Michelle Doyle's Posts
Where in the world are your favorite vintage photos?
In shoeboxes under your bed? In albums on your bookshelves? In photo development sleeves in your attic?
We all have them. They are often our most prized possessions. And yet, they are usually completely vulnerable and at huge risk of being damaged. Mine are in a storage unit. I recently heard the dreaded news that there was a fire in the facility and a flood ensued as the firefighters extinguished it. My heart sank-not because of the random clothes (probably out of style by now) or kitchenware (which never got used anyway) that I was storing - but because every photo I took until the age of 30 was there.
[Enter the Kodak Gallery Scan Van which launched today.]
Maybe it was a dose of foreshadowing that months ago, I was asked to manage the Kodak Gallery Scan Van project, which offers our customers the opportunity to have their print photos scanned in just minutes. For the next three months, we will be bringing our Scan Van to 25 festivals, malls and retail stores throughout Southern California and South Florida. Once at the Scan Van, our Kodak reps take over: setting customers up with a Kodak Gallery account, scanning their photos (literally in minutes - while they wait) and uploading them straight to kodakgallery.com. The newly digitized images can then be shared with family and friends and used to create cool products.
We are giving a new life and all sorts of creative possibilities to peoples' most treasured photos. I think of my Mom, elated when I gave her a calendar with recent photos of her grandkids, and wonder what her reaction would have been if the pictures were from her youth with her ten siblings and parents who are now deceased. What if I could send my parents an anniversary card with a picture of them at their own wedding? Or - if I could give my nephew a framed print of his Mom (my sister) at her first soccer game? And of course - I can't help but think of the peace of mind I'd have the next time there is a fire and flood at my storage facility, knowing that my memories are still alive just a few clicks away at Kodak Gallery.
Okay - it's time for me to get scanning. Stay tuned for tales from the road.....
Comments
Posted By: David (3/28/2008)
Comment: The Kodak executive completely missed the point. It's a Kodak world, Welcome. The world is going digital and the printer and ink business are shrinking in an exponential pace. They should turn their strategy toward digital distribution rather than trying to save a dying market segment. Kodak's response to technology is always slow. Just look at how slow they are in terms of adopting digital camera, digital storage. I would say, 5 yrs late.
Posted By: Marina (9/8/2007)
Comment: You are doing a great job! Thank you for helping us to keep memories. I have already made a DVD out of old pictures, w/out you I wouldn't have had it!200 pics in less than 15 min and only $20! Great!
Posted By: Dolores (3/31/2007)
Comment: I would like to see the Scan Van come to Tucson, AZ. I have several old pictures that I would love to scan and make an album. Dolores
Posted By: Ed Murphy (3/3/2007)
Comment: Great ideas. I recently found a box of 100 year old negatives. my cousin has scand most of them and now has 3 albums of family pictures
Posted By: Jose (3/1/2007)
Comment: Robbin, just a correction, the Scanning system is in the Long Pond Rd. Wegmans (corner with Latta Rd.) not the Chili one. It is a great service!
Posted By: Robbin (3/1/2007)
Comment: For those in the Rochester area, at least two Wegman's stores still have a Scan The World set up for use (Chili and 441). The cost structure is a little different, and it goes to Picture CDs instead of the Gallery, but I think it's one of the best things we've (Kodak) ever done. It even included color correction - invaluable for the old black/white and the faded 70s pics.
Posted By: Robbin (3/1/2007)
Comment: I'm happy to see this new Kodak project. I was lucky enough to be in the same building as the "Scan the World" project and have my family photos scanned (it took an hour, I had lots :-) and am in the process of making a "muvee" DVD for the whole family. I'm glad others outside Rochester are getting this opportunity. I hope that this is a great success and the vans continue around the country to offer the opportunity to others. I also hope your pictures were not destroyed in the fire or flood! And I love the other ideas of things to do with the old pics! Thanks!!
Posted By: Roger Stoddard (3/1/2007)
Comment: What a wonderful idea! How about a scan van for different regions of the country that would cover a couple of states. There would be enough festivals in area surrounding where I live (northwest South Carolina) to keep the van busy most weekends in the spring, summer and fall. I'm thinking about "Freedom Weekend Aloft" in particular which is the 2nd largest hot air balloon event in the country.
Posted By: John H. (3/1/2007)
Comment: Hmmm......seems like a natural for festivals.....how about coming to Rochester?? Seems like a natural for the Lilac Festival..and then there's NASCAR and....
Posted By: danielle (3/1/2007)
Comment: I second Mary's sadness. It seems to take forever to scan my photos these days. But what a fun thing for you to be doing! I'm sure there are many interesting discussions happening when people revisit their old photos with someone new.
Posted By: Mary (3/1/2007)
Comment: I'm sad you aren't coming to Minnesota. What a wonderful oppotunity for folks to get pictures scanned. This is something that is very high on my list of things to do ... when I retire and have MORE time. I agree that it would open all kinds of creative printing opportunities to have a lifetime of images to work with.