“Even I Wasn’t Ready”: A Photo Manager’s Wake-Up Call to digitize family memories before a funeral.”
- Angelina McGlashan
- Jun 19
- 3 min read
Why Waiting to Preserve Family Memories Can Cost More Than You Think.
It’s becoming a pattern I’m seeing far too often. A client calls me—exhausted, overwhelmed, emotional. They’ve just lost a loved one, and in the whirlwind of planning a funeral, writing an obituary, coordinating family, and managing logistics, they stumble across a box in the attic, a bin full of tapes, or albums buried in a closet. It’s filled with memories: old photos, VHS tapes, slides, and family movies. Suddenly, they’re scrambling—desperate to get them digitized for a memorial slideshow or service happening in just days.
Lately, I’ve had more of these calls than ever (like weekly). And I know the stress all too well—because I recently lived it myself. When my father-in-law passed away this past April, I found myself in that same place. Scrambling to gather photos from different family members, taking apart my own wedding album to digitize the photos of him in our wedding (as seen in this photo), digitizing ALL of them and having to restore many of them in order to put together a tribute that honored his life. Like so many others, I had put it off. Life gets busy. And as a photo manager, my own family's memories are always the last to get done—just like the cobbler’s wife with no shoes. I’m constantly helping others preserve their family histories, while mine sits in boxes waiting for “someday.”
🕰 What’s at Stake?
When you're grieving, the last thing you want to deal with is rushing to convert media or trying to identify who’s in an old photo. In the moment, it feels urgent and heartbreaking—and honestly, it often is. You want to celebrate the life they lived. You want the slideshow to be perfect. You want to hear their voice again from that camcorder tape. But:
VHS tapes can be degraded or unplayable
Photos may be stuck together, faded, or torn
Slides often require sorting, light cleaning, and time to digitize
Nobody knows who’s in half the pictures
And that’s when the regret creeps in: “Why didn’t we do this sooner?”
❤️ A Tribute Shouldn’t Be a Crisis
At Preserving Memories, LLC, we’ve helped so many families in this exact moment. We always do everything we can—working after hours, prioritizing memorial projects, and handling those photos and videos with the care they deserve. But I want to be honest:
Memorials shouldn't be the first time you open the photo boxes. They should be when you lean on the work already done.
By digitizing and organizing now—before there's a loss—you give yourself and your family the gift of peace, readiness, and a powerful way to remember and share stories.
And here’s another harsh truth:
Many of the most meaningful photos people want for memorial slideshows are damaged. Faded, torn, watermarked, scratched—or stuck to old albums and needing careful restoration. Trying to fix these at the last minute, when emotions are high and time is tight, is overwhelming.
💡 A Better Way to Prepare
Digitize old home movies and tapes before they deteriorate
Scan and tag family photos while loved ones can still help identify faces
Organize digital libraries so meaningful images are easy to find
Create a memory archive that’s ready when it matters most
This isn’t just about decluttering—it’s about preserving a legacy and giving yourself room to grieve without panic.
✅ Let’s Do It Before the Box Is Found
Whether you're local to Southern NH/ Northern MA or working with us from across the country, we offer concierge-level photo and video digitizing, restoration, and digital archiving. Everything is done in-house and everything is handled with the privacy, empathy, and professionalism you and your family deserve.
If you’ve been meaning to do this, let this post be your sign. Don’t wait until you’re forced to act during one of the hardest weeks of your life.
📧 Contact us today for a consultation:info@pm-po.com | 📞 603-234-0027📍 Serving New England & Nationwide🌐 www.preservingmemoriespo.com
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