For decades, physical photo albums have been the go-to method for preserving precious memories. They have helped people capture and hold on to memorable moments from their lives—memories that can be handed down through generations.
However, while physical photo albums are still popular, more and more people are shifting over to digital ones. And there’s good reason for that!
Although a physical photo album is still an attractive option for storing photographs, it comes with some disadvantages. In this article, we will explore these downsides and discuss why you might want to digitize your albums as well.
#1. Physical Space Requirements
Physical photo albums take up a lot of space. As you continue to add photographs, your collection will grow, and so will the amount of space you need to store them.
If you have a small living space, physical photo albums can take up valuable shelf or closet space. Additionally, if you need to move — or relocate — you will have the cumbersome task of packing and transporting all those heavy books around with you.
#2. Fragile
Physical photo albums are also prone to damage. Water, dust, and sunlight can all harm them. Because photographs are susceptible to damage, they must be stored and handled with care.
Regular checking and cleaning would help reduce these chances. Despite best efforts, over time, even the most carefully preserved images can become faded, discolored or ruined by dust and dirt.
#3. Limited Accessibility
Another downside of physical photo albums is limited accessibility. If you want a specific photo, you need to locate the album it’s in, flip through all of its pages — a lengthy process if you have many albums. Also, if you’re not physically near your albums, you won’t be able to access them at all.
#4. Physical Deterioration
Physical photo albums will deteriorate, causing irreparable damage to your photographs. Exposure to moisture, sunlight, and other environmental factors can hasten that process, causing photographs, even those in plastic sleeves, to fade or discolor.
They can also be damaged by insects, rodents, and other pests that can chew through pages and covers. Not how you’d want your memories to end up.
Get Them Digitized
Fortunately, there is a solution to these problems: digitizing your physical photo albums. Digital photographs offer many benefits over traditional images.
They can be preserved forever without the need for physical storage space, and they’re easy to share with friends and family—not to mention making it a breeze to create backups in case your hard drive dies or gets damaged!
Moreover, digital photos can be edited, organized, and sorted in ways that physical photos cannot. And there are several good businesses offering photo album scanning services.
It’s Time To Digitize!
While physical photo albums can be beautiful and nostalgic, the benefits of digitizing your family photos can’t be argued. Digital photos offer several advantages over physical images, and they’ll last you a lifetime without the need for any physical space. Arrange to have your photo album scanned.
Digitizing your photographs can help you address many concerns, including their limited accessibility and deterioration. By preserving them as digital files, you can ensure that the memories they contain are protected for years to come. Digitization, such as from Capture, ensures high-quality outputs.