One of the best ways is to store a second copy somewhere other than your home. With printed photos, this isn't always practical. Another disadvantage to prints is that they degrade over time. For the best protection, consider digitizing your photos.
Many have already switched to a digital camera. This is a good first step, but you also need to think about printed photos. Also, just having digital copies is not enough to ensure their safety. Fortunately, by taking action now, you can prevent the loss of your photos to disaster.
Step 1: Consider switching to a digital camera.
Using a digital camera will save you the extra step of making digital copies of your photos. If you're not comfortable using a digital camera, it's a good idea to start asking for digital copies when you have film developed. Most photo-processing centers do this, and give you the option of getting the photos on CD or DVD, or uploaded to the Internet.
• Digital Camera Buyer's Guide
Step 2: Digitize old photos and negatives.
Scanning photos makes it much easier to store a second copy elsewhere. Even if your old photos are damaged, further degradation can be prevented by digitizing them. You can do this yourself, or hire a service to do it.
For those who prefer to do their own scanning, most flatbed scanners work well for standard photo prints. For scanning negatives and slides, consider a film scanner or a flatbed scanner with transparency adapter. Many scanners have batch scanning features built into their software, but if yours does not, you can add it through third-party scanning software such as VueScan, or perhaps your photo-editing software can help you to scan multiple photos.
For instance, the newer versions of Adobe Photoshop and Photoshop Elements simplify batch scanning, with tools that automatically separate and straighten multiple photos. Just load the scanner with as many photos as you can fit, scan the entire scanner bed at a resolution of 300 ppi, then choose File > Automate > Crop and Straighten Photos from Photoshop (CS or higher) or Image > Divide Scanned Photos from the Standard Edit screen in Photoshop Elements (3 or higher).
Save individual photos as TIFF, PSD, or PNG files, then move on. (If you are short on disk space, you can save the images as high-quality JPEG files, but know that you will lose quality with JPEG.) Wipe dust off of photos and clean your scanner glass before starting, but don't get carried away correcting scanned photos. The important thing is to digitize them. You can work on fixing them later, as needed.
• Getting Started Scanning
• Scanning Help and Tips
Scanning photos can be gratifying, but can also be very time-consuming. Another option is to hire a scanning service such as DigMyPics. DigMyPics prices range from 29 to 59 cents per photo. Entrusting your photos to an unknown company can be scary, so do your research before choosing one. For more peace of mind, you might consider bribing a computer-savvy friend or family member to scan them.
Step 3: Archive copies of your photos.
As you scan your photos, burn at least two copies to CD or DVD. Keep one copy on hand, and store the second in a safe place — at the office, with a family member, or in a fire-proof safe or safety deposit box. In the event of fire, flood, computer crash, or other disaster, your photos will be safe.
Another option is to store your photos online. Online storage will keep them safe, and provides a convenient way to share them with family and friends.
Don't wait until the project is done to create backups; do them after each scanning session. You never know when disaster will strike, and you can consolidate backups later.
Step 4: Occasionally reevaluate your photo collection.
Reevaluate your photo backups annually. If you used CDs or DVDs, make sure they are still readable and make new copies if needed. If you used online storage, make sure the site is still there, and that your log-in information still works. Think about file format and whether it makes sense to convert photos to a more modern format. Evaluate new storage media options to decide if the media you used is still the best choice. For instance, if you used CDs and now have a DVD burner, it makes sense to replace CDs with DVDs.
Last but not least, try not to get overwhelmed. Remember, anything you do now will be better than nothing. So start with the most important photos, and tackle the rest as time permits. Chances are you will enjoy the trip down memory lane. Unfortunately, you may come across some photos that have been damaged. Don't let this distract you from protecting them, but make note of them and later on you can investigate the many options for photo restoration.
