Remember the days when every snap was confined to a roll of negatives? When every roll had to be posted away, processed, and paid for? If you don’t, check in your attic, at the top of the wardrobe in the spare room, or out in the garage. You’re sure to find dusty boxes of old snapshots, and cartons of hefty photo albums. When you do, we know exactly what you can do with them – because everyone loves a blast from the past! Check out our great ideas, below, for using old snapshots – and feel the love come pouring in!
Post it
Your old snaps are bound to contain loads of images of friends you may not have seen for 40 years or more: your classmates on your 4th form outdoor ed adventure, you and your fellow Girl Guides going door to door selling biscuits, that dreaded cross country run, or pet day at primary school! Pick up a pack of blank postcards and a quality glue stick. Stick a photo on the front of a postcard, write a brief ‘remember this’ message in the address panel, and post it off to the person in the snap (do a Google or Facebook search of names to help you locate addresses, or ask around among school friends you are still in contact with). Remember to include your own address, and look forward to a reply!
Re-snap
Snap a photo of the snap on your phone camera, and send it off to the relevant person via social media. If you can’t remember details of where or why the photo was taken, ask – it will be the start of a great conversation that takes you down memory lane!
All grown up
Old snapshot collections are filled with photos of friend’s children having fun with your own kids. Whether it’s a snap of a birthday party or a day at the beach, pop it in an envelope and post it to the child (now an adult) in the photo. They’ll get such a surprise, so expect to hear from them!
Keepsake collection
We all have photos of friends who have passed on, and it can be a great comfort to their families to receive a photo of them. Pop these photos in an envelope with a short message explaining when and where the photo was taken, and your own recollection of a happy time. Give the recipient a call to let them to know to expect the photos in the post – and it’s another way to make meaningful contact.
In the news
Local and community newspapers are always on the lookout for history to publish. Check through your old snaps for anything of interest to readers (especially if it’s seasonal): a Christmas parade from the past, a centenary celebration, a display of blossom or a very heavy snowfall, the opening of a ‘new’ public building, or damage caused by a wild storm. Write a paragraph or two about the snap, and don’t be surprised if you see the photo published, with your name alongside it!
Museum magic
Local museums welcome photos of almost anything pertaining to your area. Choose some of your best and take them along to your local museum archivist. Include the date when each photo was taken, and a brief, one-sentence description explaining the context. (Don’t write on the back of the photos as this can damage the image). While you’re at it, why not ask if the museum is on the lookout for volunteers!
School selection
Schools value photos from the past – whether for use at school reunions, as material to use in school projects, or simply for their records. Don’t overwhelm your old school with a carton of photos but select a dozen or so of the best, and send them off. You might also like to offer to chat about them to any students who could be keen to learn more about ‘their school in the old days.’
Family favourites
Your adult children now have children of their own, and will just love the opportunity to share their own past with their kids. Sort your snaps into relevant piles and pass them on to your grown-up children. Be sure to let them know you don’t require the snaps back – that way they can enjoy them without the burden of having to store them if they don’t have the space.
Give the grandies a giggle
Sort out photos of your grandchildren’s parent’s past, such as ‘all dressed up for a first formal,’ ‘posing in front of a first car,’ or ‘Mum and Dad’s teenage date night.’ Deliver the snaps in person and watch the young ones enjoy a giggle. Your delivery will start some great family reminiscing and elicit plenty of questions from the grandies!
We don’t need to keep all our surplus snaps – especially when they could be giving so much pleasure to others, and enjoyment to you, through the giving!