An album can be digitized without removing its photographs when removing them would damage the prints, mounts or pages. Capture the album as an object as well as its images.
A practical way to begin
Photograph the cover and each page in sequence before making close-up images.
Support the album so the binding does not have to lie fully flat.
Use even lighting and keep your camera as parallel as possible to the page.
Save page-level files separately from cropped photographs, retaining the original order.
For example
A full-page image preserves the arrangement and handwritten labels, while a separate close-up makes one portrait easier to view.
What to avoid
Avoid peeling photographs from adhesive pages or pressing brittle paper under glass. A conservator can advise when the album cannot be opened safely.
Should I keep the original material?
Yes. Keep an untouched source and work with copies. A finished album, transcript or edited video serves a different purpose from the original material. Check that your saved copies open, and keep important context such as names and dates alongside them.
Related family guides
A personal keepsake, if it fits your plans
If you decide to turn a selection of family photos or videos into a physical keepsake, you can explore Forever Orb. Keep the original files and a separate backup; a display gift is not your archive.
