Source: https://restorebunny.com/guides/scan-photo-front-and-back/ # How to Scan the Front and Back of Old Family Photos Keep portraits paired with dates, stamps and handwritten notes. A practical front-and-back scanning workflow for family history projects. Family photo projects3 min readUpdated 13 September 2026 Quick answer ## The short version Give each physical photograph one stable ID and use front and back filenames with that same ID. Keep the original handwriting visible in a separate scan, and store your transcription and uncertain identifications in notes. ## The back can be as important as the portrait A studio stamp, pencilled name or handwritten address can explain a photograph that otherwise has little context. Scan the reverse before the photograph returns to its envelope. Do not assume a date on the back is the exposure date: it might record printing, a gift, or a later family identification. Preserve what is written and your interpretation separately. For example, the image may visibly say 'Summer 54', while your note says 'Possibly 1954; writer unknown'. This prevents a useful guess from becoming an apparently certain fact when the file is shared with another relative. ## Make a paired-file workflow Assign a neutral identifier such as FAM-0042 before scanning. Capture FAM-0042-front and FAM-0042-back, check both previews, then move to the next photograph. A sequence based only on presumed year can break when later evidence changes the date. Keep names and dates in descriptive notes rather than making them the only way to identify an item. Keep the full edges of the back in your master. An apparently empty corner can contain a faint mark that becomes useful later. If you make a cropped or contrast-enhanced reading copy, label it as a derivative and retain the unaltered capture. Rotate a viewing copy for convenience without losing the original orientation record. ## Handle the object, not just the file Support a photograph carefully when turning it over. The National Archives advises careful handling and preservation of the physical originals during digitisation. If a photograph is stuck in an album, brittle, curling or flaking, do not force it flat or pull it free just to complete a back scan. Record 'back not accessible' and seek specialist advice when the information matters. For a loose, sound print, scan the front and reverse with settings that make the actual marks legible. A dark stamp and faint pencil may need separate viewing adjustments. Do not use generative restoration to invent unclear handwriting: a plausible name is especially misleading in a family history archive. ## Share context without oversharing Review addresses, telephone numbers and personal messages before sharing reverse scans publicly. Keep a private complete master and make a clearly labelled redacted sharing copy if necessary. When sending a family album to relatives, include a small index connecting each ID with both sides and your notes so the connection survives different photo apps. ## FAQs Should I scan a blank photo back? For a systematic archive, doing so can record that you checked it. For a small project, a note saying 'reverse checked; no visible marks' may be sufficient. Can AI read a faded name reliably? Treat generated interpretations as guesses. Preserve the original scan, compare with other records, and mark uncertain readings explicitly. ## Sources Preservation and technical guidance reviewed for this article. - U.S. National Archives: [Digitizing Family Papers and Photographs]() ## Related - [Name and organise your scans]() - [Preserve handwriting during restoration]() - [Choose a scanning resolution]() ## Ready to restore your photos? Upload an image, choose your settings, and preview results with a before/after slider. [Get Started]()[View Pricing]() RestoreBunny Team Photo restoration editors Guides follow our [editorial policy]() for sourcing, product claims, AI limitations, updates, and corrections.