Looking for a way to digitize old photos? I’m working with Southtree to share just how you can do that! As a photographer, preserving memories is what I’m all about. I was born before digital cameras, when photos took 3-5 days to get back from the developer and memories spilled out of albums and shoeboxes, and also took up entire bookshelves. Throughout high school and beyond, I was never without one of those cheap disposable cameras I picked up from the drugstore, and I was forever picking up pack after pack of overnight prints. I grew up with a photographer for a mom, and I remember sneaking down to her darkroom in the basement and marveling at all the equipment that went into printing one single image. There were big machines, timers, liquids, more liquids, drying racks, and crazy red lights that all worked together to bring one single photo into existence. I was amazed. These days it is much simpler, with images ready at the push of a button, and archives available any time, anywhere. But what about all those old photos? The ones that fill box after box after box, that yellow over time and have tattered edges from sticking on the wall over and over again? Those images need to be preserved, because if not, they will be gone forever.
Before the kids were born, my husband and I lived in a tiny house that didn’t have any storage space, so a lot of our belongings ended up in a backyard shed because there was nowhere else for it to go – including half my photo collection. Now, this wasn’t just any old box of photos – this is an entire closet’s worth of memories that chronicle all 33 years of my life. I started putting it together when I was in middle school, and I have built quite the collection from childhood memories all the way up to my wedding album, and then some. I’ve been carting it around to every house I live in, and the boxes have grown from one to many. Why? Because they are some of my most treasured posessions. Each one is a memory, and I hold on to those memories as tightly as I can. So, getting back to the story – half of my photo collection made its way to that barn, and never came back. I was heartbroken, but ultimately it was my fault for not being prepared. So now, years later, I’m done worrying about something happening to them. Because they need to be around and to tell the story of me – where I came from, where I went, and what happened along the way.
I have done a ton of research on converting old media to digital, and am happy to say that Southtree is my answer. Other companies I have found involve software I can purchase that involves doing it myself, or either they cost an arm and a leg just to process 20 images. Which is ridiculous because I have an entire closet overflowing with photo boxes! But Southtree has everything covered.
With a few clicks on their website, I can have all my old photos, home movies, and even audio tapes preserved on digital files so they stand the test of time. No more yellowing, fading, and tattered edges. These are high quality digital files that allow me to fit my entire photo closet in the palm of my hand, and that gives me so much peace of mind. The process is super simple, and the folks at Southtree do it all for me, so I don’t have to bother with installing software or the inevitable human error. All you have to do is head over to their website, select the type of items you want to preserve along with how many, submit your order, pack up your photos, and send them off! In 4-6 weeks you will receive a box filled with all of your originals (in original condition) plus a disc and drive of all your images!
Concerned about the quality? Don’t be – here’s one I got back.
I can’t tell you how relieved I am at finally having backups of a lifetime worth of memories. Now, what are you waiting for? Check out Southtree and save those photos! You can even get 40% off your order with promo code MOMENTS! (Discount cannot be combined with other offers. Limit one use per household. Not valid towards ForeverFiles or hard drives. Only valid at southtree.com. Expires on 10/31/16)
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Southtree.