Use the equipment you have
A flatbed scanner or a phone can capture a print. Use even light, avoid glare, and keep the camera parallel to the photo.
From print to digital album
Your scanned photos deserve more than storage
Scanning saves a digital copy. Restoration can make it easier to enjoy. Digitize old photos with your scanner or phone, then use PhotoHeirloom to enhance and share the results.
See the photo examples
Start with a better digital copy
Keep the full photograph
Capture the edges and save an untouched copy. Photograph any handwritten notes on the back separately.
Restore after scanning
A scan also records scratches and fading. AI restoration can improve the digital copy without changing the paper original.
Old photos, a new perspective
Real examples from our home page. AI can change details and results vary. Keep your originals as a record of your family history.
From a shoebox to a shared album
Capture the print
Gently remove loose dust. Scan at a useful resolution or take a sharp, well-lit phone photo without flash glare.
Upload and compare
Upload your digital file, restore it, and review the before-and-after result for unwanted changes.
Organize and share
Create albums by person, event, or decade. Invite relatives to help identify people and preserve the story.
Your questions, answered
Does PhotoHeirloom scan or collect my prints?
No. This is an online restoration and album service, not a mail-in scanning service. Scan or photograph your prints before uploading them.
Should I use a phone or a scanner?
Either can work. A scanner helps with even lighting and flat alignment. With a phone, avoid reflections, shadows, and angled shots.
Should I throw away the original after scanning?
No. Keep your original prints and a separate copy of the unedited scans. AI edits are interpretations, not replacements for source records.