Most families have one. A box — or a bin, or a drawer, or a stack of albums — full of old photographs that nobody has looked at in years.
They came from an estate. Or a parent’s attic. Or a garage cleanout. And now they’re sitting somewhere in your house, and you know you should do something with them, but the whole thing feels overwhelming enough that it’s easier to just not start.
Here’s how to actually get started — and what to do once you do.
Step One: Sort Before You Do Anything Else
Don’t scan. Don’t restore. Don’t organize into albums. Sort first. Go through the box and make three piles: photos you can identify, photos you can’t identify but want to keep, and photos that don’t need to be preserved. That third pile is smaller than you think, and giving yourself permission to let those go makes the rest of the project more manageable.
Step Two: Handle With Care
Old prints are fragile. Handle them by the edges or with clean cotton gloves — the oils from your skin accelerate deterioration. Don’t stack them face-to-face without something between them. Don’t use rubber bands or paper clips. And if you find any that are stuck together, don’t force them apart — that’s a job for a professional.
Step Three: Write Down What You Know
Before you do anything with the physical prints, document what you know. Write on acid-free labels on the back of prints (lightly, with a soft pencil — never a ballpoint pen). Note names, dates, locations, and any context you have. If there are older family members who might be able to identify people or places in the photos, involve them now. That knowledge is as fragile as the prints.
Step Four: Get the Keepers Scanned
A high-quality flatbed scan at 600 dpi or higher creates a preservation copy that doesn’t degrade. If you have photos that are faded, damaged, or need restoration, that work happens after scanning — you’re always working from a digital file, not the original print.
If you have a box of photos and aren’t sure where to start, I’m happy to help. Photo restoration, digitization, and preservation consultation are part of what we do at Giliane E. Mansfeldt Photography. Reach out and we can talk through what you’re working with.
