We come to your home to organize and securely collect your photos, film, and videos for expert digitization—done locally, never shipped away.
We help Ann Arbor families turn closets, basements, and boxes into a secure, searchable digital library.
Trusted by families in Ann Arbor, Saline, Dexter, Chelsea, Ypsilanti, Plymouth, and beyond.
What We Do
(for families with “too many boxes”)
Photos & Albums
loose prints, albums, framed photos, fragile / antique pieces
Film & Slides
35mm slides, negatives, 8mm/Super 8/16mm film
Video & Audio
VHS, VHS-C, MiniDV, Hi8/8mm, DVDs, audio cassettes, reels, broadcast quality tapes
Deliverables
Curated folders, private cloud gallery, and optional printed books or other creative deliverables
Why Scanthology
Families across Ann Arbor and nearby communities choose us for more than just our technology—they choose us for our care, confidentiality, and craftsmanship. Every item we handle is treated like an heirloom, because to you, it is.
- Local & in-person: We’re Ann Arbor-based and come to you.
- White-glove handling: Careful prep, gentle cleaning, archival workflows.
- No “ship-it-and-pray”: Your originals stay under our custody—no overseas outsourcing.
- End-to-end help: We guide decisions, from “what to keep” to “how your family will actually use this.”
In-Home Consultation
We primarily serve Ann Arbor and nearby communities: Saline, Dexter, Chelsea, Ypsilanti, Plymouth, and surrounding areas within a 1-hour drive of Ann Arbor. In-home service outside these areas may be available by request with a travel fee.
Schedule a Free Intro CallHow It Works
(simple, step-by-step)
- Free Intro Call (Zoom or phone): Tell us what’s in the boxes and what you want to accomplish.
- In-Home Review: We visit, sort representative samples, confirm scope, and outline a timeline.
- Secure Pack & Pickup: We barcode and pack items on-site; you get a written chain-of-custody.
- Expert Digitization: High-accuracy scanning and transfer by our in-house team.
- Delivery & Setup: Receive your chosen deliverables; we walk you through accessing and sharing.
- Optional Keepsakes: Albums, framed prints, and highlights reels.
Ann Arbor Gift Certificates
Perfect for birthdays, holidays, or starting an estate project.
$150 Starter Session Gift Certificate
Includes: 1-hour consultation (phone/Zoom) + 2-hour in-home review (normally a $150 non-refundable deposit for the visit alone) and your choice of:
- 25 loose photographs scanned, or
- Up to 90 minutes of video digitized (e.g., VHS, MiniDV, Hi8, etc.), or
- Up to 400 feet of 8mm or 16mm film digitized.
Most families use this session to also get a clear, written estimate for a larger digitization project.
Custom Gift Certificate
Gift certificates below or above $150 can also be purchased for someone who would value credit on a specific project they have in mind.
How We Protect Your Originals
- Barcode intake and inventory at pickup
- Documented chain-of-custody
- Local processing only — no outsourcing
- On-site scanning available for heirlooms
- Archival workflows for fragile or antique items
FAQs
Do I have to mail my memories?
No. We serve roughly a 1-hour drive radius around Ann Arbor, Michigan and we come to you. Your items remain under our custody from pickup to delivery.
Can you scan fragile albums without taking them apart?
Yes—non‑destructive options and on‑site digitization are available for heirlooms and bound albums.
What if my photos are fragile or mixed with albums?
That’s normal. We gently prep and scan albums, loose prints, slides, and film with archival care. We routinely work with photos, slides, film, and negatives that are over 100 years old!
How long does a typical project take?
After your in-home review, we’ll provide a realistic timeline. However, an average project will take about 2-3 weeks, depending on volume and condition; rush projects are available for a fee.
