I love finding Polaroids in family photo collections. I see it like a prize. THIS photo is a treasure that no one will remember, and it probably hasn’t been seen in 20+ years. I get so excited to see the family’s reaction to seeing these digital for the first time.

These photos were the first Insta-gram. I remember there was always a controversy about whether or not the photo should be waved back and forth to dry while being developed. In my opinion, it’s like the toilet paper roll being put on upside down, it works either way.

Scanning polaroids is not the easiest thing to do. Instant cameras were introduced in the market in 1947 and were used through 2008. The film has undergone many re-inventions. I’ve scanned thick Polaroid film that doesn’t resemble the classic look at all. It is as thick as cardboard and must be scanned with a flat bed scanner. It is good to scan it twice as well. One scan with the classic white border and another with the border cropped out leaving just the image. Often the photo is not in the best condition–and must have color correction completed after the scans. 

If you have a polaroid or two I’d love to scan them for you. They are so neat to share with friends and family that may never have seen them before or totally forgot they were taken.