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Best Ways to Digitize Old Photos

Thu, 25 Aug 2022 23:58:12 GMT

There are many reasons why you might want to digitize your old photos. Maybe you want to create a digital archive of your family's history or perhaps you're looking for a way to share your old photos with relatives and friends who live far away. Whatever your reason, there are a few different ways you can go about it. In this blog post, we will cover the best ways to digitize photos. But first, let’s discuss some of the reasons people choose to do it.

Benefits of digitizing old photos

Preserve your memories: Digitizing old photos is a great way to preserve your memories. With digital files, you can make copies and store them in different places, so it’s impossible for them to be destroyed.
Share photos more easily: Digitizing old photos also makes it easier to share them with family and friends. You can email digital files or post them online and anyone with an internet connection can view them. This is a great way to stay connected with loved ones who live farther away.
Create backups: Backing up your photos is always a good idea and digitizing them is an easy way to do it. That way, if your originals are ever lost or damaged, you’ll still have the digital copies. You can also keep a backup on a cloud storage service like Dropbox or Google Drive.
Edit and enhance photos: With digital photos, you can easily edit and enhance them. For example, you can crop or rotate them, adjust the brightness or contrast, and even remove red eyes. This can be helpful if you want to improve the quality of an old photo.
Save space: If you have a lot of old photos, digitizing them can save a lot of space. Once they’re digital, you can either get rid of the originals or store them away in a photo album. That way, you’ll free up some storage.

Now that you know why photo digitization is useful, let’s talk about some of the best ways to do it:

1. Use a scanner and printer

If you have a scanner at home, this is one way you can digitize photos. Simply scan the photo and save it as a digital file on your computer. You can then print out the photo if you want or share it online with family and friends. This is a relatively simple process and it's one that you can do on your own without having to hire anyone.

However, certain scanners can be pricey. Specifically high-quality ones. Therefore, if you don’t have one or are not willing to make that investment, then this may not be an ideal method for you.

2. Use a digital camera

If you don't have a scanner, you can use a digital camera to take photos of your old photos. This method is a bit more time-consuming, but it's still fairly easy to do.

It’s also a great alternative if the photos are too large or delicate to scan, or if you don’t have access to a quality scanner.

3. Smartphone scan

If you don't have a scanner, you can use your smartphone to scan your old photos . There are a number of apps available that will allow you to do this, such as GooglePhotoScan. Simply hold your phone up to the photo and let the app do its job.

It’s important to note that taking photos from your phone’s camera app can leave unwanted shadows, distortions, and glares. On the contrary, using an app gets rid of these issues, allowing for a smooth scanning process. That’s why it’s best to avoid using your camera app if you want high-quality photos.

4. Photo Digitizing Service

There are a number of companies, like Keepsake Family Tree Video , that offer photo digitizing services. All you need to do is provide them with your photos and they'll take care of the rest.

These companies will scan your old photos and then send you the digital files, which you can then use to print out copies or share electronically. This is probably the easiest and best way to digitize old photos, especially if you don’t have the time or equipment to do it yourself.

Keepsake Family Tree Video can help you digitize old photos

Whichever method you choose, digitizing your old photos is the only way to preserve them for future generations.

However, we personally recommend hiring a photo digitizing service. If you have old photos that you’d like to digitize, Keepsake Family Tree Video can help. They are a full-service videography company with over 20 years of experience in the business. They use the latest technology and equipment to provide their customers with high-quality scans of their precious photos.

To learn more about photo digitization and Keepsake Family Tree Video, visit our website .

847-940-9999

Dan “The Video Man”

4 Advantages of Drone Videos For Small Businesses

Fri, 01 Jul 2022 18:20:56 GMT

In recent years, drones have become an extremely popular way to capture footage. And for good reason – they provide a unique perspective that regular video footage simply can’t achieve. But did you know that drone videos can also be a great video marketing tool for small businesses?

If you're a small business, you know that it's important to find new and innovative ways to stand out from the competition. Having so many competitors, it can be tough to get your name out there and attract customers.

In this blog post, we'll discuss four advantages of using drone videos to promote your company. So if you're looking for a way to take your small business to the next level, keep reading!

What is drone videography?

Drone videography is the process of capturing video footage or photos using a drone, a remote controlled flying camera. It gives you an aerial perspective that cannot be achieved with regular videography techniques. These types of videos are truly breathtaking and can be used for a variety of purposes, from wedding shots to promotional videos.

Start promoting your business with drone videography

Drone videos are an effective and affordable way to market your small business. Not only do they give customers a unique perspective of what you do, but it also helps them connect with your brand on an emotional level. Keepsake Family Tree Video can help you create stunning videos that capture the essence of your company and resonate with viewers.

Visit our website to learn more about our services and how we can help you take your business to new heights!

The History of Super 8 Film Format & How to Preserve It

Mon, 14 Mar 2022 13:13:35 GMT

What is Super 8 film?

Kodak released Super 8 in 1965 and is known for revolutionizing amateur filming by making the ability to create home movies accessible for everyone.

Super 8 format is nominally 8 mm wide and comes in plastic light-proof cartridges loaded with 50 feet of film, which is enough film for 2.5 minutes of professional motion picture standard shooting or 3 minutes 20 seconds of continuous filming for amateur use.

Before Super 8, it was much more difficult to make home movies because the only option was to use 35mm film which was expensive, complicated, and dangerous due to its high flammability.

Super 8 introduced a much cheaper and accessible option, and once it was released, it spread like wildfire throughout the 1970s and ‘80s. In fact, Stephen Spielberg claimed much of his success is due to his use of this type of film when he was a kid. He said that it was an inexpensive way for him to create movies.

Super 8 in the ‘70s and ‘80s

Spielberg wasn’t the only one who became obsessed with Super 8 during the late 20th century. Home movies boomed throughout the ‘70s and ‘80s due to the lower price tag and easier accessibility that Super 8 offered.

The original Super 8 cameras only allowed people to record silent movies. In 1973, however, Kodak introduced magnetic strips, which gave people the opportunity to record sound alongside the images.

When new technologies like the VHS camcorders came out, the use of Super 8 film cameras declined. Eventually, Kodak decreased the production of Super 8 cameras and then eventually ceased it altogether. You can still buy it, but only in select photography stores.

5 interesting facts about Super 8 film format

1. There are still four types of film made for Super 8 cameras, but Kodak no longer makes the cameras.

2. Filmmakers still use Super 8 for commercials, small films, and music videos as a more affordable alternative to HD video.

3. It is named Super 8 because of its 8-millimeter width, and “super” because it is considered an improvement of the variation before it, which was a “regular 8.”

4. The film was made using Kodachrome, a type of color film that was popularized by the motion picture industry and was also used by professional and amateur photographers.

5. There are mobile apps nowadays that allow you to adjust the lens and filter to achieve the same grainy, nostalgic effects that Super 8 created.

How to preserve Super 8 Film with video transfer service

If you’re one of the many who has a collection of home movies from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s, you should consider digitizing it because film degrades over time. The good news is, it’s possible to transfer this film to a digital form and cherish it forever using a video transfer service. Gather your 8mm, 16mm, or Super 8 film and bring it to Keepsake Family Tree Video, where we will complete the digital transfer for you.

Our services are unique in that they are 100% in-house, meaning we don’t ship your film off somewhere else to be transferred, which increases the likelihood of losing the film along with the precious memories they hold. You can trust us to digitize them and safely return them back to you in a USB thumb drive.

In addition to transferring 8mm, 16mm, or Super 8 films, we can also transfer your photos, slides and negatives, VHS, camcorder tapes and DVDs, and records or cassettes.

For more information about how you can preserve your film and photos, visit our website .

The 4 Best Ways to Convert Your Memories to a Digital File

Sun, 17 Oct 2021 21:41:02 GMT

Convert Your Old Film, Videotapes, DVD’s, Audiotapes, Photos and Slides to a Digital File

Memories are precious – we wholeheartedly believe that. That’s why at Keepsake Family Tree Video, we specialize in transferring your old film, videos, photos and slides into something you can cherish forever. Our transfers are unique in that they are completed 100% in-house, which means you can have peace of mind knowing your memories will be returned back safely and not sent all over the world.

Here are the 4 types of film, videos, audiotapes, photos and slides you can transfer with Keepsake Family Tree Video:

1. 8 mm, Super 8 and 16 mm film

If you or a loved one grew up any time during the 1930’s-1980’s, you’re probably familiar with Super 8, 8 mm and 16 mm films which were widely used during this period.

Did you know Steven Spielberg attributed his success to his use of Super 8 film during his childhood? Super 8 is probably the most widely recognized film stock and was introduced in 1965. It was quickly adopted because it had a higher image quality compared to standard 8 mm, and could accommodate a sound track.

At Keepsake, we specialize in taking your films and converting them into a convenient digital file you can keep forever and share with family and friends easily.

2. Photos, Slides and Negatives

Do you have a full scrapbook full of old photos you want to make a digital copy of? Or have you come across a box full of vintage slides and negatives you want to preserve? If you bring them to us, we can transfer the photos to a digital file you can share easily with family and friends and pass onto future generations.

We all know what photos are, but what are slide films exactly? Would you know what a slide film was if you came across it? Slide films produce rich, vibrant color, and as they are exposed, they become closer to their actual color.

Though often confused as the same type of film, negatives and slide films have some differences. Essentially, while slide films produce a positive image on a transparent base, in negatives the lightest areas of the image appear darkest and darkest areas appear lightest.

3. VHS, Camcorder tapes & DVDs

Many of us grew up in a time when home videos were shot solely on VHS, camcorder tapes or DVDs. While DVDs were all the rage for movies and home videos only a few years ago, streaming services have quickly changed that. Nowadays, they don’t even make TV’s that you can play these types of films on.

Fortunately, if you do have some home videos on VHS, camcorders or DVDs, we can transform and preserve them into something you can conveniently share and keep in the family for generations.

4. Records & Cassettes

Do you have some old audio you want to digitally convert? Perhaps it’s a recording of a loved one singing their favorite song, or speaking words of wisdom. Or perhaps it’s reel to reel audio tape of a wedding or special event. Bring it to us and we can digitize your favorite audio treasures.

Cassette tapes were developed in 1962 and while we think of them a vintage way of playing audio, they were a huge stepping stone in enhancing technology that allowed us to share music on a much wider scale than we previously had.

While we picture vinyl records spinning on a turntable during the 60’s and 70’s, record players were in development for many years before that. In fact, the vinyl record was developed originally from a device invented in 1857 called the Phonautograph, which used a vibrating pen to represent sounds onto small paper discs.

If your favorite audio is collecting dust around your house, bring it to us to digitize and keep forever.

Contact Keepsake Family Tree Videos to Transfer Your Old Film, Videotapes, DVD’s, Audiotapes, Photos and Slides.

Dan “The Video Man” Gelfond understands how special and important it is to preserve old memories of family and friends. Gelfond first found his passion for videography by working on a Steven Spielberg project from 1994-1998, and from there extended his services to videography, video transfers, drone videos, business videos and doodle videos. Since its birth in 1998, Keepsake Family Tree Video has sought to bring people joy, which is Dan’s favorite part of every project.

To learn more about Dan and Keepsake Family Tree Video, visit our website .

Five reasons to Digitize your old Photos, Videos and Film

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 18:57:38 GMT

Don’t wait to save family memories.

If your house was burning down, what would you grab first? Besides your kids and pets, the most important item most people have is their physical memories. Their photos and videotapes and old film from their lives.

Well, a fire is not the only thing that can destroy those precious valuables we all have in closets and boxes and storage. Time alone will destroy all those physical items. Photos fade away to nothing. The chemicals in film and videotape will degrade the picture until they are useless. There is only one way to assure that those memories can be passed down to future generations, digitizing them!

The importance of digitizing and archiving old film, tapes, photos and slides is therefore critical. If you have ever watched on old VHS tape you can see that the picture quality is not nearly what it once was; video and photos are converted to a digital file the degrading of quality ends, the product can now be stored indefinitely with no loss to video or audio quality.

FIVE REASONS TO DIGITIZE YOUR MEMORIES

It Provides Peace of Mind

If your memories are digitized you will be sure of preservation for future generations.

No more worrying every time you move if they will get lost. No stressing over which kids will get the pictures. In a divorce, each spouse can have everything.

Declutter the Home

Digitizing your media will create extra storage space.

Memories can be shared easily.

When you digitize your memories, all you have to do is upload your digitized media. Just like that, you can relive and recall all your precious memories with family and friends anywhere in the world.

Preserve your family’s history

Digitized media can be duplicated and shared with multiple children and grandchildren with no chance of getting lost or damaged.

How we preserve memories.

Unlike every name brand store that ships your precious memories all over the world to the cheapest vendor, we digitize everything in house. We have been doing so for 23 years and have only 5 star Google reviews. We will name every single reel of film or old videotape and create a separate digital file for each one. They will then be placed on a USB thumbdrive to be loaded into as many computers as you like.

Don’t wait until it’s too late to preserve the most valuable items in your house, your family’s history.

About Keepsake Family Tree Video

Our transfers are unique in that they are completed 100% in-house. Unlike other transfer services, we don’t ship your precious memories all over the world because we know it creates a high risk of losing them. When you give us your film, tapes & photos, you can trust us to digitize them in-house and safely return them. We will provide a USB Thumb Drive ,or can send them digitally for you to store on your own.

www.keepsakefamilytreevideos.com