Document the object before scanning
Assign a photo ID, note dimensions and condition, and record whose collection it came from. Photograph the album page or envelope if it gives context. If a print is stuck to glass, brittle, flaking or affected by mold, stop and seek preservation advice instead of forcing it flat.
Choose a scanner or phone for the condition
A flatbed scanner is usually consistent for loose, stable prints. A phone copy stand can be safer for albums, framed photographs or objects that should not be pressed. Keep the camera parallel, use even indirect light and avoid reflections. The best method is the one that does not damage the original.
Capture enough detail for future questions
For ordinary family prints, many personal archiving workflows create a high-resolution master rather than scanning only for the current screen. Save a lossless master such as TIFF when storage allows, then export JPEG copies for email and web use. Never upscale a low-detail scan and describe it as newly recovered detail.
Include backs, borders and color information
Handwriting, paper tone, studio imprints, postcard layouts and cropping marks can help date or identify a photograph. Scan in color even when the image appears black and white, because the paper and ink may carry useful information.
Separate preservation from restoration
Keep the master scan unchanged. Perform dust removal, contrast work, color correction or AI restoration only on a duplicate with a filename that marks it as edited. Do not invent missing faces, clothing or backgrounds and then present the result as documentary evidence.
Name, inventory and back up immediately
Rename the files with the stable photo ID, create an inventory entry and back up the session before returning the photographs to storage. A contact sheet with IDs is often the easiest way to ask relatives about unknown people without passing originals around.
Common questions
Clear before you continue.
Should I scan every photograph at the highest setting?
Use a quality appropriate to the original and intended preservation. Extremely large files do not create detail that is not present, but a small screen-only scan may be limiting later.
Can I use an AI photo enhancer?
Only on a clearly labeled working copy. Preserve the unedited master and do not treat generated facial detail as identification evidence.
Should I remove photographs from albums?
Not automatically. Albums can be fragile and their order is meaningful. Photograph pages in place first and seek help when removal could cause damage.
Sources and further reading
Wiserta summarizes these resources for practical family use. Repository rules and record availability can change; verify details with the holding institution.
A useful next step