Scanning Family Photographs - Genealogy 101

Family photographs - what do you do with them? This video will go over best practices for scanning these family treasures. Instagram: ancestrybyaimee Facebook: @aimeecross2
Family history is more meaningful when photographs are included. These treasures inherited are often lost or destroyed. What is the best way to digitize them, share them with family, and use them in genealogy research.
Should you buy a scanner, rent one or visit a library to scan your images? We will discuss all-in-one printer/scanners as well as other scanners available, including things to look for in a new scanner when wanting to scan family photos, negatives or slides.
Should you scan a black and white photo in color or black and white? What dpi is recommended? What format should you use? We will discuss tiff, jpeg and png's as well provide hints on labeling images.
0:18 Why scan photographs?
1:40 Labeling photographs
2:40 Equipment options
6:42 Sending things out to be digitized
7:46 Scanning tips
8:48 Scanning settings - TIFF, JPG and others explained
11:36 Labeling digital images
12:50 Meta data
13:36 Using paint program to add information
13:57 Sharing
For a tutorial on scanning photos and documents, visit ancestryconsultingbyaimee.com...
For scanner reviews: www.cnet.com/topics/scanners/...
The Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah will allow you to scan slides and other photographs on their equipment at no charge. www.familysearch.org/family-h...
A great company I've used to digitize some family 8mm video and other video recordings as well as audio recordings is LegacyBox. They even re-did a few things that didn't come out great - terrific customer service! (I have not received any compensation for this endorsement.) legacybox.com
#Genealogy #ScanPhotos #FamilyHistory
Opening music "Something Elated" by Broke for Free.
freemusicarchive.org/music/Br...

[@AncestryAimee]

Here's a video about organizing those family photos - hope it helps! kzbin.info/www/bejne/qXaxqmWEmdmYfMk

[@H.pylori]

Still great advice in 2024, thank you.

[@AncestryAimee]

Glad it was helpful!

[@leonleborgne573]

Thank you. I inherited hundreds of family photos from my dad's side. They were not well off but someone has had a camera for more than 100 years. I have a 20yo and 12yo flatbed scanners--still working just fine; also, a 3yo all-in-one. I use photoshop element 9 and have had great success. Appreciate your vids.

[@AncestryAimee]

Thanks for sharing! What a treasure you have!!

[@mdaly724]

I create a text "sidecar" file to contain the text on the front or back of the photo or notes about information I've learned about the photo. The sidecar file is named exactly the same as the TIF file but as a TXT file. In that way, the files appear together when you list the files. So, I might have daly_grocery_wagon.TIF, daly_grocery_wagon.jpg, and the sidecar file daly_grocery_wagon.txt. I keep the TIF as my 'master' and use the JPG to share with family, include in family history stories or reunion pamphlets, etc. The advantage to the sidecar file is that I can update it any time without using an image editing app. The disadvantage is that it is possible to share the image without the corresponding information (but I don't usually do that).

[@AncestryAimee]

That’s a fantastic idea! Thank you for sharing it!

There are ways of inputting that "sidecar" information in the metadata of the photo file, so it goes with it when you send it to someone.

[@annw1395]

Yes, flatbed scanner! I have dozens of ancestor photos from the 1800s -- the original "cardboard " ones -- and I was so glad when computers came out and I could share them on Family Search and Ancestry! And since then, I've seen those same photos on multiple other family trees, so I'm grateful that they got access to their ancestors' photos, too. The Mesa, AZ Family History Library also has several types of machines for scanning or transferring to thumb drives (slides; over-sized flatbed scanners; and videos i think). They are free to use, but must be reserved in advance.

[@AncestryAimee]

Yeah! A number of the local FamilySearch libraries (just changed the name of the family history libraries in local church buildings) have similar scanners and such. Great tip! Thanks for sharing.

[@annw1395]

No, these are specialized machines, and are not found in the Family Search centers in the church bldgs. These are only at the Mesa Temple Visitor's Center. But they are open and free for anyone to use. Fabulous.

[@loraleewellington9064]

I just want to second what you said about losing your precious photos in a fire. I lost all of mine in a huge wildfire nearly 6 years ago. (Both photos of ancestors, and my own family treasures) Oh, how I miss them still! Everyone -- please take the time to do that! You just never know when something could happen and you could lose them all!

[@AncestryAimee]

I’m so sorry. That’s awful but thanks for sharing your story to encourage others to get it done.

[@jamesmcgarity614]

Being I'm just starting into this the information, it's overwhelming. Your videos are a great help and keep up the good work. Found at the start I didn't save the information and didn't know how to organize it. But with your help I'm getting there. This is addictive.

[@AncestryAimee]

Thanks for the payday! Making these videos is not lucrative and its comments like these that keep me going. Thank you! And I agree - its completely addictive!!

[@grantfahlman1815]

@@AncestryAimee I had to chuckle with both James' comment and your reply. I've been working on my family tree for a few years (much more now) and I'm not sure if "addictive" quite gets it. I spend more time doing this and get more enjoyment from it than most other activities I spend time on!

[@AncestryAimee]

@@grantfahlman1815 🤣

[@ginatracy8634]

Informative, nice work.

[@AncestryAimee]

Thank you!

[@leeannmoorman-cross2956]

I just found a box of old photos. This video information is well-timed! THANK YOU!!

[@AncestryAimee]

So glad it’s helpful! Happy scanning!

[@nancyjenkins4305]

Thank you for sharing this valuable information, Aimee. I’ve been wanting to scan our family photos!

[@AncestryAimee]

Thanks Nancy! Glad it’s helpful for you! Good luck with your scanning!

[@lynnfred7675]

Thank you. I have learned so much from you.

[@AncestryAimee]

Thank you Lynn. I appreciate you saying that.

[@lizbethlee3833]

Great advice. Thank you.

[@AncestryAimee]

You are so welcome!

[@stephaniebrown5208]

Great info!! Thank you so much!!!

[@AncestryAimee]

You are so welcome!

[@dorothyjohnson5614]

Thanks for this info--answers a lot of basic questions I have as I'm just getting started with digitizing my photos!

[@AncestryAimee]

Glad it was helpful!

[@roberthowe321]

I also use the smart phone App "PhotoScan" by google photos. It will eliminate almost all glare from photos that are behind glass or in other reflective light conditions. It is really handy when you are visiting folks and they have photos you would like to copy.

[@AncestryAimee]

Love, love that app! I had thought about including it and then didn’t. But it’s fantastic. The only drawback is there is a small Google watermark at the bottom but it comes in so handy! Thanks for mentioning it Robert!

[@roberthowe321]

I use PhotoScan on my iPhone and then down load the photos to my computer (Apple). I have never seen a watermark. A google search indicates that you only get a watermark if you directly share the image from the PhotoScan App.

[@AncestryAimee]

@@roberthowe321 You've taught me something new!! Thanks! I guess I've used the app in the past - I'm going to follow your example! Thanks!

[@twilahixon2456]

Very good tips, answered a lot of my questions. ed

[@AncestryAimee]

So glad yo hear it! Thanks

[@NancyW726]

Really great video with such helpful information! Thank you! I hadn't seen you before, but have now subscribed, as I am the (newly minted) family historian and will be scanning a lot!

[@AncestryAimee]

So glad to hear that! Be sure to check out this video too. kzbin.info/www/bejne/noDLhmynbtGjiNEsi=BpiBZEpsXyWvonCQ

[@NancyW726]

@@AncestryAimee Thank you! I have an all-in-one printer/scanner, but the only type of photo format it seems to allow is JPEG, and you're stressing the importance of TIFF format. So I need an affordable flatbed scanner that can do that. Suggestions? Meanwhile I think I can use my all-in-one printer/scanner to scan my family history documents into PDF format, right?

[@AncestryAimee]

@NancyW726 you can use pdf but your printer / scanner should do tiff too. It may be a software update. You can go online and see if there is a scanning download for that printer. It may be like a separate program.

[@NancyW726]

@@AncestryAimee Yay! I figured out how to choose TIF on my printer/scanner! Thank you again! One more question (for now :-) - would it be a good idea to scan my 100 year old documents like birth certificates, etc. in TIF format rather than PDF? For higher quality?

[@AncestryAimee]

@@NancyW726 I think so

[@lionheart830]

My cousin gave me a shoebox filled with very old photos. Many have no names but I treasure them anyway. He only knew that they were all family from West Virginia. Makes me sad but very happy.

[@AncestryAimee]

I get it. Maybe someday you’ll be able to work some of it out.

[@marygrether1]

thank you!!

[@AncestryAimee]

You're welcome!

[@barbarabooth9824]

Thank you

[@AncestryAimee]

You’re welcome!

[@GenealogyGrandmother]

I would like ideas on how to find the people in the photographs in my inherited photographs. I have uploaded some of them to a couple of local interest groups on Facebook but there have to be other ways to share the unknowns and find their people. Thanks, another great video.

[@AncestryAimee]

Thank you! There’s a company called Related Faces that I did a video about. Check it out: Identifying People in Photographs (7 GREAT TIPS) kzbin.info/www/bejne/goCpfZusbJacnrs Buy I’m hearing rumors of better technology for that on the big sites like Ancestry. Give it just a little time. 😃👍

[@kathywiseman7944]

Thank you. I always just used jpeg which seems to transfer and share the easiest.

[@AncestryAimee]

It definitely does transfer and share the easiest, but for keeping the image definitely do it in TIFF or another format too.

[@dalemccullough5693]

Great information. Thanks so much. I've been uncertain how to properly place a photo into a person's profile on Ancestry and give credit to the person who originally uploaded the photo. Downloading the photo and then adding it to a person's profile makes it appear that you are the originator of the photo to others.

[@AncestryAimee]

Glad it was helpful! Good suggestion! I'll look at adding a video on those features on Ancestry.

[@grantfahlman1815]

Dale, after uploading the photo you could add comments (ie., the originator). There's no guarantee that will be carried forward by anyone that makes a copy later, but most true family history buffs would likely want to retain it.

[@faustbos]

One scan tip you missed, remember remember remember to scan the back! (If there is information there)

[@AncestryAimee]

Yea yes yes!! Thanks for adding that!

[@randywallis9624]

You may have already covered it in another video but what about repairing damaged photos? Thanks Randy

[@AncestryAimee]

I haven’t. I also haven’t done much of that. But it’s a good topic!!

[@mrrpswife]

Also, you can donate them to the archives. A lot of people just throw them away!

[@AncestryAimee]

Great point!! Thanks for sharing that.

[@roncadillac3987]

I’ve got scanning down, but am trying to figure out how to photos and documents into Ancestry. Have you done any videos on this? Thanks!

[@AncestryAimee]

Not yet! I’ll put it on my list.

[@elainenagel]

My question: what is a good scan program to use for a flat bed scanner in scanning multiple pictures?

[@AncestryAimee]

Elaine I’m sure there are other programs out there but I don’t know. I always use the software associated with the scanner. If you go on their website, often there is additional software available to download.

[@trilingualinterp3274]

Do you have any info about collapsible light boxes or V-FLAT WORLD The Light Cone x Karl Taylor Photo and using iPhones Higher dpi than scanners?

[@AncestryAimee]

Great questions! I don’t have those collapsible light boxes. I’ve looked at them at conferences. I’m kinda a keep it simple girl. They will probably be on sale at Rootstech. I’m going to do a live video 3/2 about the deals available there. I think the light boxes can be really helpful when you want amazing pictures. I have used the app PhotoScan on my phone to help with glare when I can’t put something in a flatbed scanner. I use my iPhone a lot for other items. The camera we have on our phones is so amazing now. I shoot my videos on my iPhone. I have also taken items to the FamilySearch library in Salt Lake to use their imaging equipment. I’m sure there are folks out there that know more about that type of equipment and are really into photography and preservation.

[@ashleymitts]

You can also wear those white cotton gloves to handle photos with.

[@AncestryAimee]

Good suggestion! A must for tin type photographs, but good for any older photograph. Thanks!

[@marygrether1]

ok now the question, after you scan those photos, what do you do with the regular photos? do we throw them away? I'd like to know!

[@AncestryAimee]

Good question! I think it depends on the photo. I have tons of 3 x 5's of when I was a kid and haven't kept all of those. If I have a very old photo or something that is precious, I keep them. I think it's a space issue too. I would include a note in the box for your family that they have been digitized and can be found.... (or include a flash drive with them in that box too).

[@jamesmcgarity614]

Don't want to bother you again but have your ever used photomine. I don't want to buy until I hear some good

[@AncestryAimee]

I saw them again at Rootstech. I haven’t used them but have heard good things.

[@edwardyeutson8507]

What indexing programs are there that are user friendly? I want to put the name of the person and the img number where they can be found 100s of image numbers of that person. picture or document of that same person. Just like in a book with an index. As I have 41,000 images.

[@AncestryAimee]

I don’t have a good answer for you Edward. You are really talking about a database or catalogue program. Here’s an article you might like www.techrepublic.com/article/five-free-cataloging-applications/

[@kjohnson2827]

What are your thoughts about using jpg but making files read only? Shouldn't easily be resaved, so I assume it would remain at original quality since it can't be saved...

[@AncestryAimee]

I honestly don’t know the answer to that. That’s a terrific question. Anyone else have thoughts?

[@silverwoodchuck47]

Memory is cheap. I scan and save in png format. Jobs adds artifacts that might be visible.

[@edwardyeutson8507]

Keeping it simple I mean Last name alphabetical order first name in alphabetical order and the picture image number for front and back And image numbers in numerical order when it’s put in the program for that person. If you look at family tree maker that’s the name order, then the Image number. That’s how simple I want it to be. A book gives the page number of where that name appears it’s that simple. I have done Family history for 47 years and am pretty much the last one that knows who these people are in the pictures. I have many thousands of pictures to put names on until I can’t do it anymore. My hope is that my grand kids will do the index as I have 5TB hard drives they can use to make the index even if I am not around anymore. Some of My grand kids are in the teens. Hope they will take the interest once their family starts getting the albums.

[@AncestryAimee]

There are fancy programs and complicated things for that, but I’m an advocate for keeping it simple. I also think about what is going to be around in 50 years. For that reason I’d do it in excel. There will be some kind of program that can read it, you can sort it in columns (like name or image number).

[@samanthas3909]

Do you recommend using Color Restoration on antique, yellowed photos?

[@AncestryAimee]

Great question! I think it’s a matter of preference. With the digital options you can always make a copy and have a copy both ways.

[@jamesmcgarity614]

I hate to bother you, but last night I was watching one of you training videos and you gave us a Google site that helps identify backgrounds in photos, I didn't write it down, could I have it again Please Please

[@AncestryAimee]

I’m not sure what you referring to. I’m sorry! I can’t think of a site like that. There is an app that allows you to take a picture and it will remove glare. It’s Google PhotoScan. It’s a free app. Hope that helps!

[@HuSa55]

Perhaps google lenz

[@lanipetersen]

Where are the "show notes"?

[@AncestryAimee]

Great question! If you look under the video in the text there's a picture of me in a circle with a description of the video. In this case it says "I often get the question - what do I do with the boxes..." Underneath that it says "SHOW MORE." If you click on those words, the full show notes will come up with links to things that may be helpful.

[@edwardyeutson8507]

How I scan pictures and Documents I have 23,000 hard copies family pictures and 20 to 30 thousand documents. I have from family when I first started before computers and scanners, I took pictures of pictures with a 35mm camera once computer and scanners came to be I scanned all my pictures and documents. what I do I use image numbers as the identification only of a picture and I never use that image number again. I tell family don’t give me a description of the picture or a name because as many pictures as I have scanned, I won’t know what your or who you’re talking about. Give me the image number! As I have many thumb drives and TB drives scattered around the US. I also like to make it simple. To set your computer for split screen. Draw your screen to the left till their only 2 images showing the left image is the picture and the right is who is in the picture. If you have already scanned your pictures that’s not a problem have your tec., make it so when you use the same image number as the picture it won’t delete the picture like img20,000 -20,000 (2) who is in the picture regardless how many times you use that image number it will just go to 20,000 (3) and so on. I only use Jpg because I have been at funerals the person used a different format it wouldn’t work at the funeral home all their machines are Jpg. Ok on the bottom left corner on the back of the picture I print the image number like img20,000 - 20,001 the even number is the picture the odd number is who is in the picture. If the picture and who is in the picture switches sides, you know you messed up say you didn’t like the scan and scanned the picture again and forgot to turn the scanner number back one. Now at first when I started, I typed who was in the picture that takes to much time when you have 40,000 pictures to scan, and I was scanning not just for a few days but years 8hr. a day I have some 150-year-old pictures done with a led pencil I didn’t know for a long time there was anything written on the picture. So, on the newer pictures I use permanent photo pin I am going to put DANGER not every photo pin is picture safe. The thing you must do is get a piece of junk photo paper your can get some at any place where they make hard copies picture for you. The pen I have used for years is. IDenti pen #44101 schwarz noir #49 XYK-T Black quick drying fine on one end and bold on the other. I check every pen by writing my full name on junk photo paper put the cap back on then rub my finger across where I just wrote my name if the ink doesn’t smudge the pen is good if the pen smudges throw it away, I don’t care how much you paid for it. On the back of the picture print don’t write. Something I need to do is make an index as my shelving in the computer room is 15 shelves high and A to H across 47 albums 500 pictures to each album and document 36 3 D ring binders.

[@AncestryAimee]

Thanks for sharing your methods and info!

[@annw1395]

That's a LOT of photos and documents!

[@fluorite1965]

I have family photos over 100 years old and they are not going anywhere.

[@AncestryAimee]

What a treasure!