Old photos fade away. Literally! No matter what paper they are printed on, even in good storage conditions. So as I started to scan a few from my vast – pre digital – collection I couldn’t help but feel there is a better way. Not even an automated scanner would save me. I want to cart off the whole thing. It seems self evident that there is a market. Why hasn’t it taken off?
Well it is not organised. Can you name a company that will handle the entire process? Pick up boxes and return organised DVDs of the pictures, images cleaned up and available in high and low res. While they are at it why not have them somewhere online for me to pick from. It would be a great way for any company to get a leg up in social networking. “Give us your pictures and we will start off your impressive photo blog!” After all, your friends, coworkers and relatives are all in some picture somewhere. Tag them and we email them to join!
For anyone with more than an amateur interest in photography it is also a possible revenue source. (Or so they think; which means they will pay more for it!) If you have a collection of slides from travels around the world or whatever your pet interest was, they are possibly useful. If only someone would scan and process them all… Again it would be a great Trojan horse for someone to get your hosting business.
A final word of advice: if you do scan old pictures there will inevitably be some of old girlfriends. Give the job to a professional agency or else your wife will give you serious grief!
