Today I’m sharing some methods to restore old family photos. My Grandad was a keen photographer, so my aunt has loads of photos from my late Dad’s childhood. They are all kept in photo albums which are in her loft, 60 miles away – not ideal when other family members want to view them. This lead me down a rabbit hole of looking for ways to not only easily scan all of the images so they are digital, but to restore old family photos which are showing signs of age. 

Ways to Restore Old Family Photos

If you want to see some tips on how to restore old pictures, just follow the link. Photographs keep precious memories of the past, but nothing lasts forever. Years of exposure to sunlight, humidity, and improper storage can all do serious damage to printed photo archives. If you’re looking for ways to restore old family photos, keep on reading. Let’s get started!

Method 1 – Contact a Professional Restoration Company

If your family photos are in poor condition or you don’t have time to restore them yourself, hire an expert. Due to the abundance of options available today, finding a local restoration company or online service is not that difficult. 

You have two restoration techniques to choose from – digital or manual. Unlike manual restoration, there is no risk of irreversibly destroying originals with digital restoration.

Speaking of downsides, this method is the most expensive one of all the others and may not be feasible for some people. Plus, strangers would be able to see photos of your relatives. Still, it can be a valid option, particularly for those with little time or limited editing skills.

Method 2 – Do Manual Restoration Yourself

Manual restoration at home is not as difficult as you think, but it does take time. On the other hand, it’s way more basic than a professional one.

To begin, you need to clean the surface of your old photo, removing the dust and dirt with a soft-bristle brush. 

Don’t try to separate pictures that are stuck together. Instead, soak them for 30 minutes in distilled water, which you can find in any grocery store or drugstore. Then, carefully slide the images apart and set them aside to dry. 

Use acid-free tape to fix torn corners, which can be purchased at any local office supplies store. Regular acid adhesive tape can ruin your photo over time, so don’t use it. And that’s it, you’re done!

Method 3 – Use Specialised Software to Restore Old Family Photos

If you’re afraid of damaging your originals and have a small budget, try to restore old family pictures with photo restoration software. 

Such programmes let you easily remove all the defects — creases, scratches, and cracks — using smart retouching tools. Plus, you can unblur your photos, assemble together ripped-apart pieces, transform negatives into positives, and even turn black-and-white photographs into colour without the hassle.  

Digitise your old picture by scanning it with a printer or just taking a photo with a smartphone camera. Run the software to import the necessary images and begin your restoration process.

This method is much cheaper than a professional one. You simply buy a lifetime software licence and can fix an unlimited number of images. Whereas, with the help of experts, you have to pay a high fee per photo. Plus, some programmes offer a free trial period to try out the available features and test your skills before making a purchase.

Once restored, you can create beautifully printed keepsakes using platforms like Mixbook, which allow you to design and order custom photo books for long-term preservation and gifting.

Wrapping Up

Now you have three options on how to restore old family photos. Select the one that best meets your requirements, budget, and skill level. Refresh your grandparents’ youth photos to surprise them or save such images for future generations. If this has spurred you on to take great photos yourself, there’s plenty of tips on my blog!