What Can You Do With Old Family Photos During the Holidays?

The holidays are a great time to bring out old family photos, scan and preserve them, identify people and places, collect family stories, colorize old black-and-white pictures, and share favorite memories with relatives. With different generations gathered together, an old photo album can easily become an activity everyone can take part in.

Holiday gatherings have a way of bringing people together who may not often be in the same room - parents, grandparents, siblings, cousins, children, and grandchildren.

That makes it the perfect time to pull out those boxes and albums of old family photos. You may be surprised by how quickly one photograph can get everyone talking.

Scan Old Photos Together

Instead of going through old albums alone, turn scanning into a family activity.

With Photomyne, you can scan old printed photos using your phone. One person can scan while someone else sorts through the next group of photos. Pass the phone around and let everyone choose which memories they want to preserve.

You don't need to tackle the entire family archive. Pick one album or a small stack of photos and see where it takes you.

Find Out Who's in the Photos

Ever come across an old family photo and realize you have absolutely no idea who someone is?

A holiday gathering is a great opportunity to find out.

Ask older relatives to identify unfamiliar faces, places, and occasions. You might finally learn who is standing next to your grandfather, where an old family portrait was taken, or what year everyone took that memorable vacation.

As you scan, you can add names, dates, locations, and descriptions so those details stay connected to the photos for the future.

Collect the Stories Behind the Pictures

Sometimes the best part of an old photograph is the story that comes with it.

Ask what was happening when the picture was taken. Who took it? Why was everyone there? What happened just before or after?

A photograph that looks ordinary at first might unlock a story you've never heard before.

Adding some of those details to the photo's description can help preserve not only what the moment looked like, but why it mattered.

Bring Black-and-White Memories to Life

Old black-and-white photographs can also be fun to rediscover together.

Try colorizing one and pass the phone around to see everyone's reaction. Seeing a familiar parent or grandparent suddenly appear in color can make an old photograph feel surprisingly different - especially for younger family members who only know that person from black-and-white pictures.

Share a Favorite With Someone Else

Not everyone can always make it to the holiday gathering.

If you find a photograph that reminds you of someone, send it to them. You might share a childhood photo with a sibling, an old holiday picture with a cousin, or a photo of your parents with other family members.

One rediscovered photograph can be enough to start an entirely new conversation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can families do with old photos during the holidays?

Families can scan old photographs, identify people and places, record stories, add names and dates, colorize black-and-white photos, organize memories, and share favorite pictures with relatives.

Why are the holidays a good time to go through family photos?

Holiday gatherings often bring several generations together, making it easier to identify unfamiliar people and places and collect stories from relatives who remember them.

How can children get involved with old family photos?

Children can choose photos to scan, ask older relatives about the people pictured, help organize memories, or try colorizing old black-and-white photographs. It's also an easy way to introduce younger generations to people and stories from their family's past.

Turn Old Memories Into a New Holiday Tradition

You don't need to spend the entire holiday scanning photos. Start with one album, one box, or even a handful of pictures.

Let everyone choose a favorite, ask questions, tell stories, laugh at old hairstyles, and see what memories come back.

By the end, you may have preserved a few pieces of your family's history - and created a new memory together in the process.

Have old family photos waiting to be rediscovered? Get started with Photomyne and bring your family's photos and stories back to life this holiday season.