How to prepare old family photos for a memory video
An old photo can carry a lot in a small frame. Before turning a set of prints into a video, spend a little time protecting the originals and organizing the digital copies. You do not need perfect photos, but clear, complete scans and a few notes about who's pictured make the result easier to shape.
Start with the photos you want to keep
Choose a small set that tells a story: people, places, and moments that belong together. CherishMotion's current package accepts 5 to 15 photos in JPG or PNG format. If you have more, make a shortlist first rather than sending every near-duplicate. Keep the best-quality version of each image and, if possible, the original color or black-and-white file before making edits.
Write down names, dates and places that you know. If you are unsure, label them as uncertain rather than guessing. A simple filename such as grandma_kitchen_1978_01.jpg is easier to find than IMG_0042.jpg.
Handle the original gently
Prepare a clean, clear work area before taking prints out. For photographs and negatives, the U.S. National Archives recommends gloves because fingerprints can leave permanent stains. Do not force a fragile print flat. A flatbed scanner works for loose, flat photographs that fit fully on the glass; a copy stand is safer for bound albums or material that cannot be flattened without strain. Avoid an automatic-feed scanner for fragile or bent originals.
Once you have digital copies, keep the originals. Digitizing reduces repeated handling, but a hard drive or cloud account is not a substitute for the print. The National Archives recommends multiple backups, including one in another location.
Scan or photograph with enough detail
Use the original print or the highest-quality digital version you have, not a screenshot of a thumbnail or a compressed image from a chat. Capture the whole photo, including edges, so you can crop later without losing faces or context. Keep the first scan unchanged and make edits to a copy. If you photograph a print with a phone, lay it flat, use even light, hold the phone parallel to it, and check for glare and blur before moving on.
Name files in the order you want them considered, such as 01_family_home.jpg, 02_school_day.jpg, and 03_reunion.jpg. Add a note about what matters in each frame and whether a particular person or scene should receive more attention. The Library of Congress recommends keeping the highest-quality version and descriptive file names for photos you want to preserve.
Check permission and expectations
Use photos you own or have permission to submit. If a living person is pictured, think about whether they would be comfortable with a lifelike animation of their face. Ask before using someone else's private or copyrighted image, and do not upload sensitive photos just because they are in a family album. CherishMotion's terms require permission for submitted photos and consent for others' personal information. Read the privacy policy before uploading to understand storage and deletion terms.
Animation is an artistic interpretation, not a historical recording of a person's movements. The order form has no notes field, so email [email protected] to tell the team which details matter to you, but allow for a result that may look different from how you remember the moment. Keep a backup of the originals and source files outside the service.
Put the story together
When you are ready, select the photos, choose a short greeting and a music mood. CherishMotion currently describes an HD MP4 memory video with colorization/enhancement as needed, up to 15 photos and one complimentary revision, delivered within seven days. Check the current home page for the package and price before ordering. If a photo is badly torn, blurred or missing a face, ask whether it is suitable rather than assuming software can restore lost details.