Scanning and Preserving Old Photos

If you have old family photographs tucked away in a box, album, or drawer, you’re holding a little piece of your family history just waiting to be rediscovered. As genealogists, we spend countless hours searching for records that tell us about the people who came before us. When we finally have an old photograph, we want to be sure we don’t lose it—or the information that goes with it.

Here are a few helpful tips to get you started on the road to scanning and preserving your photos.

Start With a Scanner

Cameras and phones can work in a pinch, but whenever possible, use a flatbed scanner. A scanner gives you a high‑quality, consistent image without the glare or shadows you often get with a camera.

For most old photographs, scan at 600 dpi. If the photo is small or you think you may want to enlarge it someday, consider 1200 dpi.

And don’t forget to scan the back. Names, dates, locations, or even a simple note like “Grandma and her sisters” can be invaluable clues.

Keep a Master Copy

This is one of those easy‑to‑overlook steps.

Don’t scan your photograph and save only a small JPEG. Keep a high‑resolution TIFF file as your master copy. TIFF files take up more space, but that’s okay—this is your preservation copy. Then create a smaller JPEG when you want to share the photo, upload it to your tree, or post it online.

Think of it this way:

• TIFF = preservation
• JPEG = sharing

Store your master files in more than one location—your computer, an external drive, and/or reputable cloud storage.

Protect the Original

Your digital copy is important, but so is the photograph itself.

Store original photos in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight. Use archival‑quality, acid‑free materials, and avoid adhesives that can damage photographs over time.

And as you scan, take care to keep the photographs in their original grouping. The way they were arranged—whether in an album, a stack, or a small envelope—may hold clues about who the people were, when the photos were taken, or how they relate to one another. That physical context is part of the story, too.

Small Batches Make Big Projects Possible

Before you look at that box of 500 photographs and decide this project will take forever, here’s a little advice:

Do a little at a time.
You don't have to scan your entire family history this weekend. 

Start with ten photographs. 
Scan them properly. 
Scan the backs. 
Add the information you know. 
Give the files useful names. 
Back them up.

Then do ten more.

These photographs aren’t just old pictures—they’re pieces of your family’s story. And someday, someone in your family may look at one of those images and say:

“I’m so glad Grandma saved this.”