't be too much of an issue here.
After you have accomplished the fiest wave/step, you can follow a more comprehensive process, as in the excellent articles, to get an archival result.
The reassuring news is, no intervening disaster can completely wipe out your precious memories and family history before you do the more rigorous and time-consuming steps.
This insurance step is a must!
If you use Rick's suggestion above, you might want to check to https://www.photomyne.com - basically an app that helps you scan photos with your phone. You can take a picture of a page and it will "pull" out the individual images.