How to Organise and Digitise Old Family Photos

There’s something magical about old family photos — worn edges, familiar faces, forgotten moments frozen in time. But if you’re like many people, those precious memories are probably tucked away in dusty shoeboxes, old albums, or drawers. Over time, they can fade, tear, or become lost forever.

The good news? With a little time and care, you can preserve those photographs digitally and give them a second life in a beautiful, modern format — like a custom photo book.

Here’s how to get started:

1. Gather Your Photos in One Place

Start by collecting printed photos from family members, photo albums, and storage boxes. Don’t worry about sorting just yet — the first step is getting everything together in one safe, clean space.

2. Sort by Theme or Timeline

Decide how you’d like to organise your photos — by decade, family member, holiday, or special occasion. Sorting helps you tell a clearer story when the time comes to design your memory book.

💡 Tip: Use sticky notes or small paper dividers to keep groups of photos separate.

3. Clean and Handle with Care

Use soft, clean hands or cotton gloves when handling old photos. Gently remove dust with a microfiber cloth, but avoid using any water or cleaner.

4. Digitise Using a Scanner or Smartphone

If you have a scanner at home, scan at a high resolution (at least 300 dpi). No scanner? A smartphone works well, especially with apps like PhotoScan by Google or Photomyne, which are designed to capture prints without glare.

Be sure to crop, straighten, and save files in a safe folder on your computer or cloud storage. Use names like “Grandma_Wedding_1953” to stay organised.

5. Back Up Everything

Once digitised, create at least two backups — one on an external hard drive and another in a secure cloud storage service (like Google Drive or Dropbox).

6. Create a Keepsake Photo Book

Now that your photos are safe and sorted, bring them to life in a custom-designed book. Whether you want to preserve family history, celebrate a loved one’s life, or gift something meaningful, a photo book is a lasting way to honour your memories.

💛 Want Help Organising & Digitising Your Memories?

Send us your original photos and keepsakes, and we’ll professionally photograph, scan, enhance, and turn them into a stunning custom photo book. We even include a keepsake shipping box with instructions, protective sleeves, and return postage (Australia only). International? No worries — you can still send your photos to us, and we ship the finished book worldwide for free.

👉 Learn more about how it works or Start your book now and let us help you preserve what matters most.