Getting Rid of Old Photographs

MATH

I only ever keep photos with people I know on them. Scenic shots and folks I can't remember that we met in Menorca 10 years ago I shred when I'm board of them.

I can't see what the fuss is about if ya don't want then then shred em - if you can't then keep em

Ticklemouse

Let's face it - how many of us have taken reams of photos at those student parties - or worse still, someone else has got hold of your camera.... so when the film is developed, you have 36 out of focus shots of the backs of heads, the inside of your bag - or courtesy of others - bits of the rugby club you never really wanted to know about anyway:D

I'm all for keeping photos of your dim and distant past if they are worth looking at, but it can be VERY theraputic to destroy the photo of that evil ba$tard you once lived with who made your life hell......oops, do I sound bitter and twisted? Must destroy more photos of him

Robin_uk_2

You dont have to have an album, unless you want to. As long as they are kept clean and dry- maybe the box you had them in, or a box file, shoe box or whatever?

I agree with others you dont need to keep all of them. And some people do enjoy tearing them up!

Its tricky that maybe some of the pics of when you were happy will be most upsetting you now. The fact that you dont want to chuck them out means that maybe you're not really ready to cope with that? You could postpone the decision eg keep them now but review in a few months (or later- whatever makes sense for you).

You could also scan them, if you have access to a scanner. And use Photoshop?!

pigpen

Scan the originals in as high resolution as you can manage and fling the ones you really don't want to keep.. make notes on the back of who is in the ones you do keep.. nothing worse than a ream of pics and you have no idea who anybody is!

Burning of ex-husband does appeal though

Lazy_Liz

Before chucking them I would pick a few from each year/event/situation to keep, just the very best ones mind then file in a box or album. All the rest go into the recycling or bin.
Years ago when getting a film back from developing was an event I could never understand why people kept the out of focus, head chopped off, doesn't show anything shots. I always edited each pack before I showed them to anyone, I have lots of flip albums ( these can hold a huge number of pictures) which I lovingly filled with pictures and listed the events and people on the index. I don't look at them very often but if I need to refer to them to see a hairstyle, people at a party etc. they are quite easy to find.
Now I keep them on the compuiter and have them come up randomly on my screen saver.

[Deleted User]

I recently went through my two big boxes of photos that had been taken by me and others over the past 60 odd years I fished out the ones I wanted to keep (family history and relatives whom I had know ) I always tried to print the year and who it was on the back as well.The ones of folk whom I hadn't seen for years if I knew where they lived (if still alive )I sent them off to them. I had some of my brother's in-laws which I sent to their grandchildren they were pleased to have them as well.Also some photo's of weddings of folk now long gone I sent to their relations I consolidated my two huge piles down to one box and the rest got shedded and binned .Pictures of mountains etc which I couldn't even remember where !! they got dumped as well.They were taking up space and I just made sure that any that were any good went to thier rightful owners.Both of my DDs had two big piles to keep of their childhood, as at my age I thought its not what they want to be going through when I shuffle off this mortal coil.I had almost a week of going through old photos and laughing at the memories they evoked ,but sensibly a lot of them needed clearing out.I feel so much better for it and now have the ones I want and the rest are gone.Because of computers and digital camaras a lot of my photos now are on a backed up file on my computer so they take up far less space on there than clogging up two drawers in a chest of drawers.You do have to be a bit ruthless though.

x_Bunny_x

Original post is from 2005 so ....

I saw on Qvc though a few weeks ago a scanner thing for about £80
It scans in normal photos and also slides and also negatives and uploads them to your pc as jpegs.

I guess even treasured photos would be idea or this plus you can email them to any family across the world you may have.