Preserving old home videos and photos with digitization
- Denelle Veselik
- 19 hours ago
- 3 min read
We all have a box or a shelf in our homes where old family videos and photos gather dust. It’s often only when we finally open this box from the garage that we realize some of our precious family tapes and photos are beginning to decay or fade.
Considering the elements they’re exposed to when stored, along with tragic events we hear about, we can’t help but think about what could happen to our cherished keepsakes if a fire broke out or if floodwaters swept them away.
While nothing compares to holding a physical photo of a loved one in your hand, having these memories saved digitally serves as an important safeguard. Unfortunately, many people don’t consider this until it’s too late and they’re left with nothing but fading memories.
The good news is that if you’re reading this, you still have your box or shelf filled with videos and pictures that are ready to be preserved.
That’s where digitization comes in.
Do you have old VHS tapes? Perhaps DVDs with home videos or books filled with family photos? The idea of digitizing all of these and storing them on a USB Drive or in the cloud can feel overwhelming.
In writing this, my hope is to alleviate some of that stress. There are various services online that allow you to send in your tapes or photos for scanning, with prices typically ranging from $15 to $35 per tape and just a few dollars per photo.
Of course, you could save money by purchasing equipment yourself. There are several devices online that can convert home tapes to digital, starting around $118, and photo scanners begin at about $119.
Recently, the University of Arizona created a Wildcat Memory Lab, allowing you to digitize your photos and videos. The exciting part is that they have opened it to the public, thanks to a grant from the Arizona State Library. You can find this space on the third floor of the U of A's Main Library.
For those who prefer not to send their tapes to an unknown source or spend an afternoon at the library, Lasting Legacy is here to help. We handle the digitization for you.
For families in Marana, Tucson and Southern Arizona who would rather not ship irreplaceable tapes away or spend hours transferring them themselves, Lasting Legacy AZ offers local photo and video digitization with organized digital files and USB delivery.
When preserving your photos and videos, we go beyond just digitizing. We also name your files and catalog them by dates.
Remember when your grandma used to write the month and date on the back of her photos? She knew the importance of being organized. When you think about your photos and videos, visualize them as a catalog. It’s much easier to access a specific memory when it’s not mixed in with a pile of photos of your ex or late great-grandparents.
Once you’ve digitized your items, what comes next? Do they just sit in the cloud or on a hard drive that you’ve misplaced?
If you’re still reading this, I'm glad you asked. My answer is to showcase them! With so many of you owning smart TVs, Smart Devices, and digital frames, why not create different albums and start a rotation?
It’s December… I realize it’s not December while I’m posting this, but bear with me. It’s Christmas time, and imagine having your digital photos play in a curated slideshow of every Christmas memory from the last 40 years. Wouldn't that be something special?
Even just a few seconds of joy from glancing at a cherished photo while unloading groceries can make it all worth it.
Whichever way you choose to preserve and display your memories, know that it’s not too late to save those special moments and display them in your home.
-Infinite Love D.J.V.
Ready to preserve what’s sitting in your box? Lasting Legacy AZ offers photo and video digitization for families in Marana, Tucson and Southern Arizona, including organized files and USB delivery.
Learn more about digitization services →
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