Top tips to Preserve Family Memories, Photos and Videos for Future Generations. There’s nothing as exciting as sitting down as a family to watch home movies or look at old photos together. You relive shared memories and laugh at inside jokes. It’s a great way to stay connected to your family history.
Before you proceed to store your family photos forever, you must first gather as many photos and videos as you can. Family memories are like photos and are priceless, therefore future generations will thank you for preserving them.
To help you choose the best ways to store photos and videos, we narrowed down a few tips that are simple and effective and will save your family memories without much hassle.
Disclaimer:Â This article contains affiliate links which means I will receive a commission if you decide to buy from my referral link, at no extra cost to you.
Transfer Film into Digital and DVD
Years back, most home movies were shot on film. Over time, the film deteriorates and eventually turns into dust. Transferring film reels to digital and DVDs preserves your family memories.
You can do this with an inexpensive film scanner or a professional service. If you’re going the professional route, ask about archival quality DVDs, which will last longer. If possible, go for a service that protects the sound quality or improves it.
Edit and Back Up Videos
If you’re transferring home movies to digital or DVDs, you might as well edit them. This way, you can remove any footage you don’t want and put the clips in chronological order. Once you’re happy with your project, make backups. Use an external hard drive or cloud storage. If your computer crashes or the DVD gets damaged, you’ll still have a copy of your precious family memories.
Label Photos and Videos
Once you’ve transferred your photos and videos to digital format, label them. Write down the date, event, and the names of people who appear in each photo or video. It may seem like a lot of work, but it will be worth it when trying to locate a specific photo or video years later.
Use software to help you organize and label the photos and videos. The information will also help future generations know and understand the events, people, and places in the pictures and videos. It makes it easier for them to pass down your family’s history.
Store Photos and Videos in a Safe Place
Storing your photos and videos in a safe place preserves them for future generations. Keep them away from direct sunlight and extreme temperatures, which damage the quality. If you’re storing them digitally, back them up in multiple locations. You can also store them in a physical safe or safety deposit box. Using archival materials will preserve your photos and videos for years. These materials are acid- and lignin-free.
Share Your Photos and Videos
Make copies of your DVDs and photos and give them to other family members. That way, your family history is preserved even if something happens to the originals. You can also share them online through social media or a family website.
The effort makes it easy for far-flung family members to stay connected to your family history. Additionally, create a family history book or album with photos and videos. Have several copies to give to different family members.
Create More Memories
You can’t preserve memories if you don’t first create them. So, take the time to document your family’s life. Take photos and videos of holidays, birthday parties, vacations, and other special occasions. Interview family members and ask them to share their memories.
These will be precious keepsakes for future generations. Invest in quality photography, and hire a professional videographer for special occasions. For the young ones, capture each milestone, such as the first steps or words.
Teach Future Generations How to Care for Family Memories
When everyone appreciates and understands the importance of family memories, they’re more likely to take care of them. Show your children or grandchildren how to transfer photos and videos to digital format. Teach them how to label and organize them.
Share your favorite memories with them and explain why they’re valuable to you. The more they know about the past, the more they’ll value the family memories you’ve preserved.
Interview Older Relatives
Older relatives know much about your history, but they won’t be around forever. Take time to interview them about their lives. Ask them to share their memories, photos, and videos with you. This way, you can preserve your family memories for future generations.
You can also research your family’s history online or at the library. Document all the information you get in a family history book. This will be a cherished keepsake for future generations.
The Effort is Worthwhile
Although the effort takes time, it will be worth it when you look back at your preserved family memories and share them with future generations. Most importantly, you’ll pass on crucial family history and traditions. Start now to ensure you capture and preserve all the essential family memories to share with future generations.
Top tips to Preserve Family Memories, Photos, and Videos for Future Generations
Did you find helpful these photo storing tips? If you did, give us a share on social media. Maybe your Facebook friends are looking for similar ways to preserve their photos and videos.
