Old family photos collecting dust? Here’s how to get rid of them without letting go of the memories | Canada Voices

Many people have boxes of photos stored in garages, attics or crawlspaces that they can’t bear to part with – even as the pictures collect dust or slowly deteriorate.

Photographs can illustrate life stages and remind us of those we’ve lost. No wonder discarding pictures of deceased family and friends can make us feel like we’re losing them twice or erasing their existence.

But a lot of the photos we store are “basically useless,” says Adeilah Dahlke, founder of Jigsaw Organizing Solutions in Peterborough, Ont., who adds that we typically only truly treasure pictures of loved ones.

If you’re trying to decide what to do with old family photos, here are some expert ideas for how to free up space and honour the individuals captured.

Start by organizing your pics

Sorting is the first step to slimming down your collection.

“People feel that physical things are holding on to the memory for them, but that’s not the case,” Dahlke says.

Eliminate blurry snapshots and duplicates, followed by images of food, unidentifiable objects and random animals. In the case of inherited photos, remove ones with no context, such as landscapes or those with unknown people.

For images of family or friends, start by sorting them chronologically. Dating pictures you appear in or have taken yourself can be straightforward, but others may be more challenging. Look for clues to help determine an approximate date, Dahlke says, such as the type of paper, shape of the borders (square or rounded) and whether the photo is in black-and-white or colour. Details within images, such as buildings or businesses, can also help pinpoint a date.

Sometimes the answer is on the back. “Flip the photo over because the Kodak logo changes over the years,” Dahlke says.

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After establishing a timeline, narrow down what you’ll keep to remember the people you care about. Dahlke says saving one picture per person from every year is sufficient.

“Choose a photo from their favourite event or the most important thing they did that year,” she recommends.

Consider digitizing your collection

Digitizing is a popular option but it can be overwhelming, lonely and time-consuming. Before tackling the task, set a deadline and test the feasibility of your target.

Dedicate an hour to see how many photographs you can scan and then calculate how long the project will take to complete. If you determine help is needed, there are options.

You can host a “scan and sip” party where attendees bring their scanners and digitize images over wine and pizza. (Don’t forget to supply cotton gloves to prevent finger oils from transferring onto the pictures.)

Hiring a consultant to organize and digitize is another route. If you’re not sure where to look, Photo Managers is an online database that allows you to search for certified professionals in your area. The cost to scan varies based on photo size, ranging from 35 cents to $1.50 an image.

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However you go about digitizing your collection, make sure you have backup solutions. Dahlke suggests using the cloud and two external hard drives.

Once the process is complete, it’s time to part with the physical copies. Don’t worry: You can always print the digital files if you miss them.

Donate to archives or stores that sell vintage items

“To destroy something that at one time was very precious is a tough thing to do,” says Susan McClure, municipal archivist at Halifax Municipal Archives.

Fortunately, in some cases donating photos can help historians document social history and how neighbourhoods have evolved.

“We’re always looking to see what the environment looked like at certain time periods,” McClure says about streetscape photos.

Government, university and library archives are all worth exploring. Another option may be archives dedicated to marginalized groups, such as the ArQuives, which describes itself as Canada’s largest LGBTQ archives, or Black Archival: Routes & Rising.

Before approaching an institution, you should take the following steps, McClure says: Read its mandate to understand what it acquires, evaluate the conditions of your photos and be ready to answer questions about when the pictures were taken and by who.

“If you don’t have that information it devalues the photographs,” she says. Most archives will ask for the copyright, she adds, while others will allow you to retain the intellectual property.

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Some vintage stores will also accept photos. James Oakes, co-owner of Georgia General in Vancouver, says people regularly bring in old pictures that would otherwise be tossed.

It’s not unusual for shoppers to buy vintage snaps, especially of individuals they don’t know. “Some like the aesthetic, others like something within the shot,” Oakes says.

At Vancouver art supply store Urban Source, owner Melanie Elias sees customers buying old photographs for art projects. “It’s a nice way for those pictures to have a second life … to live on in a somewhat anonymous way.”

Share with family (but be thoughtful, not pushy)

Passing photos on to extended family members is another great option, especially if their immediate relatives are pictured. But always offer pictures to others; never leave them without asking or guilt people into accepting them. Bring the prints to a gathering and clearly outline your intentions if they’re not claimed.

Gifting them in creative ways can be a more sentimental distribution method. Consider custom coasters or collages as housewarming gifts, or themed photo books chronicling family holidays or trips.