Celebrate Memories by
Time Traveling Through Your Photos
Courtesy of Our Professional Organizing and Photo Scanning Services
1902 Ireland
1943 Patricia Bell
1984 Family
2022 Friends
If you're anything like me, you've spent countless hours leafing through old family photo albums, chuckling at the hairstyles of bygone eras, and marveling at the striking resemblances between generations. These images are often cherished snapshots of our past, beautifully transporting us back in time. But there's one element that can make these moments even more poignant: the stories behind the photos.
Today, let's dive into the profound importance of linking our family stories to our photographs and how this simple act can bring layers of depth, meaning, and connection.
1. Pictures May Say a Thousand Words, But Stories Add Depth
While a photograph might capture a moment in time, a story gives that moment context. For instance, that image of your grandparents dancing might seem ordinary, but knowing that it was taken the day they got engaged gives it a whole new dimension. With a story, that photo isn’t just an image; it’s a memory of love, commitment, and the beginning of a family legacy.
2. Strengthening Our Roots
Knowing our family’s stories creates a stronger sense of belonging. By understanding the trials, tribulations, successes, and joys our ancestors faced, we can see ourselves as part of a larger narrative. This helps us appreciate the sacrifices made for us and gives us a stronger sense of identity and place in the world.
3. A Time Capsule for Future Generations
As the years go by, stories can get lost or diluted. By connecting these tales directly to photographs, we're creating a tangible time capsule. Imagine the joy of future generations, not just seeing their heritage but understanding the lives and experiences depicted in each image.
4. It's About More Than Just Faces
A family gathering photo might have numerous faces, but what were they gathering for? Was it a yearly tradition? A celebration of someone's life? By attaching the story, each face gets its narrative. Each smile, glance, and embrace tells a tale of its own.
5. Emotional Connection
Ever wondered why certain family photos bring tears, while others elicit laughter? The emotional resonance often comes from the stories behind those photos. When we know the context, our emotional connection deepens, making those images more than just paper and ink – they become pieces of our heart.
Until next time, happy story-telling and photo-cherishing!
Gordon V. McIntosh
1927 - 2017 Photo Legacy Collection
We understand that every old photo tells a story, and that story is an essential part of our family's history and legacy. That's why we believe in the importance of genealogy, storytelling, and saving our old photos.
For example, these photos are of my dad and uncle wearing their WWII uniforms, these photos represents significant moments in my family's history. By preserving these photos and telling the story behind them, I'm not only paying tribute to my dad and uncle but also to their generation and the sacrifices they made for our country.
In the case of my Uncle Jimmy, his story is particularly poignant, as he tragically lost his life as a prisoner of war. By creating a photo book about his story, I've preserved his memory and his sacrifice for future generations. Similarly, I'm working on my dad's book, and capturing his legacy and the story of his life.
These stories and photos add value to our family history, connecting us to our past and helping us understand where we come from.
Now we're here to help you capture your stories, history, and photos and preserve them for generations to come.
James D. McIntosh
1924 - 1944 Photo Legacy Collection
Preserving Your Memories with P.A.T.
What You Need to Know
When it comes to preserving your cherished family photos and documents, it's essential to use materials that are safe, stable, and long-lasting. That's where P.A.T. comes in. P.A.T. stands for Photographic Activity Test, a standardized test used to determine the potential for photographic materials to cause chemical reactions that can lead to degradation and discoloration over time.
P.A.T. testing is essential for photo archival products because it ensures that the materials used are safe for long-term storage and display of photographic prints, negatives, and other materials. P.A.T. testing is particularly important for products that come into direct contact with photographic materials, such as photo albums, storage boxes, and sleeves.
So, what should you look for when selecting photo archival products with P.A.T. certification? First and foremost, look for products that have been certified by a reputable testing organization, such as the Image Permanence Institute (IPI). The IPI conducts rigorous testing to ensure that photo archival products meet the highest standards for safety and longevity.
In addition to P.A.T. certification, look for products that are acid-free, lignin-free, and pH-neutral. These qualities help ensure that the materials used will not react with or damage photographic prints over time.
At Treasured Photo Collections, we are committed to providing our clients with the highest quality photo archival products that meet or exceed P.A.T. standards. From our acid-free photo albums and storage boxes to our P.A.T. certified photo sleeves, we take every step to ensure that your cherished family memories are preserved for generations to come.
In conclusion, when selecting photo archival products, be sure to look for those with P.A.T. certification, as well as other qualities like acid-free, lignin-free, and pH-neutral. By using high-quality photo archival products, you can ensure that your family's memories will be preserved for future generations to enjoy.
Our lives are made up of moments big and small, and photos capture these moments in a way that nothing else can. From the candid snapshots of everyday life to the posed portraits of special occasions, photos allow us to revisit the people, places, and events that have shaped our lives.
But photos are more than just images on a screen or paper. They are a tangible link to our past, and a way to keep the stories and memories of our loved ones alive. They help us remember the people who have shaped our lives, and the experiences that have made us who we are today.
And while digital photos may be convenient and easy to share, there's something special about holding a physical photo in your hands. The weight of the paper, the texture of the image, the handwritten notes on the back - these all add to the sense of connection and history that comes with a family photo legacy.
In many ways, a family photo legacy is like a time capsule. It allows us to capture and preserve the moments that matter most, and to pass them on to future generations. It's a way to honor and celebrate our family history, and to ensure that the stories and memories of our loved ones live on.
Printed or Digital
The Importance is the Memory
Organizing Photos
Your collection is as
unique as your family!
Organizing your photo collection can be overwhelming, but you don't have to do it alone. At Treasured Photo Collections, we're here to help turn your photo chaos into a treasured collection. We offer expert guidance to organize, preserve, and showcase your photos according to your unique needs and preferences. Whether you have a small collection or a large archive, our team can help you create a system that works for you and your family. Let us help you turn your photo chaos into a Treasured Photo Collection.
Solve Photo Mysteries
Do you have vintage photos that are a mystery to you? Let us help you follow the clues in your multi-generational collection to bring your genealogy, stories, and photos together to create a family photo book.
At Treasured Photo Collections, we believe that every photo has a story waiting to be told. We're here to help you discover the stories behind your family's vintage photos, and create a lasting legacy for your family.
For example, one of our team members was able to uncover her grandmother's story through a vintage photo. She discovered that her grandmother, Hilda Elsie Bell, was born in Oslo, Norway in 1900 and moved to Canada as a child. Using research and documents acquired through censuses and vital statistics, she was able to piece together her grandmother's story, including scandalous information that her grandmother was pregnant with her uncle when she got married.
Through the process of researching her grandmother's story, she was also able to identify the location of the photo, and uncover details about her grandmother's life at the time. She was able to learn that her grandmother lived in a house on Dodds Road in Headingley, MB, and even discovered details about her grandmother's 1940s-style dress.
At Treasured Photo Collections, we can help you uncover the stories behind your family's vintage photos and create a beautiful family photo book to showcase them. Let us help you preserve your family's legacy and keep your family's memories alive for generations to come.
From Fading to Fabulous:
Transforming Your Old Photos."
Do you have a box of old photos stored away in your attic or basement? Perhaps you inherited them from a relative, or you've just been holding onto them for sentimental reasons. Either way, these photos are likely to have seen better days. Over time, they may have become faded, discolored, or even damaged. But with the help of modern technology, you can bring these old photos back to life and transform them from fading to fabulous.
The first step in the process of restoring old photos is to digitize them. This involves scanning the physical prints or negatives and converting them into digital files that can be edited and enhanced. There are various options for scanning, from using a flatbed scanner to using a specialized photo scanner that can handle different sizes and formats. Some people may prefer to outsource this step to a professional scanning service, while others may choose to do it themselves using a home scanner.
Once you have the digital files, the real magic can begin. There are numerous software programs and online tools that can help you restore and enhance old photos. Some of these programs are free, while others require a paid subscription or purchase. Here are some techniques and tools that can help transform your old photos:
Adjusting brightness and contrast: Old photos are often faded and lack contrast. You can use software tools like Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop to adjust the brightness and contrast levels to bring out more detail and depth.
Removing scratches and stains: Over time, old photos can become scratched, stained, or otherwise damaged. There are tools in Photoshop that can help you remove these imperfections, such as the Healing Brush or Clone Stamp.
Color correction: If your old photos have become discolored or yellowed, you can use software tools to correct the color balance and restore the original tones. You can also choose to add a bit of artistic flair by converting the photo to black and white or sepia.
Enhancing sharpness: Old photos can often appear blurry or out of focus. You can use software tools to sharpen the image and bring out more detail.
Adding creative effects: If you're feeling adventurous, you can add creative effects to your restored photos, such as borders, filters, or texture overlays. This can give your old photos a fresh, modern look.
With these techniques and tools, you can transform your old, faded photos into vibrant, high-quality digital images. But the real value of restoring these photos is in the memories and stories they hold. As you work on restoring each photo, take a moment to reflect on the people, places, and events they capture. Share these restored photos with your family and friends, and preserve the stories and memories they hold for future generations.
In conclusion, restoring old photos is a rewarding and meaningful way to connect with the past and preserve the memories and stories that make us who we are. With the help of modern technology and a bit of creative flair, we can transform your old photos from fading to fabulous. So why not dust off that box of old photos and give them a new lease on life?
Do Photo Books or Photo Albums
still have a place today?
When I was a child I loved sitting with my mom or my grandma and going through family photo albums. There was a great feeling of connection and wonder about the people in the photo albums .
Of course, there were the books devoted to our lives but what always interested me more were the older albums full of people who I had never met, but made up a part of who I was, because of the role they had played in my parents or grandparents lives.
Unfortunately my memories of the stories didn't last and there was not documentation, stories and names attached to the photos and now while they can be used to fuel the imagination the reality of who these people were in their lives has diminished.
This makes me wonder about two things. If you aren't making photobooks (from digital copies of your photos) or photo albums (scrapbooking) then aren't you missing a great way to spend time with people you love?
The second thing is if you only have metadata attached to your photos aren't you losing some of your family history? I often hear that photos should be digital for the next generation, and I don't disagree, but I wonder if that is the backup solution and if printed photobooks filled with photos of people, event, places, and keepsakes along with the stories and genealogy is truly what we should be aiming for when we curate our photo collections.
Does this sound like you, simply overwhelmed by the number of photos, keepsakes and stories that your family has accumulated over the years?
Taking photos is easy, but organizing the tens of thousands that accumulate over a lifetime is anything but easy. So, know that you are not alone.
Many older adults are finding themselves now not only having their own photos but their parents and in-laws photos to curate. We recommend starting with the oldest photos in your collection and working forward. We believe this is the best method because memories and stories fade over time and you want to capture them first before they are gone forever.
We also believe strongly that it's important to capture the stories of our oldest family members as the connection to our past needs to be preserved for further generations.
We are devoted to providing professional assistance to families, businesses and association
who want to organize and manage all their photos, documents. and stories
So that everyone can have an organized photo collection so they can share their history.
Our Vision
Who knew deciding on a mission statement would be so tough! We definitely are committed to helping our clients to get their photos back into their lives, but that didn't seem to encompass our mission
One of the reasons we are so passionate about what we do, and believe it's so important is that a photo without a story just loses so much over time.
The trick with a good collection is to make it relevant not only for today but for the future. Take for example the photo to the left, while beautiful on it's own and obviously shows a bride, her father and flower girls, it doesn't tell you the story of how the father cried when his daughter asked him to give her away that day.
A picture perfect day at Niagara-on-the Lake. that the flower girls (the daughters of the bride) were thrilled to see their mom happy at last. It doesn't tell you that the bride had lovingly crafted the boutiques for the wedding. That the youngest daughter had to wear a walking cast because of an accident just days before the wedding. I could go on but you get the idea. All these little details will be cherished for years and generations to come.
A searchable database includes having metadata, facial recognition, unique file names and correct capture dates for the photos to help locate the photos, in ever growing collections.
If you are interested in discussing your photos send us a message, we would love to hear from you. hello@photocollections.ca will find us!
Our First Blog Entry
29 December 2021
Showcase Your Photo Collection
Life is all about the people we love, the stories we share, and the memories we create together.
Photos play an essential role in preserving these memories and allowing us to relive those special moments. They help us hold onto the people we love and cherish the memories
we've made with them.
At Treasured Photo Collections, we believe that photos are not just images, but precious memories that deserve to be treasured and preserved for future generations. Our mission is to help you organize, restore, and showcase your photo collection so that you can share your stories and memories with your loved ones.
Let us help you bring your photos to life and celebrate the people and moments that matter most.