Is It Better To Scan or Photograph Old Photos?
Whether your photos come from the early 1900s or the 2000s, photographs contain memories and stories to share with others. One of the benefits of holding onto your favorite old pictures is that it keeps the memory alive and keeps the people you once knew close to your heart. It’s also a great way to pass down your history to your future family, sharing the story of your life.
But over time, old photographs can not only take up a lot of space, but can also become the victims of deterioration and damage. Years of improper storage methods can result in dust accumulation, debris contamination, and reduction in quality. The next best step is to have them preserved with a digital transfer. So, is it better to scan or photograph old photos?
The Importance of Photo Preservation
Photo preservation is of emotional and historical importance for many. Without having access to the pictures you love, you won’t have an easy time going through memories of loved ones who have passed, or a once-in-a-lifetime experience trip to Hawaii. It’s also a way to preserve traditions and cultural shifts throughout each generation. This way, family members of future generations can appreciate times that have long passed.
As for physical preservation, piles of scrapbooks, boxes, and envelopes of old photographs can take up a lot of space. Whether they’re under your bed, in the closet, or somewhere in the basement, taking the time to go through them and organize them can take a lot of time. As a result, digitally transferring them to a USB or computer will make it easier and quicker. So, the critical question is, is it better to scan or photograph old photos?
Scanning Your Old Photos
Putting old pictures through a scanner and uploading them onto a computer can feel time-consuming and even a little dated. However, the quality of the digital file created compared to simply taking a picture of an old photo is staggering. Scanning old photos will capture every detail of your picture and will result in a clear and precise copy, creating a digital backup that everyone can share.
It’s beneficial going through a professional picture conversion service that offers converting pictures into digital files. You can drop off, ship, or in some cases, have your media picked up, advise which photos you want to get scanned, and let the digitization studio take care of the rest for you. So, it saves you the stress of scanning, editing, and finalizing pictures yourself.
Photographing Old Photos
You and everyone you know probably own a smartphone. It has become an essential part of communication and discovering your interests. However, it makes photographing and memory-making much more accessible than ever before. So, taking pictures of your old photographs is not only incredibly easy, but also cheap and convenient. However, taking pictures of old photos on your phone can change the end result entirely.
Details won’t be as clear, image glares can hinder the appearance, and inconsistences become more prominent. Also, smartphone cameras can produce shaky, blurry images, resulting in multiple attempts to take a decent photo. So, it’s easy to say that taking a picture with your phone may feel more accessible and might be cheaper, but you won’t get the same quality as scanning.
So, Which One Is Better?
Scanning comes out on top with little competition. While having a smartphone to take pictures of old photos can feel convenient and time-saving, it doesn’t provide the quality and clarity that comes with scanning. It’s worth paying for a high-quality result that you can proudly show anyone.
It’ll help with having a backup in case the original photo gets destroyed and keep the happy memories alive and close by. Not to mention, having a portable photograph that looks great is a huge plus.
Why Scanning Is a Better Choice
Having old photographs professionally scanned comes with a lot of perks. From editing out debris markings to making them more accessible to share with your loved ones, scanning pictures onto a digital format that’s easy to access will allow for a less stressful time. You’ll look back on memories fondly, with even better-quality photos that you love dearly.
Fewer Storage Requirements
Having boxes, scrapbooks, and folders of old photographs can take up a lot of space with each passing day. It’s always nice to have memories in a physical format close by, but having them sit in the back of your closet can result in damage, as well. The last thing you want for your old photographs is to find out that your precious photos have deteriorated over time.
So, having photos scanned can prevent that. Not only will you have a clear and high-quality copy, but you also can keep the memories present. That way, you can either pass the original copies to someone else or go through them and reduce the number of physical copies in your possession.
Sharing Photos Is Easier
Perhaps you have family and friends who live in a different location than you. Sharing pictures from a city across the country has become easier than ever, thanks to technology. Once you have your old photographs scanned, you can easily share them with your loved ones. You can either share your favorites on social media with your friends, text them to your family members, or even email them to your loved ones.
Scanning your photographs makes it easier for others to have a copy for themselves, and also allows them to reminisce about old memories. Whether it was from the Y2K New Years’ party or images of great-grandparents, it’s great to be able to easily share them with others.
Easier Editing and Preservation Methods
There's a chance that any vintage photos can have marks, debris, and fading. Thankfully, that's where editing comes in. After getting your old photos scanned, you have the option to have the digital images put through some minor editing to improve the picture and adjust the colors for a brighter appearance.
Professional editors can remove blemishes, adjust color balance or lighting, and crop any unnecessary objects using simple editing tools. This makes the old photographs look new without sacrificing their integrity.
Finding a professional to transfer your old photographs from physical to digital copies is easier than ever. That’s why at DiJiFi, we strive to provide the highest quality of photos for you to share. We can save it to a USB, cloud, or disc of your choice while creating backups at the same time. If you have any questions, please reach out to us today.
