Permanently protecting your precious photographs is probably reason enough for sending them to a photo scanning service. Its the responsible thing to do. You can share complete copies with your family members and it stops your images from the everyday deterioration that will eventually ruin your photographs. But once the work has been done you can have fun with them.

Your newly digitized images can be used along with the digital pictures you already have to create all kinds of photo specialties and novelties. You can download free software, and in some cases without even creating a password, use photos stored on your computer to create photo books, t-shirts, and calendars.

When a South Florida girls high school soccer team recently used an online photo specialty company to put the picture of an injured team leader on t-shirts for the entire team there wasn’t a dry eye on the field. This affordable gesture was truly a moment to remember.

An office manager had all of the people in the office submit unique photos of themselves. Using a photo specialty company she produced personalized photo mugs for each of the individuals and hung them on a rack in the lunch room. The mugs generated endless discussion about childhood, hobbies, and 1980’s attire. Not only could everyone easily identify their own mug, they learned things about their coworkers they might not have otherwise.

One family was so touched by the photo presentation that the funeral parlor had put together for their Grandfather’s funeral that they decided to use the digitized images to create small photo books with some of the really special, one of kind photos. They then sent copies out to loved ones. Everyone agreed it was a really special way to remember someone.

A few close friends decided that creating photobooks was a great way to remember and share one particularly enjoyable golf weekend. Part of the motivation may have been the thought that the full heads of hair and relatively tight abs might not be around forever. But the memories of fun and friendship were easily protected and preserved.

Sports teams everywhere are finding that they can pool their photos and build everyone a custom photo book for the cost of going out for pizza. Imagine a whole season of great plays and great poses permanently captured, and you have complete editorial control over the project. You might have your picture in a photobook with the next Michael Jordan or Michelle Wie. This also applies to the cheerleading squad, the debating team, and the band.

Make sure to use a photo specialty provider that provides an automatic layout feature. This will allow you to preview unlimited layouts and easily rotate pictures in and out of your pages or items. Better providers allow you to use a photo as the background of a page, and you can preview quickly right from your computer without waiting to send and receive over the internet, a huge time saver.

So get your photos scanned to protect them from loss, damage, and destruction. And once you’ve included them in your digital photo collection you will be able to let your creative side run wild designing your favorite photo specialties easily and inexpensively online.

Technorati Tags: photo books, photo scanning, photo scanning services, photo scecialties, photoboooks