One Photo. A Lifetime of Memories
What’s In Your Shoebox? The Emotional Photo Challenge That’s Got Everyone Digging Back in Time
A forgotten photo. A shoebox in the closet. A flood of memories. This is more than a challenge — it’s a rescue mission for your past. And ScanMyPhotos.com is leading it.
There’s something about finding an old photo you haven’t seen in decades… it’s like time folds in on itself. You blink, and suddenly you’re five years old again, sitting on your dad’s lap, the smell of his cologne, the sound of the baseball game on the radio in the background. That’s the magic. That’s the power.
And that’s why ScanMyPhotos is launching the #ShoeboxRevival Challenge. This is a four-part photo scavenger hunt designed to help people reconnect with the photos that made them who they are.
Why Our Photo Archivists and Social Media Copywriters Are Doing This
Too many of us have entire life chapters stuffed in the back of closets, in warped shoeboxes or fading photo albums. These pictures are deteriorating. But the memories? They’re priceless. We’ve heard hundreds of stories over the years—from people who lost everything in a fire, except for the one photo we scanned just weeks earlier… to families rediscovering long-lost relatives they had forgotten they had. So we decided to do something big. Fun. Emotional. And just nostalgic enough to light up your soul like a mixtape on a Walkman.
We want you to join us. Because these aren’t just your memories—they’re pieces of your legacy.
🏆 The #ShoeboxRevival 4-Photo Challenge
Take on one (or all) of these challenges. Post your photo. Tell us the story. Tag #ScanMyPhotos and use #ShoeboxRevival so we can share your time-travel moment.
Challenge #1: “Before It Was Gone”
Find a photo that was nearly lost—maybe to time, a move, a flood, or just being buried under life. Tell us the story of how it was saved. These stories remind others why digitizing matters. Bonus points if it brings tears. We’ve got tissues.
Challenge #2: “What’s in Your Shoebox?”
Dig out the oddest, most emotional, or just plain hilarious photo you can find. A mullet? A prom photo with a now-famous celeb? Something that makes you laugh-cry? Unleash that wild gem from your memory vault.
Challenge #3: “Photo Time Travel”
Recreate a childhood photo. Strike the same pose. Find the same background. Bonus if you’re wearing the same outfit (or can still fit into it). These side-by-side shots are gold. Tag your siblings and make it a family throwback party.
Challenge #4: “This Photo Means Everything”
Everyone has one photo—the one that holds everything. A lost parent. A first love. A childhood moment frozen in time. Share the image and what it means to you. This is the heart of it all. Read the experience from this USA Today tech journalist.
What Happens Next
We’ll be featuring the most powerful, heartwarming, and hilarious posts across our social platforms. You might even be part of an upcoming digital storytelling campaign spotlighting how everyday people are saving extraordinary memories. So… What’s in Your Shoebox of photos, and other storage devices? Grab a flashlight. Open the closet. Tear into that box under the bed. It’s time to rescue your history and maybe inspire someone else to do the same. Let’s go time traveling. One photo at a time.
Join the movement: #ShoeboxRevival
And don’t forget—once you’ve found those photos, digitize them before it’s too late. We’ll take care of that part.
