Can you help with a mixture of prints, slides and negatives?

Describe each type and give an approximate count, with photographs of representative items. We will discuss the capture approach and confirm the supported materials before work.

Should I take photographs out of old albums?

Do not force photographs or pages apart. Keep the album order and describe its condition so we can discuss a suitable approach before you remove anything.

Can handwritten notes be included?

Tell us about notes on backs, envelopes or album pages when requesting a quote. We can discuss how to capture and connect that context with the images.

PORTHOS MEDIA / THE OKANAGAN

Photo & Slide Scanning for Kelowna Families

Give the photos in the shoebox a place in everyday life. Personal scanning and digitization from a family-owned Summerland business serving Kelowna and the Okanagan.

Calm Okanagan waterfront, hillside cliffs and a lakeside path

Start with one box, not the whole family archive

A manageable first batch makes it easier to decide how you would like the rest organised. Choose a collection, keep its order and make a simple inventory. Include the names, places and approximate dates you already know; mark anything uncertain instead of guessing.

Prints, slides and negatives need different handling

Tell us whether you have loose prints, mounted slides, negatives, albums or a mixture. Photograph a few representative items so we can discuss the right approach. Do not remove photographs from an album if they resist, and do not feed delicate originals through equipment simply because it is convenient.

If there are notes on the back of a print, tell us whether you would like those captured too. An envelope or handwritten caption can be part of the memory. Keeping that context connected is worth discussing before a large collection is separated.

Plan the handover from Kelowna

Porthos Media is based in Summerland; this is not a Kelowna retail location. Contact us before travelling or mailing your collection so we can arrange the next step. Use the mail-in instructions once your project is agreed.

Pack originals to prevent bending and movement, and keep groups labelled. If material is damp, mouldy, stuck together or otherwise fragile, describe the condition first. A damaged collection may need specialist assessment rather than routine scanning.

Make the digital collection useful

Tell us whether the files are for family sharing, printing, a tribute video, a website or a long-term archive. Discuss file quality, naming, grouping and delivery with us before work. Keep your original captures separate from restored or edited versions so the source remains available.

Our free Complete Guide To Protecting Your Memories includes inventory, quality-check and backup worksheets to help you plan. Scanning is one step; knowing where the files live and testing a second copy keeps the result useful.

Ready for an estimate?

An approximate count, a few photographs of the collection and a description of its condition are a good beginning. The online estimate is not a final invoice. We confirm the scope, any additional work and your delivery preferences before proceeding.

See the full photo and slide scanning service for the broader overview.

Plan my scanning project ↗