If you’ve got old VHS tapes, camcorder cassettes, film reels, or stacks of printed photos sitting in storage, you’ve probably asked yourself: “Is it really worth digitizing all this?” After all, you may not even know what’s on some of those tapes, and digging them out might feel like a hassle.
At The Digitize Center, we hear this question all the time — and our answer is always the same: Digitizing is 100% worth it. Not only does it protect irreplaceable memories, but it also makes those memories easier to enjoy and share. Here’s why digitizing is one of the best investments you can make for your family history.
1. Physical Media Won’t Last Forever
VHS tapes, film reels, and printed photos were never designed to stand the test of time. Tapes can degrade after just 10-20 years, even when stored properly. Photos can fade, curl, or discolor. Film reels become brittle and can snap.
The longer you wait, the higher the risk of losing those memories forever — and once they’re gone, they’re gone for good.
2. You Probably Don’t Have the Right Equipment Anymore
When was the last time you used a VCR? Or a reel-to-reel projector? Most families no longer own the equipment needed to play old media, which means even if your tapes or films are still intact, they’re essentially locked away. Worse, attempting to use old and improperly maintained equipment can permanently damage your tapes and film!
Digitizing unlocks your memories, making them playable on any device — your phone, computer, tablet, or TV.
3. Digitizing Makes Sharing Easy
Once your memories are digital, sharing them is effortless. With just a few clicks, you can email a video to a sibling, upload childhood photos to a family group chat, or create a video montage for a milestone birthday or anniversary.
Trying to do any of that with old tapes or reels? Not so easy.
4. It’s an Amazing Gift for Future Generations
Digitizing isn’t just for you — it’s for your kids, grandkids, and every generation to come. Preserving your family’s history, stories, and special moments means future generations can know where they came from, see the faces and hear the voices of relatives they may have never met, and feel connected to their family’s journey.
5. Digitizing Saves Space and Simplifies Life
Those boxes of tapes and albums take up a lot of room — and they’re not exactly organized. Digitizing gives you a chance to declutter while still keeping every memory safe. Instead of bulky boxes, you’ll have organized digital files ready to access anytime.
6. Peace of Mind Is Priceless
If a flood, fire, or accidental damage hit your home, what would you grab first? For many people, the answer is family photos and videos. Digitizing creates a permanent digital backup, so no matter what happens to the physical originals, your memories are safe and sound.
The Bottom Line: Yes, Digitizing Is Worth It
At the end of the day, you can’t put a price on preserving your family’s story. Whether it’s the footage from your wedding, your child’s first steps, or home movies of holidays past, these moments deserve to be preserved, enjoyed, and passed down.
Ready to protect your memories?
The Digitize Center makes the process easy, affordable, and stress-free. Send us your tapes, photos, and film reels — and we’ll handle the rest.