Tag Archives: photo scanning

While DNA Tests Offer a Peek into Family History, Your Genealogy Efforts are Missing This

Posted on March 7, 2019 by

family historyAs DNA testing kits become more affordable, the number of unbelievable family history stories surrounding these tests is increasing.

This recent piece written by The New York Times, covers a story on a Bob Hutchinson who used a DNA test to finally get some answers into the family history his mother kept a secret throughout his life. The test uncovered that he was one-eighth sub-Saharan African—a fact his mother never shared with him. From there he uncovered cousins he didn’t know he had and was able to establish a connection with this new found family.

There are countless other stories too—like Alice Collins Plebuch whose DNA test revealed a 100-year-old mystery (instead of the confirmation on her assumed Irish heritage) or Twitter user @MsClark_ who tweeted about the incredible search that led her to the discovery of her real father.

But as remarkable as these stories are, we couldn’t help but notice that something is missing in all them: a lack of background information. Yes, DNA testing is a great way to get some answers into your family history but unless there’s information that sheds light on that history, the only thing you’re left with is the results of the test. This often leaves you with more questions than answers.

The importance of photos in family history 

While there are several ways to uncover more about your roots, we cannot emphasize enough how important photos are to any genealogy project. This should be one of the first steps you take before jumping into the complicated root system that is your past. Why? Because every photo holds another piece of the puzzle. If an individual picture is worth 1,000 words, imagine how many stories you can discover through old print photos from your family’s past.

Every photo holds another piece of the puzzle

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How to Make Your 2019 New Year’s Resolution Stick

Posted on December 30, 2018 by

resolutionGetting organized is one of the most popular New Year’s resolutions to make—and it’s a resolution we wholeheartedly endorse, especially when it comes to preserving your precious memories. But as the year wears on, the likelihood of achieving these resolutions wanes.

 

In order to help you stick to your resolution, we pulled together a list of tricks that will make it much easier in 2019.

 

Break Your Big Resolution into Smaller Goals


If your resolution feels insurmountable, then it will be! See if you can break out your big goal into smaller more manageable goals. For example, if your resolution is “Get more organized,” try breaking it out into smaller tasks like:

 

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Why You Need to Digitize Photos and Preserve Them for Future Generations

Posted on December 9, 2018 by

digitize photosWhy and How to Digitize Photos For Future Generations. It’s This Easy


As technology continues to advance, the way in which we preserve our history is also changing. From cave drawings to oil paintings and from print photos to Snapchat selfies, it’s important for us to now digitize photos in order to keep them safe for future generations.

But if you need a few reasons why it’s important to digitize photos before it’s too late, then consider the following:


Tweeting this article, as I thought you’d enjoy it too

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Print photos will eventually succumb to the elements

 

Unless you have your print photos stored in acid-free, archival-quality storage containers and kept in a temperature-controlled room away from sunlight, then your photos are at risk of getting destroyed by the elements. Of course, we definitely recommend doing everything you can to keep your print photos safe, but digitizing them is the only way to truly protect them from the elements.


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Digtal Imaging Reporter: The Last Word: It Is Not a Pretty Picture

Posted on December 1, 2018 by
Last Word Graphic REv 300x214 - Digtal Imaging Reporter: The Last Word: It Is Not a Pretty Picture

Digital Imaging Reporter: The Last Word: It Is Not a Pretty Picture

Digital Imaging Reporter is the ONLY print trade magazine in the imaging industry, reaching over 15,000 retailers, mass merchants, Internet buyers, distributors and key executives at every major manufacturer, and it truly remains “Focused on the Business of Imaging.”


This “Last Word” commentary by ScanMyPhotos.com CEO, Mitch Goldstone discusses the state of photo scanning and some challenges to be on the lookout for.


Just read @DigiIReporter “Last Word” on Photo Scanning

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IMG 3450 300x105 - Digtal Imaging Reporter: The Last Word: It Is Not a Pretty PictureExcerpt: We all went through a typhoon-like ordeal when film transitioned to digital. Creativity and reinvention revitalized the photography industry and spared many. Every photographer and everyone with decades of still-analog snapshots understands the effects from today’s all-digital world. It is not a pretty picture.


The race to digitize is on. Yet, along the way there were missteps. Navigating the learning curve was a long road with many obstacles. The good news is the business of photography boasts so many new players, products and services. Just look each January at Las Vegas. CES – The Global Stage for Innovation bustles with beyond-imaginative new ways to celebrate photography. Thanks also to online photo-sharing sites and social media platforms, the luster of the golden age of pictures never sparkled brighter.

Read the full article here


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#TBT Christmas Edition: 3 Creative Ways to Celebrate

Posted on November 26, 2018 by

Blank christmas photo framesAn opportunity like this only comes around once every seven years: Christmas will be falling on a Thursday this year!


For those who may not know, #TBT stands for “Throwback Thursday” where Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and other social media sites, honor this trending hashtag by posting old/throwback photos.


Since Christmas is on a Tuesday this year, our big question is: how do you plan to celebrate the holiday and this catchy social media trend?


Consider trying one of these creative ideas to make this upcoming #TBT the most wonderful day of the year.


Instead of getting your loved ones a partridge in a pear tree, start by posting an old Christmas photo with #TBT and #12DaysOfChristmas

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12 days of #TBT

 

Friday, December 14th will be the first of the twelve days of Christmas. Instead of getting your loved ones a partridge in a pear tree, start by posting an old Christmas photo with #TBT and #12DaysOfChristmas. You can even caption your scanned photos with: “Christmas is on throwback Thursday this year, but I’m starting early! I’ll post one old Christmas photo here every day until the 25th. Stay tuned!”

 

Then/now themed holiday cards

 

For a “Then/Now” themed Christmas card, combine a “back-in-day” holiday photo with a recent photo of you and your family. Underneath the photo on the card include #TBT and tell loved ones to watch their social media pages on the 25th. Then, on Christmas Day, fill your newsfeed with a mixture of old Christmas photos combined with the new 2018 ones.

 

Play a game of #TBT tag with relatives

 

Every Thursday from Thanksgiving until Christmas, you can play a game with your relatives on Facebook. Tell them since the 25th falls on #TBT this year, you’ll upload an old photo of a family member every Thursday until Christmas. The first family member to correctly tag or identify the person in the photo will get an extra present from you on the big day. This is a great way to get everyone in the family talking and connecting before the holiday.

 

The #TBT trend is a fun way to celebrate old memories and get everyone reminiscing on your social networks, but there’s an even better way to honor this upcoming Christmas #TBT with your friends and family. If you haven’t done so already, use the ScanMyPhotos bulk scanning option to get your old photos scanned and uploaded to DVD before the holiday. You can then show your loved ones all the good memories you’ve had throughout the years by looping the images on a computer or TV during the holiday.

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