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What to do with old photos? Old photos are a gate to the past, and sometimes they may no longer look their best. They often sit inside a storage box in your home next to other stuff you don’t use. Some of these pictures might have signs of scratches, spills, or other types of damage. Plus, some of them may feature people who are no longer with you, making them even more precious.
Luckily, we live in the digital age. This means hard-copy photos can be put to good use, but you’ll have to summon a dose of creativity. If you’re in a rut about what to do with old photos so they don’t get stored away, this article will give you a few ideas.
Should You Get Rid of Old Photos?
Getting rid of old photos can be a difficult decision. Some pictures are worth keeping, especially if they’re not easily replaceable. Still, not all of your old photos are worth keeping, especially if they are very faded or mere duplicates. You need to learn how to strike a balance and determine the value they hold.
If the picture in your hand has historical or sentimental significance, then you might consider digitizing it. Perhaps it’s an image from your fishing trip on a June day 10 years ago with your dad, showing a happy memory. It might still look good now, so creating a digital version ensures its longevity. Photo restoration is a good idea if the picture is slightly damaged, and you want to restore its shine. To fix a physical photo, you can turn to photo conservationists. For the digital version of your photos, a photo restoration service can help restore old photos by removing scratches, repairing tears, reconstructing missing parts, and even colorizing them to provide a glimpse into their past.
That said, if the pictures are heavily blurry, duplicates, or hold no significant value, it’s usually not worth keeping them. By getting rid of them, you can create more space for the photos that bring a smile to your face.
How to Declutter Old Photo Collections
When you are wondering what to do with old photos, the first step is to declutter them. Creating an order makes them easier and less intimidating to go through, especially when you have lots of them. Here are some steps to follow:
Sorting Your Photos
You should begin by going through the old photos and putting them into categories. These categories are up to you, but you should separate them as photos to keep, digitize, restore, and discard. If you want to take it a step further, you can also separate the pictures you want by year/month, such as January to December. If you have a precious memory from a festival you attended many years ago, it’s easier to find it in a batch.
You can also separate the pictures into those worth keeping and those bringing joy. If certain pictures trigger strong feelings in you, put them aside during the sorting process. You can frame them later or add them to a scrapbook.
Digitizing Important Pictures
Physical photos can last for generations if preserved correctly, but it’s not a bad idea to digitize them as well. If it’s an important photo, it can last for a longer time if you have a digital backup. Plus, you can use it for creating a digital collage for your family or perhaps even post it on your social media. There may also be times when you don’t want to pull out heavy photo boxes, and you can simply access the photo by clicking on your archive.
Restoring Damaged Photos
Some photos can lose their color or contrast due to wear and tear. Rather than getting rid of a memorable photo, consider creating a section for photo restoration. You can scan the pictures and use programs such as Photoshop to revive a torn or faded image. AI-based programs or some Photoshop skills can even add color to a black-and-white picture. As long as it’s not heavily blurred and the features are clear enough, you can make an old photo look brand new. Once you have the digitized version of it, you can take it to a specialized shop and put it back on paper.
Storing Your Photos Properly in Box or Files
If you want your pictures to last, you should store them correctly in a place that can handle wear and tear. The storing method depends on the original format of the picture.
● Physical Photo
Hard copies of photos have a certain charm, a “retro-vibe,” so to speak. Some pictures are worth keeping that way if only to browse through them easily when you are old and gray. In that case, consider keeping them in archive-free boxes that have a protective sleeve, or in a good-quality archival box. They should be stored in a dry place and dusted regularly, to prevent mold and mildew from forming.
● Digital Photo
Nowadays, around 85% of our pictures are digital, usually taken with a smartphone. In these cases, you could save them on your hard drive/USB flash drive and/or cloud. If you save them on physical drives, make sure to put them somewhere with easy access but also security. A flash drive can last for up to 100 years, and even if the technology becomes updated, all it takes is a simple copy-paste. This method ensures the pictures remain safe and clear for generations to come.
Why Decluttering Old Photos Is Important?
You might be wondering why bother decluttering and organizing old photos when they could just as well sit in a box. Here are a few reasons why you should consider the process, along with some ideas on making it worthwhile.
Free Up Space
Clutter can make your home feel crowded and disorganized. You might think that a couple of pictures in a few boxes are not that big of a problem but imagine having to go through them one day. It would be like going through a labyrinth, not knowing which photos are from February 1961 and which are from September 1977. Moreover, their sheer number could intimidate you enough to give up the search altogether. Decluttering the photos and getting rid of the irrelevant ones can free up valuable space, making it easier to find what you need.
Preserve Family History
Your family history tells a story. Imagine if you didn’t have those pictures of your great-grandfather, to see who gave you the good genes. Or maybe you had a great-great ancestor who fought in World War II, and you couldn’t prove it without the picture. Around 34% of people don’t even know what their grandparents look like, especially when there are no good pictures of them. Through decluttering, you make sure these images are preserved and archived correctly, with the appropriate backup points. This way, if your great-great-great grandchildren find the pictures, they can create a reliable family tree with portraits as the history stays intact.
Create a Family Scrapbook for Mom
One of the most heartwarming ways to declutter old photos and turn them into something memorable is to create a scrapbook. You can let your creativity take the reigns here and personalize them based on a group or event. For instance, you can create a scrapbook for your mom featuring a quote on each page from that specific moment. Or you can give your sister a book with pictures of you growing up as best friends. The photos would be put to good use and there would be less clutter to deal with.
Repurpose Old Photos for Your Home
Old photos don’t have to stay in a box or a photo album. Let’s say that you have some time to spare between 11 AM and 2 PM. If you are an artsy type, you can take this chance to upcycle the photos into a nice home decoration. For instance, if they are in good condition, you can frame them and create something resembling a “Wall of Fame” in your hallway. You can also get a Styrofoam panel, cover it with crafts colored paper as a base, and stick the pictures to it. Just make sure that before you expose the pictures like this, you create a digital background or duplicate the images in some way (especially if you cut them). You can also use photos to create custom paintings and other artworks to hang on your wall.
Organize Your Memories
When you declutter your pictures, you can take the opportunity and organize them for easy access. It’s not easy to find a picture you took way back in December 2009 if the box is filled with hundreds of other pictures. By taking out duplicates and irrelevant pictures and organizing the valuable ones into folders or scrapbooks, it becomes easier to revisit your memories. You can sort them by holidays, family events, season, and more, placing them in labeled albums. The system is yours to choose, but make sure you display your favorite images somewhere easy to find.
The Bottom Line
Like fine wine, photos become even more precious with age. That said, not every picture is meant to be saved, and making space for new memories could turn out to be thrilling. Remember that by decluttering, you aren’t losing any memories; you merely preserve the valuable ones better, either by digitizing or restoring them. By following the right strategy or hiring the right people to work through your photos, you can make old valuable memories look like new – as if they just happened yesterday.