memories

Four easy tips to preserving memories

By April Kroenke, April Kroenke Photography

Where are your family photos? If you’re like me, some are in a shoebox tucked away in the closet, others, like the baby photos at mom’s house, live in dusty albums. Teenage years? In a half-finished scrapbook with graduation announcements and a senior yearbook. And don't forget the photo from your grandparents' wedding day that everyone wants, but there is only one.

If this sounds familiar, you're not alone. When my grandmother on my mother's side passed, I scanned and digitized old photos and wrote notes that included dates, names, and a story about those in the picture. It helped me create a recorded personal history for my mom.

Photos of family members tell their stories, how we came to be, and our family legacy. Images of my great-great-grandparents in their full Indian regalia, from the headdresses to the buckskin leather dresses, are their recorded history. They're part of who I am.

What about your family’s stories? Who has them? With some simple tips, you can digitize old photos and create something worthy of passing down that will last for generations to come.

Step 1: The Photo Hunt

The hardest part of scanning old photos is hunting them down. Start by reaching out to your friends and family. Give them time, but not too much time.

The level of tech know-how will vary in your circles, so let your aunt know she can snail mail her favorite photos. Then, turn to texts, emails, or a shared folder hosted in a cloud storage app like Dropbox or Apple Photo Shared Albums for those who are tech-savvy.

Once you have them, delete the shots that are blurry or poorly lit. Select those you want to edit and curate as you go to avoid an accumulation of photos.

Step 2: Curate Your Images

First, the good news: With photos in hand, you can consider yourself halfway done! Next up is getting organized. Start by pulling out the images that tell a story or make you feel something. Ask a family member to chime in on key dates and stories behind these photos. You might learn a thing or two about the people you come from.

Step 3: Scan Old Photos to Digital Files

If you're lucky, family and friends can help digitize those old photos. But if they've sent the photos to you, or if you find yourself digging through boxes in your grandmother's basement, it’s up to you.

The flatbed scanner is still king for quality, but if you need to scan photos with a phone, make sure to avoid direct sunlight, which can change the color and look of your photographs. Hold your phone overhead and make sure the image is in focus.

New apps can also allow you to quickly scan photos and documents from your mobile phone. There are several that stand out: Pic Scanner, Google Photo Scan, Photomyne, and more. And if you have an iPhone, the Notes app also lets you scan photos. Click the camera icon at the bottom of the screen and tap "scan documents."

Step 4: Save and Share

You now have digital versions to share! Now for the fun part: creating a digital album for all those photos you've carefully curated and given a second life. Now it's time to put them to print! I’ve made quite a few photo books myself and have some tips to share, as well as unique photo album ideas.

It’s incredibly important to tell your story your way. And that’s part of what makes my job so enjoyable: helping preserve family history and those special moments in a way as unique as you.

MerryChristmas

and happy new year

101 E. Madison Ave., Ste. B., Iola, KS 620.228.4007 | www.AprilKroenke.com