Where Did We Put Those? Rediscovering Lost Slides, Photos, and Home Movie Reels
They Were There All Along. You know the feeling—you’re cleaning out a closet, lifting a box, and something inside rattles softly. It’s not junk. It’s not trash. It’s your childhood, your parents’ wedding, or a long-forgotten family vacation… hiding in plain sight. That happened to me last fall. I was helping my aunt clean out her garage when we found a dusty cookie tin. Inside? 35mm slides from her 1972 trip to Greece. She gasped, and I swear I saw her eyes tear up before she even looked at them. Today, we are the top places where your vintage photo snapshots and other photo media are hiding in your house.
Many families believe these moments are gone forever. They’re not. They’re just tucked away in unexpected places, quietly waiting to come back to life.
Why Our Memories Disappear (But Not Really)
Time flies. Life moves. Boxes get shoved into corners, garages get filled, and those good intentions to “sort the family photos” get buried under everything else.
What’s wild is that we don’t actually lose our memories — we just forget where we placed them. Those film reels, photo slides, and prints? They’re still there, hidden in the places we rarely look.
Top Places Where Photos Hide
Want to start your own memory treasure hunt? Here’s where to begin:
- Attics and Basements – Classic spots for forgotten boxes. Look for shoeboxes, tins, envelopes, and albums.
- Closets – Especially those top shelves or corners you haven’t touched in years.
- Garages – Check inside bins, toolboxes, even old paint buckets. Yep, it happens.
- Under the Bed – One customer found 50 reels stashed under a guest room bed.
- Bookshelves – Behind books, inside big albums, or even taped to the back of framed photos.
- The Unexpected Hideouts
- Drawers – Nightstands, desks, or that “catch-all” drawer we all have.
- Old Luggage or Trunks – Vintage cases love holding vintage treasures.
- Behind Furniture – Boxes fall, scoot, and vanish behind dressers and TV stands.
- Projector or Camera Cases – Many people store slides, photos, and reels with the devices that viewed them.
- Kitchen Cabinets – Especially the junk drawer. No judgment.
- Ask Around—Family Knows Things
Still stuck? Ask your crew:
- “Who packed up stuff when we moved?”
- “Where did we keep the holiday stuff?”
- “Remember the last time we watched those reels?”
One memory jog from a sibling or parent could unlock everything.
Real-Life Finds That Will Melt You
One ScanMyPhotos customer told us they found their grandma’s wedding photos in a sewing basket. Another childhood vacation movie reel was discovered buried in a bin labeled “Christmas Lights.”
When they watched them again, it wasn’t just nostalgia—it was like time travel.
What To Do When You Find Them
- Handle Gently – These items are fragile. If possible, wear gloves and keep them flat.
- Move to Safety – Transfer them to a cool, dry place. Avoid humidity and sunlight.
- Digitize immediately – Every year counts. Film degrades, and once it’s gone, it’s gone.
Memory Treasure Hunt: Weekend Checklist
Print this and turn it into a family mission:
☑️ Attic
☑️ Basement
☑️ Closets (top shelves, behind coats)
☑️ Garage
☑️ Under beds
☑️ Bookshelves & albums
☑️ Desks & drawers
☑️ Trunks & luggage
☑️ Camera/projector cases
☑️ Junk drawer (yes, really)
Make it fun. Make it a story. Make it matter.
Don’t Let Them Disappear Again
Finding them is just the beginning. At ScanMyPhotos, we specialize in turning these fragile, forgotten photos, reels, and slides into high-res digital keepsakes. Our process is safe, easy, and fast — so those memories never go missing again.
Once they’re scanned, you can:
- Post them on social media
- Create digital photo books
- Share them in group chats or family reunions
- Preserve them for future generations
Let’s not wait for another spring cleaning to discover your past.
Start digitizing today ➡️ ScanMyPhotos. Because the best moments are the ones you thought you lost.
FAQ
Q: I found old slides in the garage. Can they still be saved? A: Most likely, yes! As long as they aren’t melted or covered in mold, they can usually be scanned.
Q: How should I store them before sending? A: Keep them in a cool, dry, dark place—no attics, no bathrooms, no sun.
Q: Do you scan reels, slides, AND photos? A: Absolutely. We digitize prints, 35mm slides, 8mm reels, VHS tapes, and more.
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Internal Links:
Tips to Preserve Photos: https://www.scanmyphotos.com/blog/how-to-preserve-old-photos
Digitizing Home Movies Guide: https://www.scanmyphotos.com/blog/save-vhs-memories
Emotional Photo Stories: https://www.scanmyphotos.com/blog/the-last-photo-that-mattered
P.S. You never know what’s hiding in your home. Start the search. When you find those memories, we’ll be here → https://www.scanmyphotos.com
