A Guide to Dealing With Old Photos in a House Clearance

When a relative passes and you are called upon to help with the practical matters, old photos usually need dealing with. Learn more about what to consider with our short guide.

If you’ve ever had the responsibility of clearing out a relative’s house after their death, you’ll know how weighty and daunting the task can be. It’s a reality many of us will face, and once furniture, paperwork, keepsakes, and clothing have been sorted, boxes of old photographs and family albums often remain.

Deciding what to do with these images can be complex. What should you keep? What can you redistribute — and to whom? What needs extra investigation? And what, if anything, is reasonable to discard? Even small collections can raise big questions. Where do you start?

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Why Old Family Photos Are Especially Challenging to Handle

An Emotional and Practical Challenge

Discovering photos during a house clearance can be deeply emotional. These prints often capture stories from generations past, offering glimpses into unknown or half-remembered family histories. As powerful as they are, though, they require practical thinking and a plan.

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7-Step Guide to Dealing with Photos During a House Clearance

How to preserve, share and organise old photographs with confidence and care.

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1. Take Your Time

Photographs are irreplaceable. Don’t rush. Allocate dedicated time to look through them — ideally when you’re not overwhelmed by other tasks.

2. Sort and Categorise the Photos

Organise by family member, event, location, or time period. This will make it easier to decide what to digitise, keep, or distribute.

3. Involve Other Family Members

Photos mean different things to different people. Ask relatives if they’d like to see or keep any. It can ease the emotional burden and ensure the right memories reach the right people.

4. Digitise for Preservation and Peace of Mind

Scanning your old photos protects them from damage and allows for easy sharing. At Vintage Photo Lab, we can collect everything from you directly and scan:

• Loose prints and photo albums
• 35mm slides and negatives
• Cine film, VHS and camcorder tapes

We send you everything you need for collection — including boxes, labels and an Apple AirTag for tracked delivery. As soon as scanning is complete, you'll receive high-resolution versions of all your content to access and share with family.

5. Decide What to Keep (and What Not To)

After digitising, you can more easily curate your archive. Keep images that hold meaning, and consider letting go of those that don’t. Label, delete or refile digital versions as needed — it’s far easier to do this once they're scanned.

6. Share and Distribute the Memories

Create digital albums, private photo galleries, or printed photo books for family members. Everyone who wants access can have it — without disputes over who gets the originals.

7. Take Time to Reflect

It’s OK to feel nostalgic, sad, or surprised. Going through old family photos is as much about processing the past as it is about tidying the present. Honour the memories. They’re a bridge between generations.

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Why House Clearance Photos Matter More Than You Might Think

At Vintage Photo Lab, we’re regularly called in during house clearances. In our experience, this is as much about emotional legacy as it is about physical sorting. It’s about honouring a life well lived and making sure its moments are not lost.

We can help you bring clarity to the chaos — ensuring that every family member who wants a piece of the story can have one.

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Know Someone Clearing Out a Loved One’s Home?

Share this article with them and help make the process gentler, more thoughtful — and ultimately more rewarding.

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