Overwhelming Majority of Analog Photos Remain Undigitized. Ninety percent of Analog Photos at Risk: Survey by ScanMyPhotos Reveals Urgent Need for Digitization.
[Irvine, CA] — A staggering 90% of photo collections—including snapshots, slides, and home movies—remain undigitized, leaving generations of irreplaceable memories vulnerable to loss.
This alarming finding stems from a survey conducted at the 2024 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. ScanMyPhotos’ Chief Photo Archivist interviewed 450 attendees. The results reveal that an overwhelming 90% of analog photo media remain undigitized, highlighting the critical need for families and organizations to preserve their visual legacies by converting physical photos into secure digital formats. ScanMyPhotos has attended CES annually since 1990 and was the only in-person attendee in 2021 during the COVID pandemic, as reported by Daily Trends.
“As the holidays bring families together, it’s a stark reminder that the nation’s photo collections—our visual history—are at risk,” said Mitch Goldstone, Chief Photo Archivist at ScanMyPhotos.com. “With so few photos digitized, it’s crucial to locate analog photo archives and digitize them to protect history before they’re lost forever.”
The urgency of photo preservation recently captured national attention during a CBS Evening News segment, which showcased ScanMyPhotos.com’s role in safeguarding memories. The story featured a prominent celebrity family that entrusted ScanMyPhotos to digitize their priceless photo collection and a major media organization in the Cayman Islands, which relied on the company to digitize over 347,000 photographic negatives—a 57-year archive now being shared on Instagram, where it has sparked widespread engagement. This project has become a trending series on their Instagram channel.
Why It Matters
Analog photo neglect threatens more than personal family histories—it endangers cultural and historical archives. Left in physical form, photos face irreversible damage from environmental factors, natural disasters, and the relentless march of time. Without a digital intervention, these treasures may vanish forever.
A Timely New Year’s Resolution
The holiday season often inspires reflection, making it the perfect time for gathering families to prioritize digitizing their photos. A part of everyone’s New Year’s resolution is digitizing their photo memories—ensuring they’re easily stored, shared, and protected.
About ScanMyPhotos.com
For over 30 years, ScanMyPhotos.com has revolutionized the way families preserve memories. From professional scanning to innovative archiving solutions, the company empowers people to safeguard their visual history.
