A Photo Scanning Gift Helps Families Rediscover the Pictures They Already Own
For someone with years of printed pictures, the best part of this gift may be choosing which ones to see again.
A photo scanning gift gives someone a way to see and share printed pictures that have been out of sight for years. You can give an online eGift certificate (ordered instantly) and let them choose the photos, or plan the project together. Either way, the person who owns the pictures should decide what gets scanned. I’ve worked in photo imaging since 1990, first in a retail photo lab and now at ScanMyPhotos.com. The prints and slides people want to scan are often mixed together: vacation pictures, birthdays, and people whose names someone still needs to write down. Sorting through them is part of the experience. You may find a photograph you remember taking, then another you didn’t know existed.
Another coffee mug will get used, and a sweater may find a good fit. Most gifts serve their purpose and then fade into the background. Old photographs, though, can spark something special: they get people talking. Scan your favorites and share them with the family, and someone may finally tell you who’s in the picture or what happened that day. Often, the best part of an old photo is the story someone still remembers—a lovely reason to bring those pictures out now.
Who is a photo scanning gift for?
It can be a thoughtful gift for a parent or grandparent with printed photos they’ve been meaning to sort. It also works for someone who inherited family pictures and wants to share copies with relatives. You don’t need to know exactly how many prints they have before giving the gift.
I wouldn’t secretly take someone’s photographs and mail them away as a surprise. They may want to keep a set together, ask a sibling about a name, or decide that certain pictures should stay at home. An eGift certificate for photo scanning leaves those choices with them. ScanMyPhotos eGift certificates start at $25, can be purchased in amounts up to $1,000, and do not expire.
How many photos should you start with?
Start with a group that means something to the recipient. It could be 250 pictures from when the children were small, or prints from one side of the family. A smaller project gives everyone a chance to sort, ask questions, and learn how they want the digital files organized before tackling more.
If you’re comparing costs, ScanMyPhotos currently lists a 250 photo scanning option at $65. Its prepaid Photo Scanning Box starts at $169 for 1,800+ printed photographs. The Family Generation Collection starts at $940 for about 11,000. These are different project sizes, so check each product page for current pricing, options, and preparation requirements before ordering.
What should you check before sending family photos?
Ask where the scanning takes place, how your original prints will be returned, what resolution is included, and how you’ll receive the digital images. Always include your own GPS tracking device for real-time updates. Read the preparation instructions before packing anything. For example, ScanMyPhotos scans EVERYTHING at its Irvine, California facility, and its box instructions set a time limit for returning the order. A gift certificate gives the recipient more freedom to decide when to begin.
Once the pictures are digitized, each relative can have a copy. Everyone can enjoy the same photograph from different cities, ask who’s in it, and add names while someone still remembers. It’s a practical way to preserve old photos—and a good reason to keep the first batch manageable.
For holiday gift guide editors and journalists: I’m Mitch Goldstone, co-founder and CEO of ScanMyPhotos. I can help with questions about printed photographs, choosing a scanning service, preparing originals, and starting a family photo project. Reach me at Media @ ScanMyPhotos.com
[Revised on September 29, 2026].
