Photo Scanning & Genealogy

The Missing Link in Your Family Tree? It’s in the Photos

When families ask, “Do I really need to keep the originals?” there’s no one better to ask than Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective®.

Taylor is a nationally recognized expert in genealogy, historic photography, and family history research. She has written more than a dozen books, been featured on the Today Show and The Wall Street Journal, and is known for her ability to identify people, places, and stories hidden in old photographs.

She combines her skills as a photo historian with her background in genealogical research, helping families unlock the personal and cultural stories inside their albums. Taylor has spent decades teaching people how to preserve and interpret images so they aren’t just pictures… they become living history.

In her recent live conversation with Mitch Goldstone, Chief Photo Archivist and CEO of ScanMyPhotos.com, she reminded viewers that digitization isn’t just about files. It’s about family storytelling, identity, and protecting irreplaceable heirlooms.

Save or Toss? The Truth About Digitizing Family Photos

When scanning your family photos, should you keep the originals or discard them? Experts Maureen Taylor and Mitch Goldstone explain why this choice could mean the difference between preserving your family history or losing it forever.

A Photo That Changed Everything

I was six years old when my father hugged me at Disneyland. A snapshot caught that moment. Weeks later, he passed away. That single photo became my most important possession. It wasn’t just a picture. It was a time machine. It held a heartbeat.

This is why the question so many families ask after scanning their photos—“Do I really need to keep the originals?”—isn’t simple.

Recently, Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective®, sat down with Mitch Goldstone, Chief Photo Archivist and CEO of ScanMyPhotos, to tackle this exact dilemma. The answers revealed a truth many don’t want to face: digitization is essential, but originals still matter.

Why Keeping Originals Still Matters

Goldstone explains it clearly: “Technology fails. Hard drives crash. Flash drives degrade. If you toss your originals, you’re gambling with your history.”

Taylor adds that while scanning is a powerful safeguard, it isn’t permanent unless you create multiple backups. The smartest families keep their printed photos stored in archival boxes, away from damp basements and overheated attics. Think of your originals as a safety net. They’re bulky, sure, but one day they could save your family’s story.

The Staggering Truth About Photos

During a survey, ScanMyPhotos discovered something startling: 96% of printed photos are never looked at again after being developed. That means boxes filled with vacations, birthdays, and weddings are sitting in closets—forgotten, fading, at risk of being lost forever. Digitizing brings those stories back to life. It lets you share them instantly with relatives. It turns forgotten shoeboxes into part of your everyday family story again.

Five Expert Tips for Preserving Photos

1. Digitize Before Disaster. Hurricanes, fires, and floods don’t wait. Scanning protects your photos from sudden loss.
2. Back Up in Multiple Ways. Use cloud storage, external hard drives, and flash drives. Share copies with relatives.
3. Keep the Originals Organized. Never throw them out. Store them in archival boxes, labeled and safe.
4. Use New Tools Like AI. AI can help identify places, restore faded images, and add missing details.
5. Tell the Story Behind the Photo. Add captions, record memories, or write notes before scanning. A photo without context loses meaning.

Stories That Prove Why This Matters

One customer who delayed her photo scanning project for four years led to Goldstone personally picking up her lifetime of family pictures in Dallas, all during tornado warnings. If those pictures hadn’t been digitized, they might have been destroyed.

Another project saw ScanMyPhotos digitizing 347,000 film negatives for the Cayman Islands. They turned it into a National Gallery exhibit, including rare shots of Queen Elizabeth and the Beatles. Today, those images are preserved forever and available to the public on their Instagram channel.

Why It’s More Than Scanning

For Taylor, photos are history. She remembers snowstorms from her childhood, flipping through family albums that sparked her passion for genealogy. For Goldstone, it’s personal. That Disneyland photo with his father became his life’s work. “Every picture is a heartbeat… and a time machine,” he says.

Final Thoughts

Digitizing isn’t about clearing clutter. It’s about protecting your family’s story. Originals are priceless, but scanning makes them shareable, searchable, and safe. Your family’s legacy doesn’t belong in a shoebox. It belongs in your life, your conversations, and your history.

Go Digital Now at ScanMyPhotos

Q: How do I scan old photos? A: The fastest way is to use a professional photo scanning service. They handle large batches and provide high-resolution digital files.

Q: Should I throw away my original photos after scanning? A: No. Keep them stored safely in archival boxes as a backup.

Q: How much storage do scanned photos need? A: About 1,000 photos take around 2–3 GB, depending on resolution.

Digitize photos the right way. Learn why experts say never toss originals and discover five tips to protect your family history.

Best Photo Scanning Service Tips Revealed: Why You Should Digitize and Keep Your Originals. Protect your memories before they disappear.

Preserve your family story now. Every photo holds a heartbeat and a time machine. Don’t wait. Discover how to digitize your pictures safely today ➡️ ScanMyPhotos.com