LiveOn Rewind - Blog

Memories Worth Preserving

2012-03-15T10:35:06-04:00

Did you ever record a TV show on a VHS tape? Perhaps you taped a few episodes of your child’s favorite cartoon for a night with the babysitter? Or maybe there was a TV show that came on during work hours, so you recorded it so you could watch it later? If you’re like me, then you may have recently discovered some of those old television tapes, tucked in amongst your home movies. Which got me to wondering, what should I do with these tapes? Do they still have purpose or value?

Perhaps a man named John Baker, an ordinary attorney from Ohio can offer some insight into this issue.

John Baker began collecting Jazz film from the 1920s to the 1970s. He had a wide range of different types of films: some were theatrical shorts, some were television clips, and others were promotional material for clubs. It was his passion to collect these films, films that other people did not consider important or worth saving. Over his lifetime he collected one of the largest collections of Jazz film history outside of the Library of Congress. His films are now being carefully preserved by the American Jazz Museum of Kansas City, Missouri and will offer visitors a glimpse at some of the greatest jazz musicians who have ever lived. And it was Mr. Baker’s decision to save videos that others had thought too trivial or unimportant to save that will allow future generations to see musicians who would otherwise have disappeared into the annals of history.

So back to my original question, do the tapes that we saved from twenty years ago have value, even if they aren’t home movies or wedding videos? The answer is quite possibly yes. Every moment that has been caught on film encapsulates a part of history, from the outrageous commercials of the 80s to the seemingly unimportant news clips from your hometown. It may be too soon to know if the videos that you have will someday belong in a museum, but it is never too soon to preserve them, just in case.

When the Worst Happens to Your Keepsakes

2012-03-05T14:14:54-05:00

Pictures and videos are snapshots of our former selves. They remind us of the people we were, where we came from and how those experiences shaped who we are today. Those of us with digitized, backed up versions of our life story are lucky, because sometimes the worst can happen to your most precious physical belongings.

This weekend, terrible tornadoes swept through the Midwest. Besides taking lives and destroying property, many residents were robbed of their photo albums and other memorabilia. Kelli Dombroski lost 30 years of memories when the tornado destroyed her garage, including many important photo albums with her childrens' baby pictures. While neighbors found some of her photos scattered around the area, most are lost forever.

"People ask me that question, 'How do you feel?' I'm speechless. There's no words to describe what happened to us."

This UK study shows that at 70%, the majority of us would be most upset if we lost our photos, compared to other highly-regarded physical assets. “Our photos are an irreplaceable part of our histories, of the people we are and the moments we’ve had. We can replace credit cards, keys, and most of our gadgets and possessions, but not our photos. So it makes total sense that people worry about losing their memories, " says Dr Rob Yeung.

If our personal albums are so important, why don't more people take action to preserve them? In my first blog post, I told you about some basement flooding that taught me the importance of digitization. I think it's the same for most people: unless you experience the threat of losing your keepsakes, it's easy to put off.

Sometimes, even those with digital photos and videos are at risk. Our co-worker, Megan had her entire life backed up on an external hard drive. When both her computer and that hard drive crashed, she broke down, certain she had lost everything. Thankfully, she gave the hard drive one last test before throwing it out, as the computer tech had told her to. There were her memories! "From now on, I'm backing up everything on private cloud-based internet storage. I've already experienced what it's like to lose everything, and I don't ever want to risk that again."

Have you ever lost important photos or videos?

Memories Aren't Meant to Hibernate in Computer Storage...

2012-02-28T14:51:24-05:00

Do you ever take time to enjoy your digital photos? Many of us are guilty of scanning old photos and uploading new pictures only to ignore them. Memories aren’t meant to hibernate in computer storage, so give them some fresh air by trying one of these ideas:

Log onto LiveOn.com. Our sister site helps you share your best moments with loved ones. You can do that by building a timeline of your memories that we’ll share with future generations of your family, or sending a time capsule filled with personal keepsakes into the future. Here’s how you create a time capsule gift for a loved one. Let’s pretend it’s for your spouse. First, take those old wedding pictures, maybe some footage of the ceremony and a few photos of your favorite memories since. Tuck them into the digital time capsule with a personal webcam message. Set the time capsule to deliver on your 30^th wedding anniversary. LiveOn will give your present on the date you’ve chosen. Imagine how meaningful it would be to open that thoughtful of a gift!

Treat your photos like art. My husband bought gorgeous over-sized black frames with white matting to display some photos I took of the Christmas morning sunrise in Sonoma. Now our entry way reads more like a photo gallery than a functional hall. Another fun option is printing on canvas, which looks professional and clean for home or office display.

Print a photo book. Photo books for your coffee table are a great throwback idea. They warm the home and show your guests what is important to your family. A friend of mine printed a gorgeous photo book from her wedding that was truly a piece of personal art. She said it was really easy to make online. The only company I've had experience with is Apple; my mom gave us a wedding book and the result was pretty impressive. For a wider scope of recommendations, read the 2012 reviews from Top Ten Reviews.

Kodak looks for Oscar-related Recognition amidst Bankruptcy

2012-02-24T10:28:23-05:00

Kodak may be down, but the now bankrupt company wants you to know that it's definitely still relevant. A Kodak representative says 7 of this year's Oscar Best Picture Nominees were shot on Kodak film. Those films include The Help, Moneyball, War Horse, The Artist, The Tree of Life, The Descendants and Midnight in Paris.

The statement comes as the world-famous Kodak Theater drops its Kodak monicker - another casualty of the company's bankruptcy. Still, they're trying to focus on a comeback. “We continue to supply filmmakers with the products and support they have come to depend upon from Kodak, and intend to emerge from our reorganization even stronger,” says President of Kodak’s Entertainment Imaging division Kim Snyder. “We are still making billions of feet of film, and many of those reels will be used on films contending for the 2013 Academy Awards.”

The company seems optimistic... Do you think they can survive re-organization? And on a brighter note, have you seen and enjoyed any of the 7 Best Picture Nominees shot on Kodak film?

Image-based Internet Search: Great Idea, Long Way to Go

2012-02-21T11:16:47-05:00

I just found out Google now allows us search by image, either by uploading a personal photo or pulling one from the Internet. Right away I was very curious to find out just how much information could be pulled from a private photograph. Could they recognize my face and match it to my Facebook profile or other web listings? If so, how would this affect privacy? Would someone who randomly photographed me be able to track down all of my personal information?

The answer, for now, is no. After a couple days of testing, I found the facial recognition technology to work only when the exact photo was hosted on the Internet. This version of Google Images is definitely a preliminary product useful in two other main areas.

My best search results came when trying to identify popular art and architecture. I googled this personal photograph from my 1999 trip to Italy and it properly identified it as the Trevi Fountain. Not only could I find cool facts and history about the landmark, the search results refreshed my memory about nearby sites, neighborhoods and culture. It actually brought a new perspective to my Italian experience.

The second best use I found was for those with copyrighted photos. Search your photo and you can instantly see other sites that are using it. If you find a site that is using your photo without permission, you now have a platform for recourse.

The premise of imaged-based search is exciting, but Google’s version merely gives a glimpse of what is possible. That being said, I’m sure this sort of technology will improve drastically soon, which could be both exciting for global information sharing and scary for those worried about personal privacy.

What do you think?

Roundup for Photography Geeks: Interesting Facts, Tips and Tidbits

2012-02-14T13:19:22-05:00

Lately, I've discovered a lot of sites with great photography tidbits. While these sites don't fit neatly into one sub-category, they do appeal to the photography geek in us all. If you're ready to waste some time perusing the internet - read on!

- Listverse serves up my favorite post so far: 10 Interesting Facts behind Popular Posters. Learn what spurred this reaction from Albert Einstein and hear the stories behind some of America’s most historic posters. One of my favorite details of this list is the linked pictures, enabling you to see the photo subjects today, or in the case of Einstein, seeing the whole, uncropped photo. Before clicking on this link, know there is one poster with nudity.

- Neat-o-rama is a perfect name for this site. See and learn about neat photos, like the oldest surviving aerial shot taken from a tethered balloon or the world’s most expensive photograph. I've actually done a lot of research on the history of photography, and they had some tidbits I've never come across.

- DigitalPhotographySchool was started by Darren Rouse started for digital photographers of all skill levels. In this post, his guest photographer and writer Martin Gommel shares 100 things he’s learned about photography. Lots of practical tips and inspiration from a thoughtful cameraman.

- DigitalHistory is here with seriously hundreds of little facts to put in your back pocket. Did you know that photography is possible because in 1727, some Frenchman played with silver salts? Do you want to know every important photography milestone between then and the current state of the motion picture industry? Now you will.

We'd love it if you'd share any photos, facts or sites you find interesting!

Saving Water-Damaged Photos and Family Documents

2012-02-06T12:16:59-05:00

For those of you who have yet to digitize your photos, videos, family documents, journals and most important memories, protecting physical copies is paramount. I took the safety of my keepsakes for granted until a flood forced me to shake hands with reality. Here’s what I wish I had known before:

Prevention

- Keep your precious media and documents in a waterproof tub, high off of the floor. Make sure the temperature is moderate and humidity and sunlight are low.

- Keep negatives in a separate space. Like this site mentions, if you’re negatives are intact, you can always make new copies. So make sure you store your photo negatives in a different spot than your photos. If something happens, you’ll have a better chance of saving your memories.

- If you have memorabilia you cannot live without, make copies and store those copies in separate locations.

- You’d be surprised how cost-effective it can be to have a professional digitize your media. Once digitized, you can house it on your computer and/or keep copies on private sites like LiveOn that promise to keep your memories forever.

Recourse

- If your belongings are compromised, act swiftly. Photos and papers that dry together can tear when separated, so separating them when wet is key. If you don’t know where to start, begin with the pictures that you don’t have negatives of.

- Gently clean the surface of your photos with warm water and a soft cloth. Wipe off water with a soft, dry cloth.

- Let your photos and documents dry for at least a day. Avoid direct sunlight, which can wash out color.

- Photos that are stuck together can be soaked in warm water for around an hour.

- If you can’t separate your photos, writings or have other trouble, think about enlisting a professional. Many of your damaged belongings may be saved or even restored. Last month, we successfully restored mold-covered Kodachrome slides that the owner thought were hopeless. You just never know…

Upcycle Your Old Media

2012-01-31T14:34:56-05:00

You preserved your favorite moments by having all of your old photos, slides and film digitized. Now you have copies of your pictures saved to your computer, uploaded to your LiveOn.com account and maybe even backed-up on an external hard drive. With all of your memories safe and secure, you might wonder what to do with your old film and negatives that are now just taking up space. Why not upcycle those old memories into something new, crafty and useful? Give them new life with these great craft ideas:

Creative Storytelling with the Kids

Old photos can tell lots of stories, so why not let your kids make up there own? Give your child a random handful of old pictures, some construction paper and Elmer’s glue and let them make a new story book. Let their imagination run wild as they decide who the people are, where they are and what great adventures they're on.

Decoupage Boxes, Furniture or Book Covers

Decoupaging is art of gluing paper cutouts onto other objects and the only limit to what you can decoupage is your own creativity. You could make a little treasure box for your child by getting an inexpensive cardboard box from a hobby store and decoupage it with pictures from their childhood. Or perhaps you have a notebook for all of those to-do lists; remember why you do them by decorating the notebook with family photos.

Negative Candle Holder

Even negatives can be put to good use, brightening up a dinner table or illuminating your patio. All you need is an inexpensive glass candle holders, negatives and some adhesive. Then share a romantic evening with your significant other surrounded by glowing images from your earliest years together.

Kodachrome Lamp Shade

If you recently had all of your old slides converted, along with your newly digitized images you also got back those bulky slide boxes and carousels. Don’t hide those colorful little gems, rather use them to make a lampshade depicting your favorite vacation locale. Every time you flip on the switch, you’ll have a bright reminder of all of the good times you’ve had.

If you have other great craft ideas for old photos, film, and slides, we’d love to hear all about them in the comment section. Or if you make any of these crafts, share a photo of your finished product with us!

Chicken Soup for your Winter-Weary Soul

2012-01-26T12:42:22-05:00

A friend of mine has a beach party indoors every winter, an annual scheme to circumvent those winter blahs. She invites guests to wear swimwear, serves tropical cocktails and makes you do the limbo (which I’ve never seen at an actual beach, but we’ll overlook that).

While I’m not suggesting you start this tradition (it can be nerve-wracking to reveal your bikini body post-holiday), I am suggesting you steal the motivation behind it. Why not warm up your winter by revisiting the best of summer?

We all have that great vacation or summer that topped all the others – and some of us are lucky enough to have photos and videos if it. Reminiscing about those warm, fun-filled days is chicken soup for your winter-weary soul. Here is the recipe I concocted as my personal antidote to winter:

- Beach towel

- Iced Hibiscus Tea with Vodka and Citrus (with or without liquor and a cute, decorative umbrella)

- Sunglasses

- The friends or family who were there that summer or trip

- And of course, those old movies to watch and photos to flip through

Directions: Place sunglasses on head. Craft cocktail, then sit down to enjoy summer memories. Use beach towel as a blanket (it is still winter, you know). Reminisce with loved ones. Feel your soul warm and your mind lose sight of those pesky snowflakes. Repeat.

(This is a movie I put together from a great summer in 91. Look for the 8-year-old blonde with missing teeth. That’s me.)

Preserving Family Heirloom Recipes

2012-01-19T14:45:56-05:00

“Family recipes are direct links to our past. They not only reflect the cooking styles and personalities of our ancestors, but in many ways define who we are today. Like worn-out photographs, they may be all we have left to reconnect us to a particular loved one, so preserving them is important.”

Kendra Bailey Morris (a.k.a. The Accidental Chef) speaks eloquently about why she compiled, digitized and published her family heirloom recipes. They were hard to read because they were scribbled by hand, but she says the process was well worth it.

Morris suggests buying and typing in your recipes to recipe software- but if you’re like me, you just don’t have the time. My grandmother left four catalogs, and while I’m eager to preserve them, my gig as a working mom and wife doesn’t leave much time to grocery shop, let alone type individual recipe cards into my computer.

That’s where a photo and document scanning service like LiveOn Rewind comes in. Because the paper and writing on the recipe cards are wearing quickly, and because I have no extra time to do it myself, I’m passing them on to the scanning professionals here. At some point I can type them (if I feel that ambitious), but for now it’s more important to me that they are found and preserved for all future generations of our family.

Many bloggers and cooks are going beyond just preserving their family's recipes and traditions. Heirloom Meals is a weekly radio show that honors chefs of the past, preserving "the tradition of heritage foods/recipes by delving into the rich and diverse cultural food histories that make up the melting pot of the United States and paying tribute to the dying art of cooking from scratch.” Host Carole Murka and her staff bring family heirloom dishes to life and inspire a new generation of cooks.

If you've exhausted your own family recipes and want to bring more good-ol'-fashion cooking to the table, here's another fun source: the Heirloomed Blog features foodies and their shared meal traditions, which has yielded a nice little library of dishes.

So, what are you doing with your family heirloom recipes?

The Time Traveling Scrapbook: It Seriously Exists.

2012-01-09T12:20:11-05:00

It sounds like a legend- a myth- maybe even a wildly entertaining children’s story… A modern day Internet user compiles a digital scrapbook of their most important memories, then it time travels through not only tomorrow, but that intangible forever and beyond!

Yet, it’s not a story; it’s a real concept that any Internet user can take advantage of on our sister site, LiveOn. LiveOn gives you control of your legacy by promising to keep a digital timeline of your life forever. This means your grandchildren and every generation beyond will know you and your story through your own words.

Users can add audio descriptions to their photos, recap important events with their webcam, tell an ancestor’s story, start a timeline for their new baby or even send time capsules into the future. It’s all part of our mission to connect the past, present and future.

“Most people don’t think about where their digital photos and videos will end up after they’re gone. Truth is, your social media page won’t keep them past one generation,” says our CEO and Founder Jonathan Whistman. “LiveOn solves this problem by serving as the ultimate destination for your most important memories and keepsakes.”

What about your physical photographs, VHS tapes and movies? Most of us have our childhood years in home albums, not in iPhoto. That’s where we, LiveOn Rewind, come in. We can digitally scan your memories then help you save them to your LiveOn timeline.

So check out both of our sites and get started creatively preserving your life. Then tell your friends you have your own time traveling scrapbook!

The Short Shelf Life of Your Tapes, DVDs and other Media

2012-01-04T16:24:29-05:00

VHS tapes, CDs, DVDs, films and photographs deteriorate over time. Sooner or later, the memories you keep will be compromised if you don’t convert them. So, just how much time do you have? It depends what forms of media you have and how long you’ve been storing them. Though there is no standard test to determine an exact life expectancy for the media you keep your memories on, trial and testing has gotten these authorities in ball-park range.

CDs and DVDS

The government says CDs and DVDs can be expected to last “2 to 5 years even though published life expectancies are often cited as 10 years, 25 years, or longer. We recommend testing your media at least every two years to assure your records are still readable.”

The biggest threat to your discs are scratches, which can happen easily if you frequently use the disc or don’t store it properly. TechTarget recommends keeping your discs in cool to moderate temperatures, anywhere from 41 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit. They also say to avoid direct sunlight at all times.

VHS Tapes

Ashley Sullins, Head of Preservation Services at LiveOn Rewind says “VHS tapes record your memories on magnetic film, which over time, loses its magnetism. Tapes will decline more quickly if exposed to moisture, dust, light or heat. We see tapes deteriorate around the ten-year mark and some are unwatchable after 20- 25. If you have any older than ten years, I would recommend converting them as soon as you can.”

8mm and other film

There is no consensus on these older films – but from experience, 8mm and 16mm film seems to hold up really well over time if kept away from mold and moisture. We’ve seen reels from 80 years ago that have great quality. The heavy casings may have something to do with it. Still, since it is uncertain how long this type of film will keep, those of you who want to be safe should look into converting yours.

9 1/2mm film is very rare and is not a friend of time. I doubt many of you have this media form lying around, but if you do, you probably should have had it converted yesterday. Ok, we kid, but seriously, soon, ok?

Slides and Negatives

We recently digitized some Kodachrome slides from the 70s and were amazed at the brilliance that transferred. These slides were kept in sealed containers specifically made for Kodachrome slides, and the containers did an excellent job of keeping environmental factors from eating away at this family’s memories. Others are not so lucky. I’ve seen slides that were kept in an unclosed cardboard box and exposed to sunlight. I’ve seen film that was creased from folding. Needless to say, neither have kept the quality they had when first recorded.

If you’ve kept your slides and negatives properly, they should have a 30 year shelf life. If you have already exposed them to light, heat, moisture or chemicals, decomposition is in motion and you need to digitize.

Photographer Sam Zaydel has more information in this article. I love how he says “We do not know the value of things until we lose them.” So protect your media and sooner rather than later, preserve it forever.

Digitization: A Safe Haven for Your Most Important Documents

2011-12-14T11:45:06-05:00

The federal government is the biggest client of photo scanning and media conversion services, in part, because they have so many important physical documents to digitize. Now, many savvy citizens are taking a cue from Uncle Sam and taking their important papers to us too!

Whether you have wills, receipts, contracts, diplomas, a treasured birthday card from your late grandmother, a newspaper article, your senior year book or a ticket to your first concert, making a digital copy is smart investment. It can be emotionally disappointing to lose track of sentimental keepsakes or find them destroyed by basement flooding or house fire. It can be even more life altering to lose contracts, wills or other highly important personal documents.

After we convert your documents to a digital format (a swift process that only takes a week or two), you need to think about security. It is always important to keep the originals of any contracts or government-issued documents such as birth certificates. As this PC World article outlines, a scanned contract will hold up in court, but an original copy carries greater weight. So while it’s important to have a backup, you’ll want to keep the originals handy. The article also has some helpful tips on what you should do with tax documents and other financial records.

Finally, it's time to think about the security of your digital copies. When digitally storing your backup copies on your computer, it’s important to encrypt them. That way, hackers and nosy relatives can’t see your 2009 taxes or your highly embarrassing middle school journal entries. Here is how you encrypt on Windows XP, Word 2011 and Word 2008.

Photo Scanning and Video Conversion: An Emotional Journey

2011-12-06T14:05:39-05:00

I know from personal experience – having your life’s photos and videos all digitized is moving. All of a sudden, all of my memories were accessible and fresh! It made me feel closer to the older versions of myself – like kid Linsey, shy and always in a party dress, - tween Linsey, insecure and more awkward than ever before – and teen Linsey, navigating her way through first loves and new experiences with friends.

I reminisced and smiled about those loved ones that were once huge parts of my life, but are no longer around. I laughed with my mother and heard stories I had never heard about our family and my childhood as we looked at my newly digitized gallery.

Digitization is a different experience for everyone. Here is another perspective from a recent LiveOn Rewind client, Kellie:

First, tell us a little about why you wanted to digitize and what you expected.

I was excited to get on LiveOn and I knew if I didn’t have my childhood pictures in a digital format, I couldn’t share my early years. I had all of my albums, so I knew that my family didn’t have access to those memories, and once I could get them on LiveOn, we could all have access to them. That was important, because although it’s my life’s pictures, a lot of them involve my brother and sister.

Was it easy to prepare for LiveOn Rewind?

I felt overwhelmed at first. Even though I’m organized, I thought it would be a huge project. But once I dug in, it wasn’t overwhelming at all. It was easy to hand everything over and have it done. I think I feel more overwhelmed now that my photos are digitized, because I want to get all of my early memories up on LiveOn to share now! I’m doing a little at a time, building my timeline and looking at as a fun process instead of a project with an end point - just like life.

Was the digitization experience what you expected?

No, it’s been much cooler! I’ve gotten phone calls from lots of people in my family who see them online and say, "I remember that!", "I didn’t know you had those pictures!", "That was so much fun", "I remember that time when…".

Now I feel a sense of relief for what is done, a sense of excitement for what new memories I can capture, and a sense of urgency to preserve and protect my family members’ memories too.

Was it emotional for you like it was for me?

Yeah, I think so - and not a bad emotional. It’s cool to stand back and look over my life up until now, how many cool experiences I’ve had.

Is this journey one you would recommend?

Absolutely. It’s so much fun. I can’t wait to get on LiveOn and not only watch my memories, but share with others. I like seeing what other people post on my memories.

Share your digitization journey. Was it emotional? Surprising? What you expected?

One Size Does Not Fit All: Maximizing & Personalizing your Order

2011-12-01T12:03:03-05:00

A lot of people ask us what the “right” way is to send in their photos and videos for digitization. Truth is, there is really no one-size-fits-all style. We get Type A personalities who label each photo and asked us to scan them in a specific order. We get Type Bs who chuck in chaotic stacks of photos and videos they’ve barely looked through. Both work for us!

Whether you’re neat, messy, particular or carefree, there are a few tips we can share to maximize and personalize your order:

- Use our protective packaging guidelines. This is the most universal and important suggestion. Each time we get an order, we send out a box for our client to fill with his/her photos and videos. In that box there is a waterproof bag, secure packaging and instructions on how to best protect your memories. Following the instructions will keep water and other enemies of media out of your Preservation Kit. Now sometimes, clients decide to send us their keepsakes in their own packaging. If you choose to do that, please contact us so we can step you through the safest way to transport your memories.

- Make the most of your space. Since we scan anything you can fit into your Preservation Kit, space matters. You’re more than welcome to include an entire photo album (in fact, we can digitize whole album pages), but you can get a lot more in if you take the photos out of the book. Also, try stacking your tapes and pictures in different ways. Many times you can fit more photos in the side pockets by stacking them horizontally.

- Be specific. Do you have a certain way you want your photos grouped, or a video montage with a specific song you want us to put together? Include a note with any instructions you want us to follow. Your memories are special, so don’t be afraid to make the most of your memory preservation experience by telling us what you really want.

- Bug us, please. If you have one last VHS tape you can’t fit into your Preservation Kit and aren’t sure what to do, contact us. If you found a dusty old reel of 8 mm film and want to know what we can do with it, contact us. If you can’t find a package on our website that fits your exact needs, contact us. We are always available to chat and excited to customize an order just for you.

- Track your possessions. Parting with your most prized memories (even if it's just for a couple of weeks) can be hard. That’s why we send you a tracking link, making you privy to your media’s whereabouts at all times. While we always track your possessions for you, it will ease your mind to see this information instantly on your computer. If you don't have time to track your order, don't worry - we also send personalized emails so you know exactly when your order arrives and is shipped back home.

Holiday Challenge: Capturing the Past and Present

2011-11-22T13:19:49-05:00

At LiveOn Rewind, we love new photography as much as old treasures. Both tell great stories. Both capture a space and time that will never happen again. Like Linda McCartney said, “If you see something that moves you and then snap it, you keep a moment.”

I personally love looking at National Geographic's Photo Contest for inspiring, new photos. There are over 13,000 entries this year, along with downloadable wallpaper. While perusing the National Geographic photos, I realized we may not all have contest-worthy photos, but we all have photos packed with emotion and stories of our dearest friends and family. That got me thinking...

This is our last blog post before Thanksgiving – and I want to leave you with a challenge. If you see something that moves you over the holidays, snap it. If you find an old photo at your parent’s house that tells a story, snag it. Send your submissions to linsey@liveon.com. We’ll create a gallery for the holiday season that captures the past and present of our followers, clients and readers. But we won’t be picking winners; that’s what National Geographic is for (if you are entering their contest, hurry, it ends in eight days).

Have a safe, fun and meaningful holiday weekend everyone. We look forward to seeing your special moments.

Holiday Dress for your Digitized Media

2011-11-15T15:29:16-05:00

I’m perfectly content with receiving a gift of newly digitized photos and videos as a holiday present. But some want to go the extra mile and find a way to jazz up those memories (dress them up for the holidays, if you will). For you overachievers, here are some ways to throw tinsel and glitter on the gift of memory preservation.

1. Create a video montage. A video montage of a family trip, an important milestone or your past holiday gatherings would be fun to premiere at this year’s festivities. Last year I made a video montage of my in-laws' 45 years of marriage, and it brought tears to everyone's eyes. We can help you in this department, or you can create your own.

2. Let it LiveOn… Couple your media conversion order with a free or upgraded LiveOn.com account, and your loved one will be able to turn their newly digitized media into memories that they can share on the web! Not only will they be able to tell their stories, those stories will be preserved forever for future generations to see and enjoy.

3. Upload the most embarrassing picture you can find from you brother’s middle school years, log onto Walgreens.com and order a mug with the picture front and center. If you have more than one funny photo, consider making a 2012 calendar. I’m thinking of printing one my family’s most hideous hairstyles and fashion faux pas (you’ve gotta love the 80s).

4. Pass 'em around. Now that your photos and videos are digital, you can copy them as many times as you’d like. So, burn you whole family copies of the most important pictures and movies. Or if you’re feeling generous, buy and load portable hard drives with everything you’ve converted.

5. Let us tell your story. Our highest-end package includes a Life Story Specialist, someone who will help you transfer all of your media to LiveOn.com and actually put your memories together for you. You tell us your story and what you want to see on your timeline, we make it happen!

Do you have ideas of how to use digital media in your holiday gifts?

Kodachrome, anyone?

2011-11-10T16:05:43-05:00

This week, our client, Drew sent us boxes filled with Kodachrome slides. Were we in for a surprise when we digitized these beauties! These are a few of the hundreds of photos he took on a trip to India and Nepal in the late 70s. We loved the photos so much, we had to ask his permission to share them with you.

Early versions of Kodachrome (the slides, not the film) are important to have professionally digitized for a couple of reasons:

1) Since they are only framed in cardboard, they are extremely susceptible to destruction.

2) They hold vibrant images that, if digitized before much wear and tear, will translate beautifully to digital format. This is especially true for those slides that have been properly preserved in dark storage.

3) A special conversion device is required to properly translate the photos' color to a computer.

4) The conversion device takes around one minute to scan a slide, which doesn't include the time needed for cleaning and digital preparations. And while we spend our days digitizing these kinds of memories, you probably have a long to-do list that takes precedence.

I'll leave you with a couple more of Drew's photos. I love how Kodachrome captures the native people of Nepal. If Drew doesn't submit the photo of this man to National Geographic, I'll do it for him...

Vintage Halloween Costumes

2011-10-31T16:18:20-04:00

Once upon a time, you couldn’t simply buy your Halloween costume at Target (talk about scary!). Years ago, everyone made their own costumes, and they came up with some pretty spooky stuff.

According to this National Geographic article, people dressed up for more than just Halloween. Masquerades were popular for other holidays, too! Click here to enjoy more Halloween and masquerade photos from yesteryear, and have a happy and safe Halloween!

Reinventing the Photo Album

2011-10-26T10:37:01-04:00

Our sister site, LiveOn.com, is launching next Tuesday! Needless to say, it’s an exciting time to be working at LiveOn Headquarters, including in our department, where we are scanning and converting videotapes like crazy, getting memories ready to be saved forever.

As the person who runs LiveOn Rewind, I’m passionate about images and videos, so I’ll keep the words to a minimum and show you LiveOn’s version of the photo album. Personally, I’m a fan of traditional medium, but for those who find looking at snapshots to be a bore, prepare to have your mind blown! Special thanks to Kellie for allowing me to use her fantastic photos.

Now, if that’s too intense for your tastes, we can always slow it down a bit. My Grandma, who looks at photos so intently you’d think she’s studying for a test, would definitely approve of this slide show. Also, look for the handwritten descriptions we’ve left on some of the images. Make no mistake, these are hand scanned photos, straight from the album!

We have a great time creating these videos and we’d love to make one for you! So, what are you waiting for? Dig out those old photos and we’ll give them an upgrade that even your great-great-grand kids will want to see.

Top 5 Reasons LiveOn Rewind Should Digitize Your Media

2011-10-12T14:47:20-04:00

1. Time is not on your side.

VHS tapes are deteriorating faster than most similar technologies. Their magnetic strips and fragile film make them prone to audio and visual problems, plus, they have a lot of enemies. It’s a good idea to start thinking about transferring your memories from the 80s and 90s to digital format, as experts say VHS tapes only have a reliable 10-20 lifespan. Photos and other video formats are not immune to wear and tear either. Though they are more resilient than VHS, any memory in physical format is endangered in time.

2. You have better things to do than to do it yourself.

The web is filled with curious users wondering how to expedite the photo scanning process. This poster says it took him an entire day to scan 100 old photos. Fact is, old photos can be fragile and can’t be rushed through. Even photos that are in good shape need to be cleaned so smudges and dust don’t get carried onto your digital copy. Do you want to sit through that tedious process? Probably not. But we do and would love to do it for you!

3. They still haven’t found a way to grow money on trees.

Buying a quality scanner, video conversion equipment, extra cords, computer programs and tutorials can add up. For that amount or less, you can have a professional handle the entire job.

4. You’ll have better access to your memories.

If you’re anything like me, you’re more likely to log onto your computer each day than dig through boxes of photos, especially old ones tucked safely in storage. Think of how much more easily and often you’ll relive your memories when they are right there on your laptop. If I was feeling nostalgic right now, I could pull up video from my 8^thbirthday on this very computer. Before I digitized, I had no idea it even caught on tape!

5. Your dedication and hard work shouldn’t go to waste.

Your mother made sure the Polaroid was stocked with film for your first birthday. You took five minutes to arrange the perfect family photo at the 1995 reunion. Your husband held that heavy 1980s model video camera through the entire birth of your first daughter. That kind of hard work and dedication deserves to be seen, not hidden away to age and deteriorate. If your memories are important enough to document, they are important enough to live on. It’s as simple as that.

Couldn't have done it (so easily, enjoyably and well) without you, Steve Jobs...

2011-10-07T13:09:15-04:00

If you haven't heard that Apple CEO Steve Jobs passed away this week, you A) haven't logged onto the internet recently (which makes me wonder how you're reading this blog) and/or B) have a lot going on in your life (which again, makes me wonder why you would be reading this blog...).

Jobs was not only one of the most creative and driven minds of our time, he changed how we as a society interact with technology. He also changed how we as a company help you preserve and enjoy your memories. If you look around the LiveOn and LiveOn Rewind offices, you will not find one PC. Not that we don't enjoy or allow them around here, we just prefer the ease and sophistication of the Apple brand. We write on Macs, convert to Macs, edit on Macs... and I wouldn't have it any other way.

It is because of Jobs' vision that our business runs so smoothly and can provide the fast, quality photo scanning and video conversion we are known for. We may have lots of other fancy conversion equipment, but it all feeds back into our Macs. It's also thanks to Jobs that we rock out to great music everyday (what would we do without you, iPod?).

This isn't an ad for Apple, though it easily could be as I read back! This is a thank you to Jobs for making our jobs so much easier and enjoyable.

World’s Oldest Photographs

2011-09-27T10:25:44-04:00

We’re in the business of preserving and sharing memories, so you can imagine how excited I was to run across this amazing YouTube video. It’s essentially a slideshow of the oldest-known photographs. There is even a picture of a man who survived the Revolutionary War and crossed the Delaware River with George Washington!

As the video says, these are the oldest-known SURVIVING photographs, which makes me wonder what we’d be looking at had the others not been lost or destroyed. It really brings home the importance of keeping your memories safe and preserved (translated for this era: digitized).

The Importance of Digitizing Your Ancestors Photos

2011-09-22T11:23:31-04:00

Most of us have plenty of pictures of ourselves, but go back just a couple of generations and pictures become much more rare.

My uncle has my late grandma’s photo albums, and as I flipped through them at his house the other day, I came across just one photo of her as a baby. It was amazing… a clear depiction of her angelic face as she stood on a Chicago stoop. The only picture between that and her wedding photo was a fun, cheeky snapshot of her as a 20-year old. She donned a halter-top, a surely scandalous outfit for 1940. That was it. There were just two photos of her from age 0-20. Compare that to the 3,000 photos I have of myself in that phase of life, and you can see how precious and rare her collection is.

That is why digitizing our late ancestors’ photos and videos is so important. An entire life’s documentation can be lost with just a couple of misplaced photographs. I want to make sure my grandma’s photos are around to show my children and grandchildren, so I’m making it a point to digitize them this year. Not only will that ensure those treasures will be around to share with future generations, but everyone in the family will get copies of them for Christmas.

So next time you run across your late ancestors’ pictures, hand them over to us. We’ll make sure those rare and amazing photos are around to enjoy and share for years to come. Isn't that the point of taking a photo in the first place?

Sitting Down with the Woman in Charge...

2011-09-12T15:33:08-04:00

Ashley Sullins is Director of Preservation Services at LiveOn Rewind and oversees all media conversion. We sat down with Sullins for an inside look at the business:

Why do your clients tell you they are finally deciding to convert their media?

I've actually had some really interesting experiences with that. I had one couple who decided to make two copies of all of their keepsakes because they were getting divorced. That was a purpose I had never thought of! Many clients finally get around to converting their photos and videos because they want to give the digital copies as gifts. Others just want to be able to watch their old movies without hooking up the VCR or movie reel. It's different for everyone.

What is the most unique order you've ever taken?

I'm converting some videos right now of hours of television shows the client recorded years ago. It's always fun seeing the new ways people come up with to use our services. I never really thought of trying to keep my favorite episodes preserved forever!

Do clients have many concerns about shipping you their photos and videos?

I haven’t really had any concerns. We are constantly in communication with our clients about where their orders are and they can track them online. We take many steps to ensure their memories aren't compromised, and they're well aware of that.

Is there a common reaction when your clients see their newly digitized media?

We have gotten some really good feedback. One client called right away, very excited about what came in the mail. It looks better than what they had anticipated. Some clients have no idea what is on the tapes they send us because they no longer have a player to watch them on, so they're very surprised and excited when they receive their DVD and digital copies.

The videos montages you put together have been known to get great, emotional reactions. Tell us about that.

Sometimes our clients want slideshows of their videos or photos put to music. We talk about a theme, then create a mini-movie. They can pick music, style-- it's totally customizable. So far, we’ve gotten great responses; one client even ordered ten more copies of their slideshow!

What is the best part of your job?

How personal it is. Every order is unique. Every client has a different story. People don’t always place orders online; many times they call because their memories are personal and it’s a personal experience. You have a really good relationship with the client and feel like you know them after you’ve taken them through this process. I love it.

Family Photos That Need No Caption

2011-08-31T14:29:33-04:00

We all have those family photos that bring up funny memories, hearty laughs and the age-old question, "What were we wearing??" Here is a collection of photos that will make your family albums look a little more, well... normal.

These photos are all from Awkward Family Photos - be prepared to laugh until you cry (I speak from experience).

It’s Not (Just) Personal

2011-08-24T13:53:54-04:00

This weekend, I’m speaking at an event in downtown Kansas City. That’s not what this blog is about, but it is what got me thinking. The event is in the West Bottoms, a once thriving part of our city that was home to French/Indian trapping trade, stockyards and both white and blue collar business. While researching the history for my speech, I’ve been finding enthralling photos, and can’t help but think of how photographs can be very personal (the ones we keep in albums at home) and very social (putting our world into context).

A lot of people are surprised to hear the amount of inquiries and work we get from towns, cities, companies and organizations. Yes, photos are personal keepsakes, but they can also document broad facets of our society.

Last week, we scanned photos and made a video for a large company. The entire life of the business was there in black and white and color. Instead of keeping the newly digitized photographs solely for the company’s historical archive, the company also had us turn them into a beautiful video for their out-going CEO. The company is actually presenting him with the video as I type this, so we can’t confirm it’s gone over with tears and hugs, but that’s what we were (not so secretly) aiming for when we put it together!

Documenting our history gives context to our society. It shows us why we came to be who we are, where we are. And yes, sometimes it has deeper personal meaning. That’s what’s so beautiful about this job: we get to be an integral part of documenting both your personal and social history, and make sure it lives on as long as possible.

The Power of the Photograph: Bringing the Past Back to Life

2011-08-16T12:03:38-04:00

Summers can be rough for me. Two of the most important people in my life passed away during the summer and they tend to be on my mind a little more than usual around this time. I got the news about my grandma while at camp, summer 2001. In July 2008, a call from my nephew relayed the shocking news about my dad. Both were dynamic people who left enormous imprints on my soul.

What makes this summer a little different is the new treasure chest of old photos I have living on my computer: freshly digitized photographs of my dad and grandma that I’ve been alternating as my computer background, printing out to set on my work desk and emaiing to relatives. It brings my dad and grandma a little closer again, and brings their memory back to life.

This is one of my favorites of my grandmother because not only is she there for my birthday (like she was there for every important milestone), but she made that cake, and the memories I have of helping her bake are full of laughter and love. She would let me crack the eggs, lick the cake batter off of the beaters, eat the frosting while I waited for the oven to ding. There are so many simple, yet savory details that this photograph brings back to me.

Though this photo of my dad probably doesn’t bring laughter to anyone else, I can’t help but chuckle. This one of only two times I have on record of him wearing a suit instead of jeans and cowboys boots! The man was usually a carbon copy of the Marlboro man, but here he is, all cleaned up for my baptism.

It’s funny how the simple act of scanning a stack of photos has turned a normally difficult time into a time of joyful reminiscing. Photo digitalization has taken my focus from wishing they were here, to being thankful for the times I did have with them and thankful someone had a camera in tow to capture the memories.

Here is some interesting research I found about how a photograph of a loved one can ease physical pain. It makes me wonder if the same could be said for the emotional pain I’ve been describing. Thoughts?

It Took a Flood

2011-08-08T17:31:12-04:00

This June, I gathered all of my childhood photos and videos for conversion…. 34 VHS tapes and over 6,000 photos to be exact. I had been meaning to convert my media and preserve my memories for years and just never quite got around to it. That all changed when our basement flooded.

It took me forever to dry out each photograph and journal. Notes that I had saved from middle school where now unreadable; some tapes were completely ruined. Of course, my mini-disaster was nothing compared to what others have had happen (for example, the F5 tornado that tore through Joplin, Missouri, taking many people’s memories with it). Nonetheless, it was time to digitize the surviving photos, videos and writings and make sure nothing could ever wash them away.

Around the same time, I came on board at LiveOn, LiveOn Rewind's sister site, and was given the opportunity to have Rewind convert my memories. I had my media in here before they could even finish telling me I had the opportunity!

The LiveOn Rewind team converted my media in less than two weeks. Seriously, two weeks, and I was able to watch all of my videos on my computer (including those I recorded on Hi8 in college, which I had never seen before), surf through my photos on the web and pop a DVD of it all in my player and watch it on my 42” TV.

All of the memories that had faded were back in vivid color. I couldn’t believe I had waited this long to make sure they were safely preserved! There I was dancing at my first recital, out on my 21^st birthday, on my wedding day… I now marvel at the fact that these videos, once existing on dying technology, are now easily accessible and ready to view at any time!

Converting your photos and videos is something many of us have low on the ol' to-do list, but from personal experience, I recommend getting them transferred as soon as possible. You never know what can happen to your keepsakes, and now, thankfully, I have the assurance that they’ll be safe forever.