I Saved My Family’s Photographs After a Flood—Now I Tell Everyone to Try This Method

After my parents’ house suffered from a devastating flood, I went to work saving our family’s most important items: photographs. Preserving old photos isn't just about saving paper, it's about keeping our family stories alive.

My dad kept his life story in a tidy WWII footlocker that he stored in the basement. My mom, on the other hand, continues to live every day in joyful chaos—no systems, just stuff. I found her photos tucked in unlikely places—in drawers, books, her jewelry box, the recipe box, random cardboard boxes—even dropped into the brown paper sacks where she stored her tax papers. They were in every room of the house and in a variety of conditions. My dad’s footlocker did not survive the flood, but many of its contents suffered only minor damage. Once the photos were all separated and dried, I looked at this collection of images (many over 100 years old) and knew it was time to prioritize my family history.

Thanks to modern scanning services and digital scanning apps, it was easy to save these old photos. These are the best ways to preserve and organize your photos.

What I Tried: Scanning Methods and Digital Storage

Getting your images saved as digital files involves using technology. Home scanners work well, allowing you to control your project and your budget by working on this as you can. But you're limited by the size of the scanning bed, your own technology, and in my case, your limited design skills. I wanted a turn-key solution to get a lot done with little time or hassle, and I was willing to pay for it.

My Experience with a Digital Scanning Service

My images required a larger flatbed scanner, and the damage needed professional help. I researched scanning services and tested out Memories Renewed, a company with large flatbed scanners that can handle large prints, negatives, and slides.

I chose about 100 images in different sizes and of varied age and distress. My images were loose, so I bundled them up as directed into gallon size plastic zipper bags. This company also accepts albums and boxes of photos. I liked that they were willing to meet you where you are with regards to organization—or lack thereof.

After a brief panic about potentially losing my photos by shipping them off, I filled out the necessary order forms and popped them in the mail.

Once received, the team's digital archivists scanned and edited each image (which included cropping, color correcting, and cleaning surface blemishes). When finished, they delivered the original images back to me safely in the same packaging, along with a USB flash drive of the digital copies.

The cost of the service for 100 images was about $150 plus shipping, which was well worth the price to me. The real benefit of digital services is the ability to organize and share the images. I uploaded the images to my mom's smart home device where they cycle through her digital photo frame.

I also shared them with my siblings and cousins, all of whom would be delighted to own any of these pictures if they could, but alas, this is the challenge with originals—there's no way to do that. Sharing a bundle of digital images that you can print and display is the best gift I could give.

How I Used a Digital Photo Scanning App

To get started, set up your space. You want to work in a well lit location with natural light and on a flat surface. Avoid using any overhead lighting because it causes a reflection on your prints and your phone will pick that reflection up.

Once you have your photos set up on the table, open the camera in the app. Line up the frame over the images and press the scan button. The app will automatically enhance each image, and you can sharpen details in the face. You can also colorize old black and white photos, add text for photo storing, and scan any writing on the back of your physical print. It will be added to the "back side" of the image file.

To scan negatives or slides, you'll need a light table that shines light through the film. Again, open the camera screen in the app and choose to scan a negative. You can enhance these images as you would a photograph.

Organize and Back Up Your Collection

Once you digitize your images, organizing them is key. You can create folders in the way that makes sense: by person, by year, or by event. More importantly, after going to the work and expense to have images scanned, back them up so you have a way to keep them safe and searchable. There are many ways to do this—on an external hard drive, in the cloud, Dropbox, iCloud, and Amazon Photos, which is free with Prime membership.

Protect Your Physical Photos

Even with digital copies, original photographs are special keepsakes, so take proper precautions when storing them. Photographs are vulnerable to the passage of time and environmental damage. Exposure to direct sunlight can cause fading, while fluctuating temperatures and humidity levels may lead to mold growth, warping, or discoloration. Dust, fingerprints and even the chemicals in plastic storage sleeves can further degrade image quality.

The worst places to store printed photos include attics, basements, garages, and any location prone to extreme temperatures or moisture. A better choice is a cool, dark, and dry place inside your home, such as a closet or drawer away from heating vents and windows. Use acid-free storage boxes and photo-safe albums with lignin-free paper and PVC-free sleeves.

High humidity environments lead to mold, chemical decay, and brittle paper. Your images also need protection from insects and rodents. If you plan to display your photos, frame images behind UV-protective glass to prevent fading or discoloration.