For a sound, loose print, a flatbed scanner is often a straightforward option. For a photograph that must remain in an album, copying it in place with a phone may be more practical. The condition of the original comes first.
You can make this decision with one representative picture. There is no need to buy equipment or take an album apart to get started.
First check what can safely move
Look for flaking, cracks, dampness, mould or a photograph stuck to glass or a page. Do not peel, flatten, heat or clean it to make it fit a device. Leave it supported and seek appropriate conservation advice.
A copying app may suggest removing prints from sleeves. That suggestion does not override the condition of your photograph. If removal meets resistance, stop.
For ordinary stable material, prepare a clear work area and handle as little as possible. Keep the image surface untouched and follow suitable handling guidance for the material.
When a flatbed makes sense
A flatbed can hold a loose, stable print in a consistent position, with the light and camera arrangement built into the scanner. That can make repeated copies easier to compare.
Check the print fits without bending or pressure, and that the scanner’s software works with your computer. Use the maker’s instructions for your model. An automatic document feeder with rollers is not the starting point for irreplaceable family prints.
The useful result still needs checking: the complete image, readable fine detail, reasonable colour and a saved file you can open outside the scanner software. A large resolution number alone does not establish quality.
When a phone makes sense
A phone can copy a print in place and may be the equipment you already have. It is useful for a first trial, an album page or a picture too awkward for a flatbed.
The extra work is in the setup. The camera needs to face the print squarely, with steady support and even light. Reflections and shadows can hide detail. Tilting the phone to escape glare can also make a rectangular print look distorted.
Keep a little border around the whole picture. You can crop a working copy later; you cannot recover an edge that was never captured.
When to ask for help
Unusual materials, fragile albums and damaged photographs may need a specialist. A scanning service and a photograph conservator perform different jobs, so describe the condition before agreeing to handling.
Negatives and slides need a film-specific route. They are viewed with light passing through them, so an ordinary reflective print scan is not the same process.
A service can also be a sensible practical choice if the collection is larger than you want to tackle. Ask for an actual sample and written handling arrangements before handing over the lot.
Let one saved copy guide the decision
Choose one sound example with a face, pale and dark areas, and some small detail. If both methods are available, copy the same item and compare at the size you intend to use.
Open the saved files. Check focus, glare, edges and any handwriting. Keep an untouched capture and record which method produced it. This is your small trial, not evidence that one device always wins.
Where safe, capture the back separately and link it to the front with a note. The date of the new digital file records copying, not necessarily the historical event.
Your decision is enough for today
Choose the method that gives a usable copy without risking the original. Keep the physical print, its context and a checked additional digital copy. You can leave the rest of the album for another session.
Next step
Prepare one small group for digitising.
Sources and scope
Editorial choice guide informed by Library of Congress photograph care, reviewed 9 September 2026. No scanner or phone comparison was performed for this article.