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Genealogy

Old photos

10 replies

Rae36 · 28/01/2024 11:17

I reckon of all the mn boards the genealogy folks will have the best ideas here.

We've inherited the dreaded suitcase of family photos from in-laws.
Once we've weeded out ones we already have our own copies of, random blurry snaps of landmarks with no people in them, photos where we sont know the people, we're left with a manageable amount.

I think I'll scan them into a shareable folder and let all the family have access. I use Google photos myself for photo storage, in the olden days I used Flickr. Does that still even exist?

I'd like to keep most of the older photos but they're such a random assortment. Tiny snaps, Polaroids, fancy old studio photos either slipped into cardboard frames or really old ones where the photo is stuck yto the cardboard. Some have tissue covers, some are a bit spotty with mould or something.

How have other people organised this sort of thing? I was thinking a big scrapbook and glue/ Sellotape/ something them in. Do those old fashioned photo corners still exist? Do I want to cover them with photo tissue paper? Does that make a difference? Or if they're stored in a book on our living room shelf will they safe enough? They've been in the attic unopened for years which is probably why they're getting spoiled.

We're quite lucky that most of them have been well labelled so we can work out who almost everyone is.

I'm stuck on the sofa for the next few weeks after an op on my leg so now is the time to get them organised.

I'd appreciate any tips. Thank you!

OP posts:
SingaporeSlinky · 29/01/2024 18:25

Sorry no advice, just wondering how you’re getting on with this?
I have recently started using the app called PhotoScan which helps reduce glare by making a composite photo from 4 it guides you to take of each actual photo. It’s hard to know how to present all these old photos, but at least by scanning them in, it makes it easier to be able to share them and potentially print them in a photobook without further damaging the originals.

New2024 · 29/01/2024 18:33

My late father helpfully organised all his into groups in a box. However, there was a significant omission. Wedding photos of my parents. I found them in another of his organised boxes -among the street maps - phew. The only remaining difficulty is whether I think it’s worth going through all the slides they took in the 70s and 80s. Helpfully there is a hand held slide viewer 😂

Ohwelljusttoday · 29/01/2024 18:33

If you use Facebook there is a lovely group where people post old photos and digital restoration enthusiasts have a go at improving the quality. The results can be mixed.
Here is an example of one that came up on my feed today.

abesnt · 10/02/2024 19:50

dreaded suitcase of family photos from in-laws

Aww. Non of my family kept old photos. When my great uncle passed luckily I found some. Non of my family seem that interested but I love them.

aitchteeaitch · 11/02/2024 22:17

I have labelled photo envy.

My family didn't make notes of who was who, and now they are gone, there's nobody left alive to ask.

FluffyDiplodocus · 12/02/2024 09:57

I did a private album on Facebook that I then invited family to so they could comment and identify folk for me. I just photographed the photos with my camera phone, the quality turned out really well. When they had been identified, I bought some scrapbooks and used photo corners to attach the pictures them and labelled the scrapbook.

knockyknees · 15/02/2024 08:17

SingaporeSlinky · 29/01/2024 18:25

Sorry no advice, just wondering how you’re getting on with this?
I have recently started using the app called PhotoScan which helps reduce glare by making a composite photo from 4 it guides you to take of each actual photo. It’s hard to know how to present all these old photos, but at least by scanning them in, it makes it easier to be able to share them and potentially print them in a photobook without further damaging the originals.

Thank you for mentioning this app. I've just downloaded it and spent the best part of an hour scanning old photos with it. It's brilliant! 😀It's great that it also automatically uploads them to my google photos account. I can definitely recommend it.

SingaporeSlinky · 15/02/2024 09:11

knockyknees · 15/02/2024 08:17

Thank you for mentioning this app. I've just downloaded it and spent the best part of an hour scanning old photos with it. It's brilliant! 😀It's great that it also automatically uploads them to my google photos account. I can definitely recommend it.

I’m glad you found it useful. Yes I should have mentioned it’s a Google app. I was really impressed with the quality of the scans.

C8H10N4O2 · 24/02/2024 15:36

I use an Epson Perfection V600 scanner for scanning photos, slides and negatives from a range of formats. Its expensive but they are available second hand and it was recommended to me by friends who use professional scanners/digital tools. Once I've finished (if I ever do) I'll sell it on. It was worth it to me for the sheer volume of pictures and formats I can process.

I also have a Flickr pro account. I had an early adopter account and nearly abandoned it during the Yahoo era but they have changed hands and I'm happy with the service and capacity for the money.

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