Photo expert Krista Kowalczyk explains how to preserve your photos with tips on scanning, backups & new AI tools
Krista Kowalczyk, author of Beyond the Storm and photo preservation expert, explains how to protect family memories, scan old photos, and use the latest AI tools safely.
Start digitizing before disaster strikes
Many people put off organizing their photos, but Krista says waiting too long risks losing them to time or disasters.
“After Hurricane Ian, I heard over and over again it was the most difficult loss. These are people that lost everything.”
Back up photos in at least three places
Don’t rely on just your phone or iCloud—add an extra layer like Google Photos, Dropbox, or Amazon Photos.
“They’re all layers of security. So I always suggest everybody has, in addition to the iCloud if you’re on iPhone, or if you’re on Android, you just have to have an additional layer of security.”
AI can help repair old photos—just keep the originals
Google’s new Nano Banana tool can quickly restore damaged or faded photos, but it downgrades the quality.
“It gave me results in 30 seconds that pros used to take hours on—but it saves in lower resolution, so never delete your original.”
Adobe’s Project Indigo brightens low-light shots
The new free app works as an alternative camera app, especially in dim settings.
“For darker indoor shots, the difference is amazing. I wouldn’t use it for every photo, but it’s a great option for low light.”
Her favorite scanning tools
Krista recommends the Epson FastFoto for quickly digitizing thousands of prints, and HP’s new film scanner for slides.
“The Epson can scan 30 photos a minute—turning a months-long project into a weekend one.”
Bonus resource
She also offers a free PDF photo resource guide with over 70 recommended tools when you sign up for her newsletter.