Save Your Photos & Home Movies Before They're Gone

If you have old photos in boxes, slides in trays, negatives in envelopes, or home movies tucked away in a closet, you’re not alone. Most families have decades of memories stored in formats that are fading over time - and getting harder to view every year. The good news? You don’t have to lose those moments.

At Harold’s Photo, we make it easy to digitize and preserve your family history - from printed photos and film to VHS tapes and home movie reels. Whether you want everything backed up safely, shared with family, or turned into a beautiful keepsake, digitizing is the best first step.

What We Can Digitize at Harold’s Photo

We can convert a wide range of photo and video formats into easy-to-share digital files so your memories are protected for the future.

• Printed Photos: Loose prints, albums, snapshots, and older photo paper
• Photo Negatives & Slides: 35mm strips, negative sleeves, and slide collections
• VHS & Tape Transfers: VHS, VHS-C, Hi8, and other tape formats
• Movie Film Reel Transfers: Super 8, 8mm, and 16mm film
• Audio & Media Transfers: Older recordings that need to be preserved digitally
• Digital File Transfers: Moving photos/videos from phones, cameras, and devices to USB or other storage

Not sure what you have? No problem - bring it in and our team can help identify your formats and recommend the best way to preserve them.

Why Digitizing Is So Important

Digitizing isn’t just about convenience - it’s about protecting memories that can’t be replaced.

• Old photos fade. Prints and film naturally discolor and lose detail over time.
• Tapes degrade. VHS and camcorder tapes can warp, stick, or lose picture quality as they age.
• Playback equipment is disappearing. Slide projectors, VCRs, and film viewers are harder to find (and harder to repair).
• Accidents happen. Water damage, fire, and even humidity can destroy irreplaceable items.

Once your memories are digitized, you can store them safely, make backups, and share them with family anytime - without risking the originals.

The Best Time to Digitize? Before You “Need” To

One of the biggest mistakes people make is waiting until a tape won’t play or a photo has already faded too far. Digitizing early helps preserve the best possible quality - and saves you from stress later.

If you’ve ever said, “I really need to get to those someday,” this is your sign.

Tips to Get Organized Before You Drop Off Your Memories

You don’t need to have everything perfectly sorted - but a little organization can make your digitizing project faster, easier, and more meaningful.

• Start small. Pick one box, one tote, or one drawer - not your entire house.
• Sort by category. Try quick piles like “weddings,” “kids,” “holidays,” or “vacations.”
• Keep items in order if possible. If photos are already in an album or stack, that order may tell the story.
• Label what you can. Names, dates, and locations are gold - even if it’s just a sticky note on a stack.

How to Protect Your Files After Digitizing

Once you’ve digitized your photos and home movies, the next step is making sure they stay safe long-term.

• Save a copy to a USB drive for easy access and sharing
• Back up to an external hard drive at home
• Use cloud storage (Google Photos, iCloud, Dropbox, etc.) for an extra layer of protection
• Share copies with family members so your memories aren’t stored in only one place

A good rule of thumb is the “3-2-1 backup” method: 3 copies of your files, on 2 different types of storage, with 1 copy stored off-site or in the cloud.

What Can You Do With Digitized Photos & Home Movies?

This is the fun part - once your memories are digitized, you can finally enjoy them again!

• Create a photo book to tell the story of a childhood, wedding, or family legacy
• Make prints for relatives who have never seen those old photos
• Turn favorites into wall décor like canvas, metal, or acrylic prints
• Share home movies at reunions, anniversaries, and celebrations
• Make a memorial tribute using old photos and video clips

Ready to Start? We’re Here to Help

Digitizing can feel like a big project - but you don’t have to do it alone. At Harold’s Photo, we help you every step of the way, from identifying formats to choosing the best transfer options for your needs.

If you’re ready to preserve your photos, slides, negatives, and home movies, stop into our Sioux Falls store or explore our services online:

View All Services Your memories are priceless - let’s make sure they’re protected for generations to come.